Be Wise, Responsible & Efficient

Here it is July, and once again it’s Smart Irrigation Month. Why July? Why bother?

So, why July? Historically, it is the highest evapotranspiration month of the year (when the most water is used by the landscape). It is also in the middle of the irrigation season, when people are very aware their irrigation systems are operating. There may be other months when more water could be saved, as there is probably less overwatering in July, but July offers the awareness of the irrigation season and a larger water bill to the end user.

An estimated 50 percent of water used outdoors is wasted. The vast majority of this water is from irrigation systems that are applying more water than needed, operating in the rain or using the old scheduling technique of “set it and forget it.” At the beginning of June, I was in Montana, and it both rained and snowed while I was there. At first, I was amazed at the number of automatic irrigation systems there, but was very disappointed in how many were irrigating in the middle of the snow and rain. There are such things as rain shut-off devices.
 

The point is landscape irrigation systems do and can waste water when managed improperly. July is the month to educate customers, clients, associates, employees and others about proper irrigation techniques.

Second, why bother promoting Smart Irrigation Month? As anyone in the irrigation industry knows, unless you’re just plain naive, irrigation is being challenged on many fronts. That is not a good thing. This is a quote from a recent front page article in the Boston Globe: “Much of the excess water is used to beautify expansive green yards in affluent communities like Lincoln and Wayland and feed automated sprinklers that burst forth even when rain pours from the sky. At the same time, hundreds of homeowners are digging private irrigation wells each year in part to duck local lawn-watering restrictions….” Smart Irrigation Month provides an opportunity to deter this type of attack and to highlight the benefits of irrigation as well as educate the public on the importance of using water wisely, responsibly and efficiently. It also gives us the opportunity to learn a few new things or reeducate ourselves while we are educating the public. The public includes our relatives, customers, employees and anyone else willing to listen, by the way. Smart Irrigation Month gives you an opportunity to promote your company as an industry leader to both your customers and your business associates as well as show up your competition.
 

Really though, how big a deal can it be? Well, a pretty big one. If you look around this month, you will see Smart Irrigation Month-related marketing campaigns from various manufacturers. You may see news that Congress passed a resolution celebrating July as Smart Irrigation Month. You will see articles in various trade magazines. You might see a child coloring in a Smart Irrigation Month coloring book or working a Smart Irrigation Month puzzle. Have you seen a Smart Irrigation Month bumper sticker yet? Sounds silly, but it is marketing. There is even a Web site to fulfill all of your Smart Irrigation Month needs: www.smartirrigationmonth.org.

On the Web site, you will find press releases, articles, case studies, shipping labels, logos, the puzzles, coloring books and a variety of other promotional tools. The promotion of Smart Irrigation Month should also not be limited to contractors. Consultants, manufacturers, distributors, water managers and water purveyors can also promote it. Remember that it will show your company’s commitment to water conservation and it will easily differentiate you from your competition in today’s difficult market.

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Lawn and Landscape Marketing on a Budget

Digital marketing can feel overwhelming when you’re working with a limited budget. Websites, SEO, social media, and paid ads can quickly add up, but you don’t need to do everything to see results. By focusing on cost-effective strategies, you can still make a big impact without overspending.

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Lawn and Landscape Marketing on a Budget

Digital marketing can feel overwhelming when you’re working with a limited budget. Websites, SEO, social media, and paid ads can quickly add up, but you don’t need to do everything to see results. By focusing on cost-effective strategies, you can still make a big impact without overspending.

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Lawn and Landscape Marketing on a Budget

Digital marketing can feel overwhelming when you’re working with a limited budget. Websites, SEO, social media, and paid ads can quickly add up, but you don’t need to do everything to see results. By focusing on cost-effective strategies, you can still make a big impact without overspending.

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Lawn and Landscape Marketing on a Budget

Digital marketing can feel overwhelming when you’re working with a limited budget. Websites, SEO, social media, and paid ads can quickly add up, but you don’t need to do everything to see results. By focusing on cost-effective strategies, you can still make a big impact without overspending.

As an industry, we need to realize our water infrastructure is struggling to keep pace with water demand and we need to show the world we are doing our part and not just designing, installing and managing systems with “sprinklers that burst forth even when rain pours from the sky.” Smart Irrigation Month can help you do that, and if you are too late for this year, start planning for July 2010.