Irrigation systems and gardeners

There is a huge misconception in Encinitas and San Diego that the gardener you hire is qualified to do the work he claims he says he will do. The typical M.O. for most gardeners is that when something looks a little off color just add more water and anything your garden need will cure itself.

Such was the case over at one of our client's homes, where they called me over to check out a leak, or supposed leak. I've been in this game a long time, and experience told me that since I did not see any craters blown open in the dirt, the chances of a leak in the proportions they told me was not going to be there. So, after my visual inspection, the next thing I wanted to see is the irrigation controller. It is a Hunter control, made right over in San Marcos. All I series controllers use a remote access device called a "Smart Port", and it was never installed. This device, if put on the outside of the house gives anyone who has a radio control the ability to set, check, and run the system without ever entering the home. (Naturescape Landscape Company carries those radios in every service truck we have) The clock appeared normal, until I got to two stations that were set for 2 hours of watering in the middle of the night. This was the flooding problem, as ground does not absorb water the same way as in places where it freezes over winter and gets allot more rain.

The gardener assured the client the system was properly set. Gardeners, are not, I repeat, are not licensed landscape contracting firms. Most have little more knowledge than to cut, and trim, and at best, they make obscure geometric shapes, urban assault balls, and cork screws out of perfectly healthy plants. The damage they do to irrigation systems just by qualifying themselves in the eyes of the public goes far beyond a simple goof here and there.

This is all the more reason to hire an irrigation professional when you have issues with your system. If we can ever be off service, please call 858-794-8444.

Until next time, have a great day!