Heat and watering plants are common subjects during summer days in Las Vegas.
The SNWA restricts the outdoor water irrigation to 6 days a week, 7PM to 11AM during the summer months. The irrigation watering is prohibited on Sundays.
You can set the irrigation clock to water twice a day in the evening, after 7pm, and morning, before 11am. If needed, you can also manually water sprinkle the soil during the day to keep it wet, without wasting water.
Desert landscapes are an excellent option in Las Vegas. Plants and green elements can be added to your desert landscape. There are many plants that thrive in the desert with just little watering every day. You can have the irrigation system installed to provide the right amount of water to each plant without wasting water on rocks.
Hot weather kills beautiful green grass unless it is hydrated properly. The mandatory watering restrictions imposed by the Southern Nevada Water Authority allows sprinkler watering in the summer (May to August) any day of the week, except Sunday, and according to watering group schedule. Additionally, no watering is permitted between 11AM and 7AM during summer. The watering days are posted on water bills or they can be found on the SNWA website. That being said, it is also important not to waste water while running the sprinklers. So, adjusting sprinklers is important, as well as it is important what type of irrigation system is installed in the yard.
Be sure to properly care for your outdoor oasis by developing and maintaining a watering and irrigation system that will protect your yard even during the hot days of summer.
Do you need to hire a licensed contractor for the irrigation work you need to have done? The Nevada State Contractors Board requires that contractors must have landscape licenses in the state of Nevada, if a job is $1,000 or more or if the job requires a building permit.
Irrigation or drainage systems installation and service require that the work be performed by a licensed contractor.
You can verify if the service provider is licensed and in good standing on the Nevada State Contractors Board website. Additional information related to landscaping contractors can also be found on the NSCB website at: https://www.nscb.nv.gov/landscaping_guide.html
Weather started cooling and, every year, we have few days of freezing temperatures that could do a lot of damage to your exposed pipes and outside faucets. Don't wait, take action now then you don't have to worry about freezing irrigation lines or hose bibs. You can use blankets or different insulation materials, or for few bucks, you can buy the pipe insulation and Standard or Hard Faucet Covers from Home Depot. Don't forget about your backflow preventer. If it is located in your front yard, throwing a blanket over it may not look too good... So you could place a Resin Landscape Rock on top, available at the home improvement stores.
Summer heat is here, it's time to flush your system and rinse your filter.
Each year intense summer heat kills thousands of plants unnecessarily . Often it is simply caused by a lack of required annual maintenance. If you notice your plants looking limp this summer and turning yellow or brown while dropping leaves or foliage, it's time to rinse out the filter and check the water flow at the wilting plant.
Your first step is to open the underground irrigation box and locate the plastic filter cap. Unscrew the cap, pull out the filter and rinse under cold water until clean of all debris. Replace the filter and cap.
This should be done twice per year.
Next, head over to the wilting plant or plants and locate the drip emitter. Pull the emitter from the drip line and turn on the system. Let the water run for a minute or so to flush out any debris. Now push the emitter back into the drip line and check for water flow. If no water is being delivered to the wilting plant, its time to replace the emitter head.
If you are not the do-it-yourself handy type. We are only a phone call, email or text away to complete the required maintenance to save your plants.
Don’t starve your plants, give them a sip with a long slow drip.
Each year, after we have had several days of freezing weather, it is important to have your irrigation system and backflow preventer inspected and tested prior to the summer months. Inspections and repairs now can save you the possibility of spending hundreds of dollars and wasting valuable water due to broken or cracked pipes. A backflow preventer that is tested and repaired now could prevent a future replacement of the entire valve. During the heat of the upcoming summer months, your irrigation system inspection can prevent your plants from drying out or possible dying. Remember, your backflow preventer is not just a part of your landscape system, it is a required device that prevents contaminants from being siphoned into your drinking water.
Spring watering is in effect for the months of March and April in the Las Vegas valley. Watering of plants and trees should be done as follows:
See the watering group map below. However, if you are not sure what watering group your property belongs to, go to https://www.lvvwd.com/conservation/mandatory-watering-schedule/ and enter your address.
The spring water schedule is a simple way to determine how much water your plants need based on their size and stage of maturity. This formula can help you determine if you should use drip irrigation or overhead watering.
The spring water schedule is a simple way to help your plants get off to a good start. You can use this method to make sure that your plants are getting enough water at the beginning of their life cycle. This is especially helpful if you have just started growing and don't know how much water your plants need. Spring water schedule is a great way to ensure that your plants receive adequate amounts of water throughout the entire season.
Step 1: Fill a bucket with water and place it in a sunny spot outside.
Step 2: Wait until the water has warmed up to room temperature (about 70 degrees).
Step 3: Place your pots into the bucket. Make sure they are not touching each other or the sides of the bucket.
Step 4: Cover the top of the bucket with plastic wrap.
Each winter we receive numerous calls to repair or replace broken and frozen exterior backflow preventers, landscape irrigation pipes and vacuum breakers due to expansion and contraction of dissimilar materials caused by freezing or sub-freezing temperatures.
Some simple, do-it-yourself, protective measures may prevent a visit by your friendly and sometimes expensive technician.
Grass thinning happen due to inadequate conditions such as too dry or too cold, no sun or too much sun, too much watering, etc. When individual grass plants die, the grass thinning occur. Golf courses in Las Vegas experience grass thinning yearly and areas of the golf course must be re-seeded periodically. The re-seeding is normally done early spring or in the fall. Seeding during very hot or very cold temperatures slows down or eliminates the germination process needed for a seed to grow into a plant and the seed may completely die. The amount of water transmitted to the seed is also important for a successful growth of the new plant. There are multiple grass types available and each has different needs regarding resistance to temperatures, sun exposure, watering, soil consistency. Make sure you follow the instructions provided when you purchase the seeds and call us if you need additional help.
Springs Preserves offers gardening classes and workshops to Las Vegas residents, discussing topics such as planting schedules and how to's, seeds and propagation techniques, creating wildlife-friendly gardens and landscapes, and other topics that can help you decide when and what to plant in your garden. There is normally a small fee for attending the classes and workshops. You can buy tickets and register for the upcoming events on the Springs Preserves website.
