The Ohio IA extends a warm welcome to our newest member, Adam Puhl of Puhl Landscape Design.
PLD offers a full line of landscape design, irrigation and lighting services to the Dayton, Ohio, market. The company has been in business since 2002, and specializes in the design, installation and maintenance of residential irrigation systems.
We’re confident that Adam and his team will quickly appreciate the many benefits of membership with the Ohio IA. Such as meeting his future labor and education needs and providing him a forum to discuss relevant topics with other irrigation contractors from across the state.
We’re glad to welcome PLD into our association of irrigation professionals!
Look for a new format this year for the Midwest Green Industry Experience (MGIX).
Instead of a single trade show and conference, the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association (ONLA) is transitioning to a collection of three professional networking programs for 2018-2019. The new programs, called the MGIX Series, will prioritize education, business development, collaboration and relationship building.
A New Setup
ONLA is hoping that the new conference format will better serve its membership, by offering more personalized programming throughout the year and at various locations across the state.
The first event in the series, the MGIX Member Summit, is scheduled for Dec. 12 and 13, 2018, at the Hilton Easton in Columbus. [Note the new venue.] The two-day summit is designed to provide a solutions-based learning experience for landscaping professionals. Highlights will include a keynote presentation by Terri McEnaney, president of Bailey Nurseries; “speed-networking” with MGIX Member Summit sponsors; and ONLA’s annual awards celebration.
Educational Sessions
Breakout tracks will dive deeply into best practices and emerging trends pertinent to green industry business owners, managers and team leaders. Scheduled topics include:
Landscape Design and Maintenance
Business and Marketing
Plant Trends and Best Selections
Pests and Diseases
Of particular interest to irrigation professionals:
Sustainable Irrigation in Residential and Commercial Projects. Presented by Jeff Muhlbach, Cleveland-based irrigation design consultant and landscape architect.
Environmental Requirements: What You Need to Know and The Path Toward Sustainability. Both sessions presented by Daniel Sowry, from the Ohio EPA’s Office of Compliance Assistance and Pollution Prevention.
Industry speakers will include national experts, Ohio State University educators and local colleagues. Continuing education units (CEU’s) will be available for all sessions. To download the complete educational schedule, click here.
Registration for Member Summit
Registration deadline for the MGIX Member Summit is Friday, November 30. To register, click here. To download the conference program, click here. For additional information, visit the MGIX website.
MGIX Training Days
MGIX Training Days: Gear Up for Spring, the second and third events in the MGIX Series, will take place in 2019.These two events are scheduled for March 5 in Dayton and March 7 in Cleveland. Both of the one-day programs will feature educational sessions, workshops and business development opportunities for green industry professionals.
The ONLA will announce details for the Training Days events at a later date. Registration for MGIX Training Days opens in mid-December, 2018.
Trade Show History
This new format (sans trade show) represents quite a change for the organization and the end of an era.
In fact, did you know that ONLA has hosted some form of its annual trade show since 1964? (The association itself has been around since 1908.)
Over the years, the show just kept getting bigger. In 1994 it became known at The Central Environmental Nursery Trade Show (CENTS). In its peak year of 2002, CENTS featured 1,357 booths occupied by 710 firms. The number of registered attendees hit a whopping 13,035.
After that, attendance gradually began to dwindle, as more green industry professionals chose to transact business online.
In 2017, ONLA rebranded the event as MGIX, in an effort to be more inclusive of its diverse trade show audience. It also expanded its roster of educational opportunities.
But by grouping together plants with similar water needs, homeowners can improve their irrigation system’s efficiency, avoiding both overwatering and underwatering. With hydrozoning, the plantings that require less water are situated farther from the water source.
The Hydrozone Plan
When creating hydrozones, you first want to identify the specific water requirements for individual plantings. (Information on water needs can be found through your local extension service.)
Wherever possible, consider replacing high-maintenance plants with native plants that would naturally require less water.
Once water needs of plants are identified, you’ll want to create four categories for watering: Routine Irrigation, Reduced Irrigation, Limited Irrigation and No Irrigation. When labeling your zones, consider not only types of plants in that area, but also element exposure.
For example, areas that receive direct sunlight will require more water than those located in shade. Similarly, for plantings situated at the top or bottom of a slope, you’ll need to account for runoff and accumulation.
Let’s take a look at each of the four zones.
Zone 1: Routine Irrigation.
This is the area that requires the most water. It’s the highest-maintenance hydrozone, and typically encompasses turf grasses, particularly in high-traffic areas such as playgrounds. (Other areas of your lawn may be zoned differently, and even allowed to go dormant or semi-dormant during dry spells.)
Early morning is considered the best time to water a lawn, with less chance for evaporation and wind loss. Conversely, try not to water your lawn late in the evening; the grass will stay wet all night, and become more susceptible to disease. When watering a lawn, be sure to wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches.
This zone can also include any water-loving trees and shrubs you may have, such as eastern red cedar or elderberry bushes.
Zone 2: Reduced Irrigation
Zone 2 generally includes areas that are used less for activity, such as shrub and flower beds located near the main entrance of a home.
The amount of water this zone requires depends on the maturity of the plants, amount of direct sunlight received, and depth of mulch.
The soil here should remain somewhat moist, not crumbly dry and not dripping wet. You want to make sure these plants receive enough water to thoroughly replenish the plant’s moisture. (Hint: After watering, the soil should feel like a damp paper towel.)
Zone 3: Limited Irrigation
This is a minimal hydrozone, for areas of your landscape requiring little irrigation. It may include buffer zones between homes, road verges (strips of vegetation between the sidewalk and street) and embankments.
This zone is an ideal location for native plants that will survive primarily on rainfall, with just occasional irrigation to enhance the plants’ health. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources can offer plenty of suggestions.
Zone 4: No Irrigation
The last hydrozone is reserved for areas that require no supplementary water supply. This could include utility areas, mulched parkways, and naturally existing vegetation or xeriscapes.
When hydrozoning, keep in mind the ways in which the various areas are used. Lush “oases” or higher water-use zones are often located closer to the house, while more natural areas with low water needs are placed at the back or edges of the property.
Your hydrozoning plan may take a bit of tweaking and modification, but it will eventually result in an environmentally friendly and thriving landscape.
Along with that intense summer heat comes the prospect of drought. Which means we may have to make some agonizing decisions regarding which plants in our yards and gardens to save and which plants to let go. For some of us, that can be like having to make a “Sophie’s Choice.”
So before the need for these difficult decisions becomes a reality, there are some things we can do to make the most of the water that will be available.
The Importance of Mulch
Did you know that more than 50 percent of the water applied to bare soil is lost through evaporation? Of course, the rate of that evaporation increases with higher air temperatures, solar radiation and wind. But applying mulch in landscape and garden beds can help to recoup almost all of that moisture loss, depending on the type of mulch used. (Added bonus: Mulch helps keep the plant roots cool.)
For landscape plants and perennial flower beds, for instance, gardening expertsrecommend applying shredded bark or wood-chip mulches on top of bare soil at a depth of 3-4 inches. Surprisingly, however, these same wood-chip mulches should not be used in vegetable gardens and annual flower beds. Why? Because when decomposing, they cause soil microbes to deplete the soil’s nitrogen reserves. This makes the much-needed nitrogen unavailable for use by the garden plants.
Organic Composts
With vegetable gardens and annual beds (or wherever the soil is regularly tilled or disturbed), organic mulches that break down more quickly are advisable. These would include well-rotted compost, animal manure, lawn/yard clippings and any combination of these.
To increase the effectiveness of grass or compost mulches, try this:
Place one to two moistened sheets of newspaper on top of the soil, slightly overlapping the sheets
Cover the newspaper with a layer of compost mulch.
Allow the newspaper to decay over the growing season.
Till the decayed paper into the soil, along with the top layer of mulch.
What About Rocks?
Rock mulches should generally be avoided around landscape plants. During the day, the rocks will absorb heat and then radiate that heat back at nighttime. This increases both the heat stress and water needs of plants. In particular, white and other light-colored rock reflects light back onto plants, compounding the heat stress felt by plants during times of drought.
More Drought-Related Tips
Here are a few more guidelines to keep in mind when navigating through a seasonal drought:
Do not fertilize. All fertilizers contain salts that will rob the plants of much-need moisture in the soil. Wait until your plants have fully recovered from the effects of drought before fertilizing. (Plants experiencing drought conditions often appear wilted and droopy because they’re saving their energy.)
Do not prune during or immediately following a drought. To do so would place too much stress on the plants. and send them into shock.
Apply water slowly and deeply to the soil. The best way to maintain your garden is through drip irrigation or soaker hoses that apply water directly to the soil above the root zone. Placing these hoses under two to three inches of mulch helps retain soil moisture.
Hold off on watering until after sundown to reduce evaporative water losses.
July is the peak month for water consumption in the U.S., which is why every July the Irrigation Association uses its national platform to promote smart irrigation practices and technologies.
First launched in 2005, this national campaign continues to gain traction each year as consumers and irrigation specialists alike recognize the positive impact efficient irrigation and water use provides to all of us.
Smart Systems
Among the strategies being presented to consumers, first and foremost is proper programming of automatic watering or sprinkler systems to deliver just the right amount of water at the right time.
Additional strategies include:
Proper landscaping, keeping soil healthy, mulching and routine landscape maintenance
Investing in an irrigation system that uses the best, most flexible, components; has “smart” controls; and meets code requirements (See related article, “Wi-Fi-Based IrrigationTechnology Explained.”)
Watering during the evening and early morning to prevent evaporation, taking soil type and sprinkler placement into consideration
Maintaining the sprinkler system regularly by adjusting sprinkler heads, repairing leaks and monitoring pressure
WaterSense
According to the EPA’s WaterSensewebsite, adopting water-savvy habits also is essential to maintaining and extending our communities’ water supplies, especially during peak use. WaterSense partners with manufacturers, retailers/distributors, and utilities to bring high-performing, water-efficient products to the marketplace.
WaterSense also partners with professional certifying organizations to promote water–efficient landscape irrigation practices. Since the program began in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save a total of 1.5 trillion gallons of water, resulting inmore than $32.6 billion in water and energy bill savings.
Take the Tuna Can Test!
Place a few empty tuna cans randomly around your lawn, with some cans close to the sprinkler head and others several feet away. Turn on your system and measure how much time it takes your sprinkler to fill the cans with a half inch of water. Then, try watering for that amount of time twice a week. Gauge how your landscape responds, and adjust based on weather conditions.
Alternatively, you can simplify this system by replacing your standard clock timer controller with a WaterSense-labeled irrigation controller.
Get On Board
Here are just a few of the many “Smart Ideas” irrigation professional can use to promote SmartIrrigationMonth:
Add the SmartIrrigationMonthlogo to your website, ads, customer presentations, field signs, invoices and more.
Submit a press release or letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
Ask employees to add the SmartIrrigationMonth logo to their e-mail signature block.
Host a live demonstration of water-saving irrigation technologies, in the field or at your location.
Feature water-efficient products and services in displays, ads, promotions and product demos with the SmartIrrigationMonth logo.
Use a banner, outside signage or counter sign to encourage customers to ask about smartirrigation.
Make smartirrigation the theme of sales calls.
Give awards to customers and/or business partners who promote water-efficient practices.
Volunteer to speak to a local homeowner association, garden club or civic group.
Irrigation Audits Becoming
Mandatory in Some Areas
Water’s continued scarcity is making irrigation audits more important than ever.
For example, the city of Aspen, Col., now requires that such audits be completed whenever a new landscaping system has been installed. And the audit must be performed by a third-party certified landscape irrigation auditor.
There’s only one problem: Such certified auditors are as rare as hens’ teeth in that area of Colorado.
A Host of New Regulations
The irrigation audits are part of a package of new regulations for the city, which also require that all new or substantially remodeled residential projects include a landscape plan, an irrigation plan and a water budget for the site.
In order to address the lack of certified auditors in the area, Aspen city officials hope to establish a local training program.
The city’s new water-budget goal for landscaping is to use no more than 7.5 gallons per square foot per season. So far, 17 properties have been landscaped and irrigated using the new regulations. Those projects averaged 7.2 gallons per square foot, according to a parks and utilities representative.
Aspen’s new landscaping regulations apply only to residential and commercial properties. They do not apply to “irrigation of public parks, sports fields, golf courses and schools.”
Increased Need for Auditors
Of course, the need for certified irrigation auditors is greatest in areas with water scarcity issues, like the Southwest. But water conservation and water efficiency are two separate goals. Even areas that typically receive adequate precipitation (like Ohio) could always benefit from increased water efficiency.
As the pursuit of improved water efficiency becomes increasingly popular (and important), the need for certified irrigation auditors will most likely increase, too. Irrigation auditing entails three steps:
Collecting data
Verifying that irrigation systems are working as designed, and
Identifying opportunities to improve water efficiency.
An effective auditor will:
Analyze water requirements and irrigation use within the context of each site’s unique conditions.
Develop irrigation schedules based on water requirements, quality and availability.
Make maintenance recommendations to keep the irrigation system working reliably and cost effectively.
Estimate potential dollar and water savings from implementing innovative irrigation technologies, products and practices.
Where to Start?
To become a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) under the Irrigation Association’s program, a landscape contractor must:
Have at least one year of professional experience
Pass a written exam, and
Submit a completed water audit which includes one rotor and one spray area for evaluation (verified by an IA-certified professional in good standing).
According to Brent Mecham, the IA’s industry development leader, the CLIA program “shows that you have the expertise needed and that you’re better qualified to evaluate irrigation systems.”
If you’re interested in adding irrigation audits to your menu of landscaping services, click here to start the process.
Last month, 18 Ohio-area landscaping contractors participated in Certified Irrigation Technician (CIT) training at two separate sites. These Irrigation Association training sessions were sponsored by Wolf Creek Company and Rain Bird.
During the training, contractors learned the basics of hydraulics and irrigation system installation and maintenance. In addition to an overview of irrigation system components and how they operate, attendees learned how to:
Glue and repair PVC pipe
Install nozzles and adjust sprinkler heads
Set and repair electric valves
Utilize various field and controller wiring techniques.
Trainees also prepared for the CIT exam, a prerequisite to receiving certification.
CIT Overview
A CIT is an entry-level irrigation field professional, and it is the newest certification offered by the Irrigation Association. CITs install, maintain and repair irrigation systems. Their responsibilities include:
Cutting and joining pipe, with an understanding of basic hydraulics, as well as the limitations of different piping systems.
Laying out and installing pipes and water delivery components; backflow prevention components; mechanical, hydraulic and electrical irrigation controls; and other irrigation system components.
Troubleshooting and repairing all irrigation components and systems.
Becoming a CIT
Certification gives you a competitive edge. By becoming a CIT, you can:
Add instant credibility with customers and employers.
Increase job opportunities.
Demonstrate your commitment to efficient water management.
Qualify for the EPA WaterSense program.
Interested? Here’s what you have to do:
Register for the exam. Recommended: six months or 1,000 hours of irrigation-related field experience.
Pass the irrigation technician exam. The three-hour exam includes 100 equally weighted, multiple-choice questions on basic irrigation principles, basic electrical principles and basic hydraulics.
Each year, household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water nationwide? That amount is:
Enough to fill 40 million swimming pools and 24 billion bathtubs
Almost equal to the capacity of Florida’s vast Lake Okeechobee
Equal to the annual household water use of more than 11 million homes
Plug That Leak!
The EPA’s “Fix a Leak Week” is a national effort to stop that waste. This year commemorates the 10th anniversary of the event, which runs from March 19 through March 25.
Leaky kitchen and bathroom faucets, malfunctioning toilets and errant sprinkler systems cause much of the water waste. Fixing some of these easily corrected household leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bills, according to the EPA.
Karen Wirth is in charge of marketing and outreach for the EPA’s WaterSense program. In her view, most folks are clueless about the total amount of water wasted because they “see a couple of drips coming out of their shower head, or sprinkler outside, or faucet, it doesn’t seem like that much.”
So each year, the EPA hones in on the drips during Fix a Leak Week. Special events are planned from coast to coast to teach homeowners how to find and fix household leaks. To download the EPA’s Fix a Leak fact sheet click, click here.
Easy Fixes
There’s a simple way to check for leaks in the toilet, Wirth said. “Just put a few drops of food coloring in the tank. If that shows up in the bowl, you have a leak.” This problem can often be fixed by simply replacing the flapper.
Replacing old and worn faucet washers and gaskets fixes most faucet leaks.
For leaky shower heads, use pipe tape to secure the connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem.
For the EPA’s complete list of leakfixes, click here.
Call a Professional
Irrigation systems can be another problem area. But this one is best left to the professionals.
“An irrigation system that has a leak 1/32nd of an inch in diameter (about the thickness of a dime) can waste about 6,300 gallons of water per month,” according to the EPA.
They suggest that homeowners consult an irrigation professional certified by WaterSense to check for leaks throughout the system.
The warmth of spring means it’s time to prepare your landscape sprinkler system for another season of watering.
Hiring a qualified irrigation professional to perform tasks like spring start-up is always best, but experienced do-it-yourselfers, can follow these tips:
Timing Is Everything
First of all, you need to make sure spring has indeed sprung. The soil beneath your landscaping is always the last to thaw, so use a shovel to confirm that the ground is frost-free 12 inches down. Starting your sprinkler system while the ground is still frozen can result in damaged pipes. Is the ground still hard as a rock? Wait another week and try again.
Then check the settings on your sprinkler to make sure they’re appropriate for your landscape’s watering needs. Replace the back-up battery in the timer/controller, if necessary.
Go with the Flow
Before turning on any water to the system, double-check that all manual drain valves are returned to the “closed” position. When you first turn the water back on, be sure to open the system main water valve SLOWLY to allow pipes to fill with water gradually. Opening the water valve to quickly can result in a high-pressure surge called “water hammer,” which often causes burst pipes and damaged valves.
Check for rocks, dirt, sand and other types of debris that could block your sprinkler heads. And keep an eye out for spray heads that may have become buried with debris over the course of the winter.
Nozzles and sprinkler heads are designed to withstand normal wear and tear of irrigation, but not errant lawn mowers or snowplows. So be sure to replace all cracked, chipped or worn components. A broken or leaky sprinkler can wreak havoc on both your landscaping and water bills.
Valves and Pressure Gauges
The valves in your irrigation system are the system’s heart. It’s important to visually inspect each valve to determine that it’s operating properly. You can do this by manually activating all zones from the controller.
Also, make sure the water pressure is at a safe operating range. Too much pressure will result in cracked pipes, busted valves, sprinkler head leaks and inefficient watering.
A water pressure gauge is often helpful. These devices typically connect to a hose faucet and give you a good idea of the pressure in your irrigation system. (Suggested operating range is typically 40 -65 PSI.) Hint: If water is “misting” out of your sprinkler heads, your pressure is too high and should be reduced.
Think It’ll Rain?
Most modern irrigation systems are equipped with a rain sensor. This device should also be checked prior to activating your system in the spring. Here’s how:
First, consult the systems operator’s manual to determine the proper setting for testing your unit. (For example, some systems must be set to the “manual all stations” setting to test them. If that is the case with your system, you cannot test it on the “manual single station” setting.)
After properly setting the irrigation system control, check the system to make sure it came on. (You may need a helper to assist you.)
Once you have confirmed that the sprinkler is running, depress the plunger located on the top of the rain sensor. The sprinkler system should stop irrigating within a few seconds.
If watering does not stop when you depress the plunger, you’ll have to troubleshoot the system. Confirm that all wiring connections on the sensor and on the sprinkler control unit are tight. Check to make certain that the jumper tab, also called a jumper wire, was removed when the rain sensor was hooked up to the control panel.
Also be aware that the disk inside a rain sensor can become clogged with dirt or insects, which can keep it from functioning properly. Consult your operator’s manual for the correct procedure to clean the disk.
A Word about Backflow
A backflow device has been installed on your irrigation system in accordance with Ohio state law. This device prevents a cross-connection from occurring between the drinkable and undrinkable water in your home.
Spring is a good time to have your backflow preventer tested, as annual testing of the device is required in the state of Ohio. This testing can only be done by individuals who have been certified by an approved testing school. Backflow testers must have at least 24 hours of training in the classroom and hands-on test lab.
To locate a certified backflow tester in your area, Click Here.
Leave It to the Pros
Again, it’s best to leave all spring start-up tasks to the professionals. A qualified service technician will go through your irrigation system zone by zone and check every irrigation spray pattern for optimum turf and plant coverage, as well as check each sprinkler head and valve for any leaks. He can also test and clean your rain or weather sensor to ensure top performance.
Lastly, the technician will program the controller for the proper irrigation schedule, based on your landscape and weather conditions, as well as neighborhood watering restrictions.
MGIX 2018 is scheduled for three full days, January 15 through 17, 2018, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. This annual event combines industry-leading education with an expanded trade show. It’s a truly innovative green industry experience that you won’t want to miss!
Trade Show
More than 300 exhibitors will be offering everything from nursery stock and hardscaping products to pest control and landscaping equipment. This year’s show is expected to attract thousands of attendees.
New this year will be the Feature Stage! Located in the Exhibit Hall, the stage will spotlight entertainment, education and product presentations. The expanded trade show will also offer the Garden Lounge and New Product Showcase.
Family Time
Also new this year will be Family Programs. Many MGIX attendee and exhibitors own or work for family businesses. So MGIX 2018 offers activities and education sessions to address family business issues and provide family-friendly entertainment for all ages.
Back by Popular Demand
Back again for 2018 is the ever-popular Climbers Corners. This live-stage event features expert educators demonstrating a variety of arboricultural techniques important to tree care professionals, landscape crews, managers and landscape designers.
Education
Educational sessions of particular interest to landscape and irrigation professionals will include:
Rain Water Harvesting & Reuse for Irrigation
Efficient Irrigation Design & Installation
Why Plants Do the Things They Do
Preparing your business for disasters. Know what to do next.
Landscaping for Water Quality
Legislative Update
To Learn More…
For more information, including the education schedule and special events, Click Here.
We’re confident that Adam and his team will quickly appreciate the many benefits of membership with the Ohio IA. Such as meeting his future labor and education needs and providing him a forum to discuss relevant topics with other irrigation contractors from across the state.
The first event in the series, the 
Early morning is considered the best time to water a lawn, with less chance for evaporation and wind loss. Conversely, try not to water your lawn late in the evening; the grass will stay wet all night, and become more susceptible to disease. When watering a lawn, be sure to wet the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches.
Do not prune during or immediately following a drought. To do so would place too much stress on the plants. and send them into shock.
Alternatively, you can simplify this system by replacing your standard clock timer controller with a WaterSense-labeled 
In order to address the lack of certified auditors in the area, Aspen city officials hope to establish a local training program.
Have at least one year of professional experience
First, consult the systems operator’s manual to determine the proper setting for testing your unit. (For example, some systems must be set to the “manual all stations” setting to test them. If that is the case with your system, you cannot test it on the “manual single station” setting.)
