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CAI GreAter Los AnGeLes ChApter • www.cai-glac.orgaTTraCTive sUmmer LanDsCape TrenDscontinued from page 16that irrigation methods and technologies have evolved andthat there are ways other than sprinklers to deliver the properamount of water to your landscape. For example; sprinklers ormp rotators are typically used to water turf areas while otherareas, such as planters and slopes, may need to have water deliveredby bubblers or a drip system. You may be asking yourself how itis that each of these options is decided upon.In the landscape industry we use a measure called evapotranspiration(or ET for short) to determine the amount of water that eachsection of your landscape needs. Evapotranspiration is a bigfancy word that basically means the rate at which water evaporatesfrom soil. The four main factors within a microclimate thataffect the level of ET on a regular basis are the temperature,solar radiation, humidity and wind. Due to the short amountof distance in a microclimate these four factors can mean thedifference between your neighbor having azaleas in bloom forfour months out of the year while yours only bloom for sixweeks. These factors also play a large role in the amount of wateryour landscape needs. So how do we take all of the informationwe have learned so far to optimize your water usage? The answeris easy. We use smart weather-based irrigation controllers tohelp manage your irrigation system.You have heard about them before. Your association may evenalready have them. Smart weather-based irrigation controllersare a fantastic tool that can be programmed to know whattype of plant material is being watered, what type of irrigationcomponent will be used, the location of plant material (i.e.direct sun, shade or slope) and what the evapotranspirationlevel is within the given microclimate. All of this information iscompiled together to tell your irrigation controller how muchwater should be dispensed to give your landscape the exactamount of irrigation it needs to quench its thirst withoutdrowning it, drying it out or burning it. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?So this summer I challenge you to take the extra step to re-evaluatethe water usage at your homeowners association. Call on thelandscape experts to learn what you can do to make your propertywater-friendly. Whether your plan of action is to reduce turfand groundcover and install drought-tolerant plant material orto install smart weather-based irrigation controllers, you andyour neighbors can all be happy and proud to have beautifullandscape while saving precious water and controlling costs.Lindsay Biren is a business developer at American HeritageLandscape located in Canoga Park. She can be reached atlbiren@americanheritagelandscape.com. July/August 2011 • 21