HydroPoint Data Systems. The WeatherTRAK evapotranspiration controller automatically adjusts irrigation schedules based on landscape needs and local weather conditions. According to its maker, HydroPoint, WeatherTRAK eliminates landscape overwatering and saves four times more water than any other technology. The device draws on information delivered wirelessly from 27,000 weather stations to automatically schedule irrigation based on the temperature outdoors, how much it has rained, and how much water each plant needs. 800.362.8774. www.weathertrak.com.
Netafim USA. Bioline Dripperline disperses wastewater through a modular drip irrigation system. Its flexible tubing delivers a slow, steady stream of water directly to plants’ roots—even those in oddly shaped and hard-to-water areas—thereby eliminating the overspray, staining, and slippery surface problems common with other irrigation systems. Better still, the product is said to use 30 percent to 70 percent less water than traditional sprinklers. 888.638.2346. www.netafim-usa-wastewater.com.
Soil Retention. Drivable Grass is comprised of tilelike, 2-foot-by-2-foot concrete squares connected via a grid system. Lattice-style holes and cracks in the flexible paving mat facilitate grass seed root penetration into the soil, anchoring it firmly in place. The mat’s porous nature also filters moisture into the underlying soil, increasing on-site water retention and reducing runoff. 800.346.7995. www.soilretention.com.
Clivus Multrum. The manufacturer’s custom-designed graywater system includes a “dosing basin” as the collection point for all of a home’s graywater. Made of rigid plastic, it contains level switches and an effluent pump or gravity siphon (if adequate slope is available). When an amount of graywater sufficient to create a 1 1/2-inch flooding dose within the irrigation chamber has collected in the dosing basin, the pump (or siphon) engages. Because the irrigation chamber is flooded throughout its length, water and nutrients are carried evenly to surrounding plants. 800.425.4887. www.clivusmultrum.com.
The Toro Co. Toro’s Lawn Master II landscape timer offers three watering program options and satisfies the multiple-option timer requirement of communities with water restrictions in place. A large LCD screen, a programming dial, and selection buttons let homeowners choose which days to water and how long each zone will be watered. A sensor shuts off the irrigation system if it rains. 800.367.8676. www.toro.com.
Rain Bird Corp. The Gardener’s Drip Kit includes all the connections, tubing, emitters, and tools needed to install Rain Bird’s drip irrigation system to an outdoor faucet or underground irrigation system. The drip releases water directly to the soil’s surface, where it then soaks down to plants’ roots. Rain Bird says the all-in-one kit is a re-engineered version of its professional-grade drip components, and is therefore easier to install. 800.724.6247. www.rainbird.com.
Aaron’s Rain Barrels. Leominster, Mass.-based craftsman Aaron Pratt fashions these rain barrels from 20 pounds of recycled plastic or 110 pounds of oak, brass, or steel. Each features two spigots and connects directly to a home’s rain gutter downspouts. A removable zinc irrigation spigot can attach to a regular garden hose, and a shutoff valve enables homeowners to leave it open for drip irrigation. The 58-gallon plastic rain barrel is fully enclosed for safety. The wooden barrels (shown) are reclaimed from Kentucky distilleries. 978.790.1816. www.ne-design.net.
Oldcastle Architectural Product Group (Belgard). The permeable pavers in Belgard’s Environmental Series are made of concrete and separated by joints filled with crushed stones. Water enters the joints between the pavers and filters through the stone layers; the pollutant-free water that remains is then absorbed into the soil. Suitable for patios, driveways, walkways, pools, and other areas, the pavers allow for modular and random installation in patterns resembling natural cobblestones. Multiple shapes, colors, and patterns—including Subterra stone (shown)—are available. 877.235.4273. www.belgard.biz.
Pine Hall Brick Co. RainPave clay brick pavers from Pine Hall Brick enable stormwater to filter into the soil instead of draining into streams and rivers. The company says the permeable pavers satisfy state and local stormwater management requirements and are easier to install than some competing products, because their sizes vary only slightly. The pavers also feature the same color throughout, so they won’t fade, and reportedly will last more than a century once in place. 800.334.8689. www.pinehallbrick.com.
