Irrigation water is turned into the ditch supplying our HOA around April 10th each year, and shut off around mid October. HOA members who have irrigation rights should have a backup plan in place to water their yards if needed outside of irrigation season. Also, homeowners need to close all open valves by April first so that water doesn’t flood out in their yards when I turn the water into our system in mid-April each year.
Maintenance performed on our system this past season:
- Broken ball valve at filter station at end of Aspen Shores Drive repaired by Tony Morrow who dug it up and fixed it
- The pipe holding the filter also broke and was fixed by Tony Morrow.
- The drip line on the Pine trees adjacent to the highway developed numerous leaks in the line resulting from age deterioration and sun rot. This line needs to be completely replaced before next irrigation season. The cost should run under $150.00 but volunteer help would be appreciated. This technically is not my responsibility.
- Last spring I addressed the board and informed them that all the drippers feeding the trees and shrubs from Perry Lane, down Akamai Way and Blue Heron Lane needed to be exposed and inspected (preferably monthly) to make sure they aren’t plugging up. Because I have a knee replacement and can’t kneel for extended periods, I advised the board that volunteers be appointed to inspect different sections at the beginning of the irrigation season and again mid-season at intervals. No action was taken by the HOA on this issue. In July several trees started looking very dry and I found that due to plugged drippers, some were not getting any water at all. I replaced several drippers.Per a discussion with Sue Baker, she had a master gardener come and inspect the trees and bushes.Since all the trees have gotten much larger than when they were planted, the master gardener recommended that the drippers in each tree be pulled up and placed out from the trees to properly supply the roots with water. It was also recommended that they be be supplied with additional water but only 2-3 times per week, rather than daily. Therefore I will have S&W reprogram the timers to do that next season.
- The last Plum tree next to the first RV lot entrance was planted at a later date using 2 gallon drippers while the other trees used 1 gallon drippers. The M.G. advised that too much water can also be detrimental for the trees.The reason I mentioned this is that an individual noticed the trees were looking sick and took it upon himself to manually open the valves so water was running 24-7. When this is done, the filter becomes completely plugged with silt within 24 hours, and the trees end up getting no water. Since I only inspect filters once weekly and clean them, the trees end up starving for water from the time the filter plugs up until my weekly inspection. THIS HAS TO STOP! I should be contacted personally if someone thinks there is a problem. Plants with plugged drippers still get zero water, and those without plugged drippers get too much. Whomever is doing this is not an irrigation expert and shouldn’t be fooling with the system. And if you are an irrigation expert, then I will gladly invite you to join the irrigation committee. So far I have had no volunteers other than Tony Morrow.
ACTIONS THE HOA NEEDS TO TAKE/ADDRESS
- Line up volunteers willing to commit to exposing the drippers under the bushes and trees so they can be inspected and replaced if needed before next irrigation season. Or in the alternative, hire someone to do it.
- Remind homeowners to contact me or the HOA board if they note any irrigation related issues that need to be addressed. Don’t try to remedy it yourself!3. Get a volunteer/s to inspect the drippers under all the arborvitaes at both RV lots when the irrigation comes on next spring. Make sure none of them are plugged.
- I will not take on additional irrigation responsibilities. Therefore any new planting projects relying on irrigation should address the need for an additional person to help oversee irrigation and the maintenance costs involved as a result. I have been the sole person taking care of the irrigation responsibilities in this neighborhood for the last 12 years, and during that time no one has volunteered to help other than Tony Morrow on occasion. I am 72 and the clock is ticking.
Non-irrigation input: Before the Board designs and implements any new landscaping projects, the maintenance needs of current landscaping need to be identified, and funding for that addressed. (All arbovitaes need to be topped for example)