Nlanljuly2015

Official Publication of the Nevada Landscape Association | www.nevadanla.com

JULY 2015

2015 Landscape Trophy Awards Call for Entries See Insert Inside

The Importance of Irrigation Audits Page 5

ALERT! Page 5

Caring for Your Soil

Page 6

P.O. Box 7431 Reno, NV 89510-7431

Nevada Landscape Assoc.

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RENO, NV PERMIT NO. 379

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Landscape Nevada

What’s Wrong in this Picture?

How many problems can you identify in this photo?

Hint: Rhododendron planted in Caughlin Ranch landscape.

Answers on page 7.

JULY 2015

www.nevadanla.com

PUBLISHER

A Letter from the President

Leslie Lyles

Landscape Nevada is published by: Kathy Hess, Just Imagine Marketing and Design 775.746.4138; kathy@justimaginemktg.com

Dear Members,

W

e are coming into summer, a busy time of year for all of us working in the Green Industry. I want to remind you during this busy time to renew your membership with the Nevada Landscape Association. If you aren’t yet a member, consider joining us! A question we frequently get is: why should I become a member? What’s in it for me?

The benefits to NLA membership are many. The Nevada Landscape Association provides a voice for the industry on city, county and state legislative and regulatory issues.

Membership gets you discounted admission to the annual conference and trade show where you can earn profession continuing education units (CEUs). You also have the opportunity to attend a variety of educational sessions at many of the monthly membership meetings. We administer the State Landscape Industry Certified program, which provides an opportunity to test and accredit workers who pass written and field tests of their landscape skills. More benefits and a link to the membership application can be found at nevadanla.com/about-nevada/join-nla/.

We welcome you to join us the first Tuesday of each month at 12 p.m. at the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension office at 4955 Energy for our membership meeting and networking. We hope to see you soon!

Heidi Kratsch

NEVADA LANDSCAPE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Heidi Kratsch, President — University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (775) 784-4848 Scott Leonard, President Elect — Signature Landscapes

(775) 857-4333 Sara Anderson, Past President — Pyramid Landscapes

(775) 224-3309 Christina Volsko, Director — Crop Production Services

(775) 358-6166 Robert Kelly, Director — Robert Kelly Tree Care

(775) 737-3530 Rick Clark, Affilliate — PestMasters

(775) 376-3334

Leslie Lyles, Director — Stewardship Horticultural

(775) 849-1215 Steve Churchillo, Director — City of Reno Urban Forester

(775) 334-2270 Pamela Bedard, Secretary/Treasurer — Horticulturist

(775) 560-5192

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension

ape Association of the Nevada Landsc

.com | www.nevadanla

JULY 2015

Trophy Awards 2015 Landscape Insert Inside Call for Entries See

The Importance of Irrigation Audits

Page 5

ALERT! Page 5

l Caring for Your Soi

Page 6

Efficient irrigation practices are absolutely critical for companies and individuals whose livelihood depends on water. In this issue learn how to ensure your irrigation systems are running effectively and other ways to help conserve water.

QUESTIONS, COMMENTS & SUBMISSIONS Write to Landscape Nevada at the address above or email the publisher at kathy@justimaginemktg.com or phone 775.746.4138.

SPECIAL THANKS Leslie Lyles for newsletter submissions and editing.

MISSION STATEMENT The Nevada Landscape Association provides leadership by promoting professionalism and integrity within the Green Industry through education, high standards and community involvement. We guide policy and uphold responsible resource management for the beautification and enhancement of our community.

P.O. Box 7431 31 Reno, NV 89510-74

Nevada Landsca

pe Assoc.

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID RENO, NV PERMIT NO. 379

Official Publication

LANDSCAPE NEVADA is the official publication of the Nevada Landscape Association, P.O. Box 7431, Reno, NV 89510-7431, phone 775.673.0404, fax 775.673.5828, website: www.nevadanla.com, email: nlainfo@nevadanla.com.

www.nevadanla.com

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Landscape Nevada

The Importance of Irrigation Audits

T

hese days when water is in high demand and supplies are low, regulated or restricted, efficient irrigation practices are absolutely critical for companies and individuals whose livelihood depends on water.

Efficiency can be achieved through careful irrigation auditing. Remember the key is to efficiently deliver water to the target area, whether it be turf, trees and shrubs or annuals and perennials. The following are basic guidelines to maximize your irrigation efficiency: First, begin with a visual inspection of your irrigation equipment. Check your point of connection and check for any leakage, then check your system’s backflow device for the same. Also, check to see that the backflow preventer is a device that is currently legal and certified; if it is not, recommend to your client that they get it replaced. Check all valve boxes, valves and manifolds for leakage. Inspect the splices for proper wiring and connection.

Second, inspect the irrigation controller. It should be a model that can be programmed for multiple start times, with multiple programs. It may be outdated and incapable of advanced programming; if so recommend upgrading the controller (best is to recommend an ET controller). Has the controller been labeled? If it has been labeled correctly this will help you with your audit; if not, label the controller by type of zone (station): Turf Pop-up, Turf Rotor, Shrub drip, micro spray, etc.

Third, run the system to check the turf pop up zones. Does the spacing match the nozzle size?

Are there different types of heads? Are there rotors tied into the pop ups? These are important issues.

Standardizing the head type and making sure the nozzle size is correct will ensure more equal delivery i.e., precipitation rates. Acquire product manuals for the product type being used as a reference. Check the Rotor stations using the same principles. Some of the other basic principles for Rotor nozzling are as follows: heads covering a ½ circle patter should be nozzled to deliver 50% the gallons per minute of the full heads on the system. 1/3 part circle, 33% of the full heads, ¼ patterns should be nozzled at 25% of the full heads, and so forth, to balance the precipitation rates.

Next, check the drip systems. Are the emitters properly placed around the drip zone of the plant material, or are they up against the trunk of the plant or tree? Are the emitters made by the same manufacturer? Drip systems should be standardized as well. Avoid adding micro sprays to a zone previously dedicated as Shrub Drip where possible, as they deliver water differently than drip emitters, i.e. GPM vs. GPH. Effective programming of your controller is the final and most important stage of the process.

Remember, pop- ups are generally run at least 20 to 25% that of Rotor stations. Program short run times to prevent run off, and use repeat cycles. Consider soil types, exposure and grade when programming.

Add start times when temperatures rise, remove run times as temperatures drop. Drip emitters deliver water in GPH, and should be run a minimum of an hour to deliver in gallons. Advanced controller programming is a topic that should be addressed separately, stay tuned for more information.

There are other methods of auditing used that are more time consuming and costly; if you’ve done your math, and standardized the system balancing nozzles with spacing, you are off to a very good start.

Rick Clark,

1. Begin with a visual inspection of your irrigation equipment.

2. Inspect the irrigation controller.

3. Run the system to check the turf pop up zones.

4. Check the drip systems.

5. Effective programming of your controller is the final and most important stage of the process.

Have a great summer,

Branch Manager, Pestmaster Services

Healthy soil means healthy plants! Remember that soil is more than just the inorganic rocks and minerals; it is also the complex array of organic material and biological organisms. Healthy soil contains organic matter that: 3 Feeds the microorganisms and improves its texture 3 Allows soil to retain moisture better 3 Allows uninhibited root growth By caring for your soil, your landscape plants will be healthier and have fewer insect and disease problems. www.nevadanla.com

5

Caring For Your Soil Leslie Lyles, M.S. Stewardship Horticultural

Leslie Lyles

Benefits of Mulching with Wood Chips

6

Landscape Nevada

• • • • • • • •

Nourishes the soil by adding nutrients as it decomposes Increases earthworm population resulting in better aeration Reduces soil compaction over roots Saves Water – irrigation requirements are as much as 50% less in mulched beds Environmentally friendly – reduces the need for herbicides Stimulates growth - mulched trees grow faster than un-mulched trees Keeps soil and roots from overheating in hot summers Decreases plant stress - increasing plant resistance to insects and disease organisms

Leslie Lyles

A

s a Horticultural consultant it frustrates me that many of our landscape practices are based solely on aesthetics rather than landscape health. All too often it is forgotten that plants are living organisms and need specific growing conditions to thrive. The use of decomposed granite and other inorganic materials to top dress our landscapes is one such practice; although attractive, inorganic mulches do little for the health of landscape plants.

Plants are healthiest when they are growing in healthy soil. Soil is more than just the mineral and organic content­—it is also the myriad of microorganisms moving in the soil pore space. These microorganisms help aerate the soil allowing water to better infiltrate and percolate through the soil, decrease soil compaction, break down minerals to make them available for plant uptake, feed on pest organisms within the soil thus reducing pest populations, and help balance soil acidity and alkalinity.

In a natural ecosystem, soil bacteria decompose organic waste materials such as leaves and manure into organic humus, which stores both moisture and nutrients; there is a constant recycling of nutrients and ‘feeding’ of the soil as leaf litter falls to the ground, decomposes and returns to the soil. Unfortunately, because of landscape practices such as constant raking of the soil surface, top dressing with rock or decomposed granite and the use of fabric weed barriers under mulch, this process is lacking in many of our landscapes. Without the foundation of a healthy soil, plants are stressed and more susceptible to attack by insects and plant pathogens.

One of the best things we can do to help create healthy soils is to mulch the soil surface with organic material such as woodchips. Not only does a layer of woodchips help feed the microorganisms in the soil, but woodchips break the impact of raindrops, decreasing soil erosion. They are also an effective insulator, protecting shallow roots from the heat of summer sun. Because they help keep the soil cool, woodchips slow evaporation of water from the soil, so the soil stays moist, reducing irrigation needs by as much as 50%. As an added bonus, a 3–4 inch layer of woodchips helps prevent weed growth.

Woodchip mulch is not suitable for all situations, but for protected areas where the chips will not easily blow away it is certainly a treatment that should be considered.

What’s Wrong in this Picture?

Answers: Inappropriate plant selection – the wrong plant for this site! The flowering shrub is a Rhododendron – a shade loving, high water using plant that likes rich, acidic soil.

• Sod • Pavers

• Rock & Soils • Retaining Walls

775.356.8873

465 Tacchino St. Reno, NV 89512

1. Rhododendron planted in full sun with high reflected heat from roadway.

2. Native soils have very little organic matter, are high pH, and compacted. No soil prep was done for these plants.

3. High water using plants (rhododendrons) planted with low water usage plants (sagebrush) – neither will thrive when irrigated together. Plants with similar water needs should be planted together.

Solution: Plants should be grouped together based on growing requirements such as water needs, soil conditions, and light requirements.

New Members TMWA, Andy Gebhardt High Sierra Gardens Robert Kelly Tree Care

University of Nevada, Reno Signature Landscapes

To join... please call the Nevada

Landscape office at 673-0404 or visit our website at www.nevadanla.com

For All Your Specialty Turf and Ornamental Needs.

Matt Melarkey | Christina Volsko | Nate Weber 855 East Greg, Sparks, NV

775-358-6166 www.nevadanla.com

7

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Henderson 702.435.9471 371 Julia Street

Las Vegas 702.362.4224 8298 Arville Street

Las Vegas North 702.656.8150 6164 W. Alexander

To advertise in this quality publication, contact Kathy Hess:

kathy@justimaginemktg.com Phone 775.746.4138 Cell 775.846.5656 Fax 775.746.9604

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