[DBaty]

I just bought a house and will be gone until September or October when we will move in. The house has very nice mature landscaping and I want to make sure I water enough but not too much. Any advice? Should I get a system installed that waters based on the weather/precipitation? Thoughts on who to hire to install the system? Any other advice on taking care of my landscaping when I am gone? I will plan on flying down from Michigan at least every 60 days but that will not be enough to avert a disaster.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by DBaty

I just bought a house and will be gone until September or October when we will move in. The house has very nice mature landscaping and I want to make sure I water enough but not too much. Any advice? Should I get a system installed that waters based on the weather/precipitation? Thoughts on who to hire to install the system? Any other advice on taking care of my landscaping when I am gone? I will plan on flying down from Michigan at least every 60 days but that will not be enough to avert a disaster.

How did the mature garden survive before?
Stick with, or reduce, the frequency of present watering system.
Rainy season on way, and mature trees and shrubs can pretty much take care of themselves if deep rooted.
With minimal watering garden should survive 60 days until you visit.
You will have to arrange grass cutting and weeding etc. or you will need lumberjacks to cut things down on your return!

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

You will have to arrange grass cutting and weeding etc. or you will need lumberjacks to cut things down on your return!

Or you'll be getting lots of letters this winter.
And they wouldn't telling you how great your lawn looks.

[Decadeofdave]

I modified my yard to be "snowbird landscaping"
Took out a lot of bushes that were landscape overkill. Put in more sod, removed beds Etc. I have my lawn cutter trim bushes that are left once every 3 months. Simple but still looks classic Villages from the street view.

[Toymeister]

Short answer, yes.

Rachio wifi irrigation controller will do this. I've installed them if you need one installed, or you can DIY.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by DBaty

I Any advice? Should I get a system installed that waters based on the weather/precipitation? Thoughts on who to hire to install the system? Any other advice on taking care of my landscaping when I am gone?

A WIFI controller is great to make remote/seasonal adjustments. But for me, the weather adjust feature was unreliable, maybe due to distance to a weather station the variability of weather here. It can rain in the front yard but not the back ;-)

A couple of cameras to keep an eye on the lawn might help. You can also monitor lawn and pest control people.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

Short answer, yes.

Rachio wifi irrigation controller will do this. I've installed them if you need one installed, or you can DIY.

What he said... I bought one and had it installed and up and running in under an hour... Right now, it's suggesting watering about every 8 days, but I've been adding an extra day in between as my lawn is a bit dry right now...

One thing to remember... You have to have internet at your home to use that system...

[Smalley]

We just used ACI irrigation to repair our aging water Irrigation system. There is a rain gauge included in the system which will shut off watering if 1/2 inch of rain falls. That sounds like a good idea for you.

[QPB0078]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

Short answer, yes.

Rachio wifi irrigation controller will do this. I've installed them if you need one installed, or you can DIY.

I have one of these and they work great

[rsmurano]

I have replaced the original irrigation controller in our last 2 houses to the orbit b-hyve unit which is controlled by your wifi. I have helped many friends replace theirs as well. It take 5 mins to swap out and 15 mins to program.
As for linking to local weather stations, you can get a weather station for your backyard and link the b-hyve to it, or link it to a city/county weather station, or any local weather station that you see. I’m linked to somebody’s backyard weather station that is 1 mile away which gives me better info that the leesburg station that is 10 miles away. Writing this, I’m going to go out and do another search to see if there is even a closer weather station to link to.
1 more thing, you can hook up the rain gauge that is placed on your gutter as well as catch cups around your house that determines if your lawn has received enough water.

[mkjelenbaas]

WARNING- first of all do NOT hire Deans - I did and they stopped mowing and I caught them!! SECOND - I am now here 100% and it literally rains every day - I would run my sprinkler system maybe twice a week good luck fro Cadillac!!

[RiderOnTheStorm]

Originally Posted by DBaty

I just bought a house and will be gone until September or October when we will move in. The house has very nice mature landscaping and I want to make sure I water enough but not too much. Any advice? Should I get a system installed that waters based on the weather/precipitation? Thoughts on who to hire to install the system? Any other advice on taking care of my landscaping when I am gone? I will plan on flying down from Michigan at least every 60 days but that will not be enough to avert a disaster.

We had the same challenge. Our solution was to hire competent and trustworthy lawn and garden maintenance people to do what it was that the previous resident owner did. We also gave all the neighbors our contact coordinates and encouraged them to notify us if things didn't look right. Worked splendidly. The hard part is finding the competent maintenance people.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by mkjelenbaas

WARNING- first of all do NOT hire Deans - I did and they stopped mowing and I caught them!! SECOND - I am now here 100% and it literally rains every day - I would run my sprinkler system maybe twice a week good luck fro Cadillac!!

I'm sensing you don't like Dean's... It's just a hunch, mind you...

Personally, they've been great. They do exactly what we contracted them to do. Even when we're away...

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by DBaty

I just bought a house and will be gone until September or October when we will move in. The house has very nice mature landscaping and I want to make sure I water enough but not too much. Any advice? Should I get a system installed that waters based on the weather/precipitation? Thoughts on who to hire to install the system? Any other advice on taking care of my landscaping when I am gone? I will plan on flying down from Michigan at least every 60 days but that will not be enough to avert a disaster.

OPINION-I would ask the previous owner. That would save you needing to make mistakes all over again. Might be wise to get the names of installed plants. Hiring a full service lawn service, one that does. fertilizer, weeding, shrub, trimming, lawn mowing. That way you avoid, the fault is the people YOU hired for chemistry, of mow or water. They will call you with any issues. Far as Michigan, I recall an introductory lawn lecture. The speaker asked how many of you are from the north. His punch line was forget everything you know about lawn care-none of it applies. From me-even the weeds are not the same.