Free event will show how to upgrade irrigation, get greener grass with less cas
Give your sprinkler system a tune-up with help from
a free hands-on workshop. (Photo courtesy Regional
Water Authority)
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Are your sprinklers ready for an upgrade?
Learn all about irrigation and how to get the most out of your sprinklers during “Sprinkler Spruce Up,” a free event hosted by the Sacramento Suburban Water District.
This hands-on workshop will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 22, at the Garden on Eden, 4900 Eden Ct. in Carmichael.
Irrigation experts will show you how to get your sprinklers ready for the summer months ahead. No registration is necessary.
Now is an excellent time to get your irrigation in good working order, before the heat of summer really hits. Outdoor landscaping accounts for more than half of Sacramento’s summer water use. With another season of drought restrictions looming, upgrading sprinkler heads can be a quick fix that adds up to big savings.
Replacing inefficient spray heads with new rotator nozzles gives the lawn much better irrigation coverage while saving an estimated 30% of water usage. The result: Greener grass while saving cash.
Questions? Contact Water Conservation Supervisor Greg Bundesen at 916-679-2890.
For more water-saving tips as well as rebates, visit BeWaterSmart.info .
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For week of March 24:
In between cloud bursts, try to catch up with early spring chores.
* Attack weeds now! Get them before they flower and go to seed. Take a hoe and whack them as soon as they sprout. Aim for 1 inch below the soil line.
* Start preparing vegetable beds. Spade in compost and other amendments.
* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs after bloom.
* Feed camellias at the end of their bloom cycle. Pick up browned and fallen flowers to help corral blossom blight.
* Feed citrus trees, which are now in bloom and setting fruit. To prevent sunburn and borer problems on young trees, paint the exposed portion of the trunk with diluted white latex (water-based) interior paint. Dilute the paint with an equal amount of cold water before application.
* Feed roses with a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium available in that product).
* Prune and fertilize spring-flowering shrubs and trees after they bloom. Try using well-composted manure, spread 1-inch thick under the tree. This serves as both fertilizer and mulch, retaining moisture while cutting down on weeds.
* Cut back and fertilize perennial herbs to encourage new growth.
* Seed and renovate the lawn (if you still have one). Feed cool-season grasses such as bent, blue, rye and fescue with a slow-release fertilizer. Check the irrigation system and perform maintenance. Make sure sprinkler heads are turned toward the lawn, not the sidewalk.
* In the vegetable garden, transplant lettuce and cole family plants, such as cabbage, broccoli, collards and kale.
* Seed chard and beets directly into the ground.
* Plant summer bulbs, including gladiolus, tuberous begonias and callas. Also plant dahlia tubers.
* Shop for perennials. Many varieties are available in local nurseries and at plant events. They can be transplanted now while the weather remains relatively cool.