Knowledge

by Charlene Burgi

This week a friend sent an email containing a test that challenged the reader’s knowledge of science. I dropped all that I was doing and quizzed myself before sending it on to my daughter, son and Jack with my results. The gauntlet was officially thrown down and the game was on!

It seems the family loves these challenges, as we all get caught up in self-testing. It made me wonder if you, too, enjoy seeing just how much you know? Are you in? Okay, I am throwing down the gauntlet! Answers will be found at the end of the blog. No fair checking our website or internet for answers first!

1. How many water supply reservoirs does MMWD maintain on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed and in West Marin? Extra points if you can name them all.
a. 3
b. 7
c. 12
d. None of the above

2. Which sprinkler heads are most efficient on a slope?
a. Impact heads
b. MP Rotators
c. Spray heads
d. Rotors

3. It is acceptable to mix various types of sprinkler heads on the same valve.
a. True
b. False

4. It is best to use pressure-compensating emitters on a slope.
a. True
b. False

5. As a whole, we use more water:
a. Washing clothes
b. Flushing toilets
c. Watering lawns
d. Taking showers

6. Clay soil doesn’t have any nutritional value.
a. True
b. False

7. All native plants are low-water users.
a. True
b. False

8. Evapotranspiration refers to:
a. Loss of water from the soil
b. Loss of water from plants
c. Both a and b
d. None of the above

9. The evapotranspiration rate is highest in:
a. Mid August
b. Beginning of September
c. End of April
d. End of June

10.  Toilet leaks can waste as much as
a. 1 gallon a day
b. 15 gallons a month
c. Too small to measure
d. 500 gallons a day

The next step we take in the family is to share our answers and where we got hung up. It opens up the discussion! Did you learn anything or was this just too easy? Did you share this test with your family, too?

Join Us for the Marin-Friendly Garden Tour on Saturday, May 18

If you haven’t registered for tomorrow’s Marin-Friendly Garden Tour, it’s not too late! This FREE, self-guided tour showcases nine Marin gardens designed to protect our local environment and conserve water. Discover native plant selections, edibles, rainwater catchment, wildlife habitat gardens, recycled materials, composting systems and more. Visit our website for last-minute registration details.

Answers

1. – b. MMWD’s reservoirs include Phoenix, Lagunitas, Bon Tempe, Alpine, Kent, Nicasio and Soulajule.
2. – b. Slow precipitation rates of the MP Rotators will allow the water to penetrate instead of run off.
3. – b. Each type of head throws out different gallons per minute, causing some areas to get too much water and other areas not enough–what we call a lack of distribution uniformity.
4. – a. Non-compensating emitters will lead to water running out faster at the bottom of the slope, leaving little emitting at the top.
5. – c. Lawns use the highest amount of water.
6. – b. Clay has nutrients trapped in its particles. Adding amendments can break down the particles and release the nutrients for plant needs.
7. – b. There are many aquatic native plants.
8. – c. Soil loses moisture through evaporation; plants lose water through transpiration.
9. – d. On average, plants require more water at the end of June than any other time of year.
10. – d. Can you believe that! You can lose up to 500 gallons a day!!

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Creative Thinking

by Charlene Burgi

When I get a new idea, I head out to the workshop and barn. Stored treasures are found in and around those buildings. Most items are intended for purposes other than to be used in the garden, but it is where I go to let my imagination run wild! For example, behind the shop are scraps of lumber salvaged from building our home. Jack uses the wood for fueling the wood-burning stove in his shop, but I envision those scraps turned into needed raised planters. Sitting in the barn are old wood-framed windows rescued from garage sales, which could become cold frames to house and protect seedlings. Various lengths and diameters of PVC are always at the ready in case of underground breaks or leaks, but I see future frames for cages built to protect the blueberries and raspberries from our neighboring deer, squirrels, rabbits and birds.

Garden shed

Salvage can be found everywhere. My garden shed was a single-car garage that we rescued from a local rancher who wanted to raze it. Jack backed his trailer up to the structure and managed to lift the building up high enough to drive it over the dirt roads to home. I must admit we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies driving down the road, but I had a vision and purpose! With the shed in place, I now dream of using some of those old windows and turning the structure into my “play house.” Currently there is a dirt floor, yet as I look around I see unused chipped pavers, broken bricks and clay pots, and assorted flat rocks on the property. A mosaic floor will add to that shabby chic garden shed that is already filled with garden tools, assorted pots, bags of soil, and all the toys needed for a gardener’s delight. Visions of wisteria, sweet peas and morning glory grow in containers and soon promise to frame the exterior.

A few years ago a student in my irrigation class shared pictures of his rubble walls. He used old wine bottles, broken concrete and miscellaneous rocks, then filled the voids with various low-water-using plants such as creeping thyme, succulents, campanula and saponaria. The outcome was stunning. Recently, I saw another gardener who had built her raised planter beds out of wine bottles set three to four deep on end with the bottle necks buried in the soil. In both cases using the materials at hand meant money saved and less to the landfill.

Even if you aren’t planning a project as elaborate as these, there are many opportunities to reuse and recycle. Think of all the ideas shared in past blog posts. We’ve use cardboard for sheet mulching, clear gallon jugs with the bottoms cut off to protect tender new plants, popsicle sticks to identify seedlings, saved toilet paper and paper towel rolls acting as organic mini planters to start seed, and compost bins made of pallets to house rich organic material destined to go back into the garden.

Our salvaging doesn’t stop there. Jack and I need to build a protective fence around the vegetable garden, and my eyes drift to the old fence posts saved off the property from years past. Stacking them in a crisscross pattern will enhance the garden. Wire mesh will line the back side to prevent rabbits from entering, and I can already visualize the seedling peas and cucumbers clambering up the wire mesh for easy picking.

Let your creative juices flow. Are there items you can rescue and repurpose? Do you have rubble or waste that can be transformed into something delightful? Please share those ideas with the rest of the readers.

A coop built of salvaged fencing material is home to these chickens. Check it out on the Marin-Friendly Garden Tour May 18.

If you are wondering what ideas you can utilize, don’t miss MMWD’s free Marin-Friendly Garden Tour on Saturday, May 18. The self-guided tour is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Register online and we will email you the Garden Guide with addresses and driving directions. Several of the featured gardens make use of salvaged and repurposed materials. The tour might offer new ideas and find you rescuing trash to create a unique landscape that captures the interest of those entering your garden gate.

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The Evolution of Gardens

by Charlene Burgi

A few years ago I planted Aztec lilies in Lassen County to see how they would perform in extreme weather conditions. That early garden was planted primarily with bulbs that could sustain themselves without the need for irrigation or critter control since we were not living there yet. The following summer provided a modest display of color to the front garden. I felt like the choices I made were a success despite lacking the framework I knew was needed in the course of the garden’s evolution.

A beautiful garden is not typically rolled out in a weekend. It involves living with the space and takes years to plan, experiment, coordinate, add and subtract. During that evolution, plants grow, can be moved or removed. In time, gardens take form and shape. A well-planned garden provides color, texture and interest at various times of the year. The design should draw you in to probe the mystery of hidden fragrances, explore follies, and discover the intricacy of exquisite flowers. Plant choices need to add to the form of a garden while also serving the function of attracting birds, butterflies and beneficial insects. The sustainable practices for maintaining a healthy garden must be considered during the development.

Part of the evolution requires thought about how the space will be utilized. Is the garden a place for entertaining, growing food, playing or meditating? Would you like to grow natives or consider rainwater catchment systems? Will there be an area for chickens, garden shed or greenhouse? It could be a combination of all these elements and designed with rooms and pathways meandering throughout.

Are you stuck on the evolution of your garden? Is there a trouble spot or tired portion of the landscape that needs to be spruced up? Perhaps you are starting with a fresh blank slate and looking for ideas. On Saturday, May 18, the Marin Municipal Water District invites you to explore nine beautiful and inspiring gardens on the Marin-Friendly Garden Tour. This FREE, self-guided tour runs 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will also include “garden talks” by local experts. Register at marinfriendly.brownpapertickets.com, and we will email you the Garden Guide, which provides information about each garden as well as addresses and driving directions. Register by May 1 to be automatically entered into a drawing to win a Marin-Friendly prize.

Believe it or not, in their past lives many of the gardens on the tour were dull lawn, invasive weeds or even concrete. They certainly have been transformed over time. Each garden is unique. Each garden offers various ideas that may stimulate creative changes. Learn about environmentally friendly garden practices and put these ideas to work for you. Let the gardens evolve!

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Spring Wildflowers

by Charlene Burgi

Creeping phlox

Spring is in the air. One minute the sun is warming the earth, and the next minute we are donning raincoats and grabbing umbrellas. While the weather is unpredictable, springtime consistently produces some of the most glorious wildflowers to be seen.

As I drove to Marin this week, I noticed sweet drifts of pink creeping phlox showing up along the roadside that, not so long ago, was covered in snow. Brilliant orange poppies spun their gold through meadows and the redbud shrubs burst into color as if vying for attention. New growth of green from deciduous trees seemed to dance through the forest of conifers still bearing the scars of winter storms.

Sagebrush buttercup

I love spring. Everything seems to come alive. During one of those rare sky-blue warm days in March, I grabbed my camera and set out for a walk around the ranch hoping to find some wildlife to capture digitally. While nothing furry appeared before my lens, I did come across the most beautiful glossy yellow wildflowers. I was stunned by the intense color and couldn’t walk by without capturing their loveliness to share with you. I soon learned that the sagebrush buttercup, Ranunculus glaberrimus, is listed as a California native in the northeast part of the state. Amazingly, very few sightings are registered on the CalFlora website. Even more amazing is there is another buttercup, glossy buttercup, that looks much like the sagebrush buttercup but is considered a nocuous weed in many states. Research revealed subtle differences between the two, and I was greatly relieved that I wasn’t promoting an invasive weed!

My research on this little yellow beauty made me think about people collecting seeds from wildflowers. I wondered how many research their discoveries prior to gathering and sowing their finds. Many people new to Marin see the gorgeous yellow blooming bushes during this time of year. They frequent nurseries asking for the plants, not realizing those bushes are invasive Scotch and French brooms we are fighting to eradicate on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed and in other parts of Marin. Once again, it is important to know your plants before propagating them!

Speaking of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, there are many wonderful spots to hike and see wildflowers this time of year. Take a stroll around Lake Lagunitas or explore the different habitats along Rocky Ridge. I hear that the iris and lupines are particularly beautiful this year! This is also the time of year to explore Days Island in Novato where native rockrose is found exclusively along with one other place in the Mediterranean. Those seeds are collected for propagation purposes. And the rockrose is a sure winner for planting in native gardens. (As a reminder, seed collecting is not permitted on the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed.)

If you are interested in adding native plants to your garden, don’t miss the Marin California Native Plant Society’s Annual Spring Plant Sale tomorrow, April 13, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Green Point Nursery in Novato. While visiting Marin, I spoke to staff members at the College of Marin and learned the Indian Valley Organic Farm & Garden also has its Spring Plant Sale coming up next weekend, April 20 – 21. In addition to native plants, they will be selling many organic vegetable starts. This is the perfect opportunity to collect healthy native and vegetable starter plants that thrive in the garden. Will I see you there?

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Insurance

by Charlene Burgi

We are conditioned to insure things we value. The obvious insurances that come to mind are for our homes, automobiles, life and health. Yet, there are other insurances that we subscribe to that are not as obvious.

We insure our heath by eating nutritious food, exercising, and wearing sunscreen and sunglasses when we are outdoors. We insure our safety when we buckle up when driving and follow vehicle codes and speed limits that are set to safeguard our wellbeing behind the wheel. We even insure our water supply by installing proper irrigation equipment with an air gap or backflow device to prevent contaminated water flowing back into our drinking water.

Protecting our investments comes in many forms. As I walked around the garden I considered the investment we’ve made in our landscape and the steps we are taking to insure its success. For example, while Iwas planning where the new bare root raspberries and blueberries are going to be planted, several thoughts came to mind. First I considered the hydrozones—that is, what sun exposures, soil conditions and irrigation methods are needed to keep the plants healthy. I also contemplated what methods must be employed to protect the plants from being eaten by browsing animals and the fruit from being gobbled by birds.

I took a walk early this morning thinking about these things. Damage can occur from deer, gophers, frost, wind and other elements—destroying a garden if we don’t protect it. As I looked around, my assessment assured me that we are adequately insuring all our purchases and hard work in the garden.

Sage ‘May Night’ protected with cage

We are creating fences to deter rabbits and deer from entering the vegetable garden. Wire cages are protecting young flowering plants from browsing cottontail rabbits. Submerged wire baskets and plantings of artemisia, columbine and euphorbia are discouraging gophers. Even young echinaceas are protected from the elements with bottomless one-gallon milk jugs until they get a bit larger, when they will be supported by companion plantings of sunflower, fritillary and Russian sage to help buffer strong winds that can knock over these tall beauties. Empty bags of soil conditioner and the aroma of well-rotted chicken manure, compost and mulch are reminders of the insurance we’ve invested in for a healthy environment and optimum growing season.

Echinacea protected with bottomless milk jug

Structures and equipment also play a part in this insurance. Jack designed beautiful wooden supports to carry the weight of the heavy blooming peonies, insuring a proper showcase for these glorious flowers. The greenhouse protects young seedlings, while covered row hoops will take on the task as the seedlings are moved outside. In the summer, bird nets will be placed over trees to shield the fruit as it ripens, and a smart controller will insure just the correct amount of water is applied to replace the water lost through evapotranspiration.

When I consider the joy gardening brings to me, I find the cost of all this insurance worth the price. I invite you to walk through your garden. Do you have enough insurance to cover your investments? If not, what needs to be done?

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Spring in the Garden

by Charlene Burgi

Spring—it’s my favorite season of the year. It is all about the freshness of new beginnings! Flower seeds lying fallow through the long wet and cold winter burst through the soil to greet us with new creations in the once drab landscape of our gardens.

Rosebush signs of life

Daffodils, crocus and freesia, among other spring bulbs, are resurrected nodding their pretty heads in the gentle winds and acknowledging the welcome sunlight. With great anticipation, I closely watched the roses that appeared beyond the living after weathering the brutal, below-zero winter temperatures. My faith waned this month as I eyed the ever-present dead leaves and brown stems. Yet, this morning I spotted new growth working its way through the stems, renewing my hope in their life! Perennials that appeared dead are also showing signs of new green leaves as they emerge from their roots nestled within the deep layers of protective mulch.

Grosbeak at feeder

Spring also brings the robin—noted as the harbinger. In Lassen, we are treated by the visit of gorgeous evening grosbeaks. Various birds are constructing nests in nearby trees with building materials found around the property. Soon fledging baby birds will find their way to the bird feeders that seem to empty as fast as they are filled.

The warmer weather beckons me outdoors to discover the beautiful wildflowers popping up, or finds me planning and planting new sections of the garden. Bare-root season seduced me with five new blueberry and an equal number of raspberry plants, which are now looking for an ideal spot to call home and protection from the onslaught of hungry rabbits.

Additionally, spring cleaning is on the list this time of year, beginning with the forgotten, unheated garden shed. During the cold winter months, the greenhouse was filled with tools and materials used for gardening, leaving little room for newly seeded plants. To create space, I reorganized the garden shed and potting bench. Tools were oiled, empty pots were stacked and seed starter was mixed. More seeds were unearthed from forgotten containers, then scattered to find new life or filed with others with the promise of soon being planted.

As I looked around while working outside, it became clear it was time to sheet mulch over unwanted weeds that were springing up. If you have never tried it, sheet mulching is simple. The hoard of cardboard squirreled away in the garden shed will soon be put to use by placing it over wetted-down weeds. After covering the weeds with the overlapping cardboard, I will spray more water on top of the cardboard to help make a better connection with the soil below, then finish with a heavy layer of either mulch or composted material.

If planting in the sheet-mulched area is your plan, you can plant directly into the cardboard by cutting holes and backfilling around the rootball with a mixture of site soil and well-rotted compost material. If you are using recycled cardboard from saved boxes, be certain to remove any staples or cellophane as they will not decompose! You can also buy rolls of cardboard at local irrigation supply houses. The dastardly chore of weeding will be met with a grin when you see how simple this task becomes.

Yes, spring is a wonderful time of year. As a friend just wished me: “May your happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.”

Wishing you all a very happy Easter or Passover.

Volunteers Needed for Marin-Friendly Garden Tour May 18

If you enjoy hanging out in a beautiful garden and chatting with fellow gardening enthusiasts, have we got an opportunity for you! We’re looking for volunteers to work morning and afternoon shifts greeting guests at the Marin-Friendly Garden Tour on Saturday, May 18. You’ll receive a t-shirt and small token of our appreciation, and be entered into a drawing to win a Marin-Friendly prize. Volunteer half the day and spend the other half touring inspiring, environmentally friendly gardens! Learn more.

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Fix a Leak

by Charlene Burgi

It’s National Fix a Leak Week—a week when we’re reminded to check our plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems and make any needed repairs to stop water waste.

Ironically, while visiting my granddaughter and a few out-of-town friends this morning, life presented a near water disaster that tied right into the “fix-a-leak” theme. The morning bustle found early risers lining up for showers and completing daily scrubs before granddaughter Kate rose and prepared for work. Within minutes of entering the bathroom she re-emerged in a state of shock wondering who last showered! It seems that she turned her back on the shower enclosure while waiting for the water to get hot enough to enter. Much to her surprise, water spurted up and over the top of the shower enclosure not only drenching her but creating rivulets on the tile floor before she could react to “stop the leak.”

Leaking showerhead

We laughed at her detailed account of the situation, and then investigated why we all managed to fulfill our bathing ritual keeping the water within its intended confines. The story unfolded as we surrounded the shower stall and tried to replicate the drenching. It seems that the last person in the shower had adjusted the shower nozzle when leaving, angling it into a position that dispensed an unwelcome stream of water. Water was pouring out the top of the showerhead before ever reaching the spray portion of the head. One could only guess how long the showerhead had been losing effective shower water!

Leaks are deadly to your water bill. Silent leaks are the worst, as they come packaged in many forms and can catch you unaware. A toilet that flushes without anyone in the room is not the work of a friendly water-waste ghost, but a silent leak that lowers the tank water to a level that causes the toilet to refill even when no one is using it. Sometimes a leaking toilet can only be found by adding food color to the tank, then checking back after 15 minutes to see if the color has seeped into the bowl.

Leaking sprinkler head

Water manages to find the easiest exit out of a pipe. While performing water leak investigations, MMWD’s Conservation staff often discover broken pipes silently leaking below ground. They also commonly find leaky seals around sprinkler heads throwing irrigation water out of the pipe before it ever reaches the nozzle— much like the showerhead misfortune Kate experienced this morning.

Water loss also can rear its ugly head when water pressure exceeds an irrigation system’s intended use. High water pressure may not show up as a leak by the conventional definition, but rather as misting into the atmosphere. This is as much a water-waster as a dripping faucet. Drip emitters can also pop off of a drip line when pressure exceeds the recommended amount of water flowing through the drip tube. The installation of a pressure regulator will correct these problems.

This week, check your water meter. Turn off all the water in the house and yard, then carefully remove the lid of the meter box with a screwdriver. Lift the meter cover and check that all the dials and triangle are not moving. If you see movement, you have a leak to find and repair. This is the week to investigate! While you’re at your meter box, snap a picture of your water meter for a chance to win a water-efficiency prize package through the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership’s “Fix a Leak Week” photo contest.

Remember, if you have water, you have the potential to find a leak when you least expect it, and it isn’t always found by an annoying drip, drip, drip. Just ask Kate!

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Fifth Annual Fix a Leak Week: March 18 – 24

by Keith Bancroft

MMWD and water agencies across the country are teaming up with U.S. EPA’s WaterSense program to promote the fifth annual Fix a Leak Week, March 18 – 24, 2013. This is to remind everyone to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation system for leaks that, collectively, waste more than one trillion gallons of water from U.S. homes every year. That’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami combined!

The Water Research Foundation conducted a study of the end uses of water in the average home and found that water leaks account for 14 percent of overall indoor water use. What does this mean, exactly? Considering that the study found the largest end uses of water in the average home are the toilet (26 percent), followed by the clothes washer (22 percent) and shower (17 percent), the water lost to leaks (14 percent) is almost equal to the amount used for showering! So, next time you’re taking a shower, imagine that the same volume of water running down the drain is being lost to leaks—every day! And if you’re in the shower, you won’t have to look very far to find the most common source of household leaks: your toilet.

Our Conservation staff has conducted over 3,600 site visits to homes over the past five years, testing over 7,500 toilets for leaks during this time, and found a leak in almost 20 percent of all toilets tested. Yikes! So, there’s good news and bad news here. The bad news is that about 20 percent of toilets in our service area are leaking, and each leak can waste hundreds of gallons per day. The good news is these leaks are often fairly easy and inexpensive to repair.

The Alliance for Water Efficiency’s “Home Water Works” website offers several helpful videos on how to test your toilet for leaks and how to make repairs if you do find a leak.

If you’re thinking of taking it one step further and replacing your old toilet (or faucet or showerhead) with a new high-efficiency WaterSense model, the “Home Water Works” web site also offers several helpful do-it-yourself videos on fixture replacements.

Now that you know where to look, what to look for, and how to stop it from happening, get out there and Fix a Leak!

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Changing Tides

by Charlene Burgi

Lettuce in container

Years ago, people would comment about how large the yard was in the home where my daughter and son grew up. I think back to that place now and recall that it was an average subdivision-size lot. It didn’t seem big to me at the time, and it was designed for low maintenance except for about a third that was dedicated to fruit trees and a vegetable garden with raised beds.

Over the years, I noticed homes getting bigger while gardens got smaller. Many people with busy lives looked for less landscape to care for when shopping for a new home. Yet recently there seems to be a change in the tides. “What can I do to create a bigger garden in such a small space?” is the question that I hear most often. The push for “victory gardens,” the desire to grow organic, and the wish to avoid genetically modified foods are settling into our bones. We want to do what is healthy for the soil as well as our bodies. As gardeners look for ways to maximize space, vertical gardens are popping up in magazines and catalogs. Ads boast about the production of veggies grown in special portable bags. Tomatoes are grown as hanging plants. The retail market recognizes a need that didn’t exist in the past.

Rosemary kept by the BBQ

What did folks do before these new conveniences? My mom didn’t have a large planting area in her back yard, but she had an abundance of zucchini, basil, parsley, tomatoes, string beans and various herbs that she used for cooking. She maximized the little space she had by planting many of her veggies and herbs in containers. Compact veggies were chosen for the containers, leaving the sprawling varieties such as zucchini, tomatoes and string beans for planting in the ground. She chose container sizes specifically to accommodate the eventual size of the plants within. All containers had holes in the bottom for good drainage; a handful of crushed rock; and a mixture of good compost, steer or chicken manure, and topsoil. The containers could be positioned for best exposure for the sun-lovers like basil or parsley, while lettuce was saved for the shady spots in her yard.

If you need to maximize your garden area with containers, there are a few things to remember before starting:

1. Container plants require a bit more maintenance than plants growing in the ground.
2. Containers need more water. The air circulating around the containers will dry out the soil faster.
3. Vegetables are heavy feeders, and the soil in containers is limited for drawing on additional microorganisms. A monthly application of organic compost tea should sustain a healthy environment and keep production at an optimum.
4. Place a layer of mulch around your plants to decrease the amount of evaporation from the soil.

Are you looking for more space in your garden to give vegetables a place but don’t want the clutter of containers? One way to expand your growing space is to add vegetables to your existing landscape! Intermix rainbow Swiss chard with perennials, and add a border of parsley or beets. Or mix ‘Dark Opal’ basil with its beautiful deep red-purple leaves and pink flowers with ‘Pizzazz White’ wax begonias. The effect can be gorgeous!

One word of caution if you mix your veggies with existing landscaping: Plant the vegetables in an area with plants that require the same amount of water. You wouldn’t want to risk drowning your prized lavender by sharing its hydrozone with lemon cucumbers! Keep shade-loving, high-water-use plants together, and irrigate sun-loving plants with vegetables with the same growing needs.

The warm weather is a temptress. Start your seeds, prepare the soil, or plan how those vertical gardens will work into your landscape!

Hold the Date: Marin-Friendly Garden Tour May 18

If you are in search of more garden inspiration, don’t miss our Marin-Friendly Garden Tour on Saturday, May 18! This FREE, self-guided tour showcases Marin gardens designed to protect our local environment and conserve our precious water resources. Complete the simple online registration and reserve your spot today!

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Doing the Right Thing

by Charlene Burgi

The approach of mid-March, daylight saving time, rising evapotranspiration (ET) rates, and prolonged dry weather are indicators that we are long past due for testing our irrigation systems for leaks, breaks, and clogged heads and emitters before we turn them on for the season.

This spring chore is as necessary for saving water outdoors as is installing a high-efficiency toilet or repairing a leaking faucet indoors. One might argue that the water from a missing drip emitter is still watering the ground; however, the missing emitter is also reducing the water pressure in the line and starving plants “down stream” of their needed water supply. A clogged emitter prevents any water from getting out of the pipe, and a broken pipe is literally water down the drain without any benefit to the garden—but a sure bet of a high water bill.

What amazes most of us is our irrigation systems worked perfectly before we turned them off in the late fall. What creates this added chore in our already busy schedules? And if we do the right thing by checking before turning the irrigation system on, what is the best “down and dirty” way to approach it so we can move on to more exciting things going on in our lives?

First, check the controller for the time and date setting to determine if winter power outages tampered with that detail. A controller will default to watering ten minutes every day on every station. That is a lot of water! Replace any back-up battery if your controller has that feature. Many new controllers have a built-in feature that maintains the settings for a given period of time without a battery back-up. If your controller is malfunctioning, this might be the time to consider upgrading to a smart controller: Once calibrated to your garden, it will free up time now spent monitoring the controller on a weekly basis.

Missing nozzle

Next, manually turn on each individual station from the controller and walk around that station listening and watching for water hissing or spurting in the air. Exposed broken pipes will sound like an uncontrolled gushing hose. Broken pipes underground may present themselves by puddling or lifting the lawn in a pillow-like fashion. Watch for sprinklers that no longer spray to the adjacent heads on the same station. Lack of water pressure indicates a break in the pipe somewhere. The stations with drip emitters should be producing the same amount of water at the end of the line as at the beginning, closest to the valve. If you are on a sloped area, be certain you have pressure-compensating emitters installed so there is an equal distribution of water despite the elevation variation in your garden.

Emitters that are plugged need to be cleaned out. Replace missing emitters and repair damaged drip tubing so water is not escaping where it isn’t wanted. Remember you are directing water to the root zone of plants to prevent unnecessary weed growth elsewhere. Contact a licensed QWEL landscape contractor if you experience a lack of communication between the controller and the valve that opens the station to be watered. This could indicate a broken wire, malfunctioning solenoid or a problem with the controller. You might want to leave this chore to the pros.

Each station requires this type of scrutiny before you turn on the irrigation system for the season. You won’t regret taking the time for this chore. Fix problems now, and your water bill will reward you for your efforts!

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