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Originally Posted by Toymeister
Here is a non-common suggestion which will appeal to those who understand total costs. Replace your dumb (Hunter) controller with a Wi-Fi smart controller, such as Rachio Amazon.com : Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller, WiFi, 8 Zone 2nd Generation, Works with Amazon Alexa : Garden & Outdoor GASP it costs 189.00 but it will pay for itself in savings in less than a year.
Rachio connects to your Wi-Fi and in turn connects to the local weather station. That means the water tower in the Villages such as the one in Brownwood across from Eisenhower. Yes that is the Wildwood weather station! Using the actual rainfall, the projected rainfall and temps Rachio can cut back your water consumption. You input the type of sprinklers that you have in each zone along with soil and vegetation type and slope of the ground and Rachio does its magic. It also adjusts your water times monthly based upon the season. It provides a real time estimate of water consumption. You control this technology from your phone, no need to make adjustments in your garage. If you are seasonal and there is a cutback on watering times you can make the adjustments from your other home.
To top it off Rachio IS NOT known for breakdowns as the Hunter controller is! It is an American company with a product built by Americans. |
Actually, YOU are only allowed to water two days a week and they are assigned. IF, there is a logic to this they do not want everyone running their irrigation system on the same days and overloading the supply in the tank that gives you the pressure.
What you pay for water goes up dramatically as you use more. More you use the more you pay per gallon.
Our soil is sandy clay. In plainspeak our soil is poor quality.
Our soil is loaded with limestone so it is alkaline. PH is likely 7-8. Talk a little of your soil put it in a glass jar or drinking glass add vingar (acid) and you will see it fizz.
With a lot of labor and or expense you can add organic matter to the soil and the result is you will use far less water. This past summer we received plenty of rain-I ran my sprinklers 3x all summer. Now it has been dry buy your lawn is shut down for the winter-no need to water it.
As to adding organic matter, it is far more than you might think. About 50 lbs per 100 sq feet and you will need to get it into the soil..