Baseline Systems BaseStation 1000 - Manual (Page 14)

BaseStation 1000 Irrigation Controller Manual
Shrubs and Other Ornamental Plants
Many landscapes feature shrub zones that are separately watered from turf zones. Shrubs
generally have very different water needs from turf, so having separate zones is a good thing!
For shrub zones, choose a representative plant, and then install the in or close to the top 1/3 of the
root zone for the plant, without damaging the root structure of the plant.
If drip emitters or bubblers are used, install the sensor in a location that is not directly under the
emitter or bubbler to avoid partial watering of the whole root zone of the plant.
Gardens and Crop Plants
Sensors are excellent tools for maximizing crop results. They have been used for decades in
irrigated agriculture.
Garden and crop plant watering depends greatly on the type of plants being grown, and a
discussion of this topic is beyond the scope of this manual.
To plan a watering strategy for larger gardens or crops, Baseline recommends that you contact your
local Cooperative Extension Office. You can find a national register of the extension offices at:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/
Root Depth and Plant Water Efficiency
Studies show that most plants, in particular standard turf grasses, do not grow deeper roots unless
prompted to do so. While some turf grass varietals rapidly grow deeper root structures when
properly watered, even Kentucky bluegrass will grow roots in excess of 12 inches in appropriate soil
textures when it is watered optimally.
Watering deeply and infrequently on a consistent basis will promote healthier plants with deeper
root structures. As roots grow deeper, the plants are then able to access water in deeper and
typically wetter soil layers, making them even more water efficient. Plants with deeper roots are
also able to draw nutrients and fertilizers from deeper soil layers, making the plants more nutrient
efficient as well.
Watering Strategies
Each property is unique and has unique watering requirements. In order to support a broad range
of climate zones, plant types, landscape designs, and landscape usage requirements, the
BaseStation 1000 provides a variety of watering strategies.
The basic watering strategies supported by the 1000 are shown in the following table.
Timed Like all irrigation controllers, you can program the 1000 to run zones on specific
times and dates. Timed irrigation is the default setting for any zone that has not
been associated with a moisture sensor. Refer to Setting Up Zone Runtimes for a
Program on page 39.
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