Future upcoming topics include:

• Efficient Irrigation – July 15, 2010
• California Native Plants – August 19, 2010
• Landscape Sprinkler Systems  - September 16, 2010
• Soils, Watering, and Fertilizing – October 14, 2010
• Efficient Irrigation – November 11, 2010

For more information visit Santa Margarita Water District’s Upcoming Events page at http://www.smwd.com/event-links.htm.

Sago Palms (Cycas revoluta) may look like palms, but they  are actually more closely related to conifers, or pine trees. They are part of the Cycad family and date back to prehistoric times. Sago palms have stiff narrow leaflets and shaggy trunks. They are extremely slow growing. Taller specimens are highly sought after and can be a bit on the expensive side. The male variety grows a cone in the heart of the plant, while the female variety will grow a felt seed mass.

All parts of the Sago Palm are poisonous, not only to animals, but humans as well. Symptoms of poisoning first start to appear approximately 12 hours after ingestion. According to the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) website, the plant contains “toxic compounds that can potentially produce vomiting and diarrhea, weakness, seizures and even liver failure and death in cats and dogs“. The same article also states that “50 to 75 percent of cases involving ingestion of Sago Palm result in fatalities“. If you believe that your pet may have ingested any amount of the plant, contact a poison control center or veterinarian immediately.

ASPCA listed plant poisonings as one of their Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2009 with over  7,858 calls to their Animal Poison Control Center. Sago Palms are just one of many plants that are toxic to pets. The ASPCA has a list of 17 Poisonous Plants, many of which are common in our Southern California gardens. If you have a Sago in your garden, and you have pets or small children, it’s best to replace the plant with something that is non-toxic. The ASPCA has a searchable database of plants that are both toxic and non-toxic that you can use to find a suitable replacement.

Our pets are an important part of our lives. For most of us they are part of the family. Take a walk through your garden and make sure it’s safe for your pets. Before planting new plants, check the above mentioned database to make sure they’re not toxic. Do the best you can to provide a safe environment for your pets. Please share the information in this post and the linked articles with your family, friends, and any other pet lovers you may know.

The Irvine Ranch Water District is offering a FREE webinar on Saturday May 30th entitled New Ways for Smart Landscape Watering. Learn simple, practical tips that will help you water your landscape more efficiently and save money on your water bills. Enjoy the webinar from the comfort of your own home via the internet. Join water conservation and landscape experts for an informative, interactive session. Seminar topics will include:

• 5 easy steps to tune up your irrigation system
• 3 “must-use” features of your timer
• Simple ways to manage your landscaping
• Q&A with our experts

Two sessions are available, 8:00 am and 10:00 am. To register follow this link: IRWD Webinar Registration.

Using an Irrigation Controller for Water Conservation Tips — powered by eHow.com

Turf is usually the highest user of water. Separating turf areas onto a program by itself can save a considerable amount of water in the non-turf areas. Take advantage of all the features on your controller such as budgeting, cycle and soak, and multiple programs. We’ll go into greater detail in future posts, but this video is a great introduction.

With the impending threat of water rationing all across Southern California due to years of drought, an opportunity has opened up for landscape contractors who specialize in water conservation. We plan to fill that niche by providing services such as:

• Irrigation system and sprinkler tuning
• “Smart” controller, rain and moisture sensor installations
• Sprinkler head and general irrigation system retrofitting
• News, tips, and other information on water conservation

Of course we’ll still offer more common services such as sprinkler, pipe, and valve repairs. Keeping your irrigation system in pristine condition is extremely important. Thousands of gallons of water are wasted every day down the storm drain due to broken sprinklers. Many cities are beginning to levy hefty fines on both businesses and residences when they find offenders. Keeping your system working properly will save water and money. We can help.

It is our mission to help our customers reduce their water consumption while still maintaining a healthy, green landscape. Education is the key, and we believe that OCsprinklerrepair.com, and it’s sister site LAsprinklerrepair.com, can be leaders in the industry providing useful information to Southern California’s residents that will help them save our most precious asset, water.

If you’re interested in our services or have any questions, please feel free to contact  us at (800) 339-2102 or by email at info @ wcgminc.com. Our service area includes all of Orange County and most of Los Angeles County as well. WCGM, Inc. is licensed, bonded, and insured.

Did you know that as much as 50% of your water usage occurs outdoors? That’s significant! By applying some or all of the following tips you can reduce the amount of water your household uses dramatically. Here’s my tips in no particular order:

1. Add mulch to planter beds. Mulch helps to retain moisture and can reduce watering requirements.
2. Aerate turf areas. Aerating can improve drainage and reduce compaction which will help the soil absorb water better and reduce runoff.
3. Maintain your irrigation system. Broken heads and lines can be a major source of wasted water.
4. Adjust controllers often. Adjust your controllers often to compensate for changes in the weather.
5. Install smart controllers. Today’s higher end controllers have many water saving features including the ability to add rain shut offs, moisture sensors, and ET sensors.
6. Reduce turf areas. Turf is one of the highest users of water. Reducing the amount of turf in the landscape will in turn reduce your water consumption.
7. Use plants with low water requirements. Use plants that are adapted to the area and require less water in your landscapes.
8. Install low-volume type irrigation systems. Use drip irrigation or bubblers where possible.
9. Retrofit existing spray-head nozzles with new multi-stream rotor nozzles. Nozzles such as the MP Rotator use up to 30% less water and irrigate more evenly.
10. Water early in the morning. Watering earlier in the morning helps to reduce evaporation.