Landscape Management, February 2019

PHOTOS GAYLE KRUCKENBURG AND BRYLAND PHOTOGRAPHY Irrigation Water Management Balanced approach LOCATION Lake Zurich Ill COMPANY Balanced Environments DETAILS The Kemper Lakes Business Center is a multitenant corporate campus surrounded by 150 acres of grounds all of which are managed by Balanced Environments The company took over the landscape contract for the property in 2017 when a new management company took over the campus Irrigation on this site is crazy says Gayle Kruckenburg senior account representative for Balanced Environments So crazy in fact that the irrigation superintendent Spencer Roberts visits the site once a week which is unusual according to Kruckenburg The irrigation system provides water for more than 90 percent of the primary turf areas It includes 4 inch main lines and 91 zones controlled with five Weathermatic smart controllers The property possesses changing water tables and soil types The irrigation system is fed by a series of lakes that surround the property Algae and other debris can clog nozzles some of which need to be changed on a monthly basis Balanced Environments recently separated zones for flower and turf requirements and relocated and removed heads as landscape changes were made Each year the system is winterized a process that occurs over the course of two months See more photos from this project at LandscapeManagement net ROTATE A succession of three fullcolor planting rotations are coordinated through the landscape season The seasonal plantings aim to present color vibrancy and scale Emphasis on multilayered floral selections keeps the interest high from every perspective Irrigation is strictly controlled to respond to changing conditions from spring through fall and with each seasonal planting change PROBLEM SOLVED The large expansive parking lot areas present a challenge for the landscape management team The sites irrigation system does not extend coverage to the islands or outer border areas The system has more than 100 strategically located quick coupler valve connections to allow crews convenient hose watering opportunities The companys in house irrigation team services the system throughout the growing season BLOSSOMING SUCCESS Periodic fertilizer applications and tight control on the irrigation integrated into each of the planting beds keep the mixture of plantings vibrant and full Large specimen trees are actively maintained with periodic pruning to reduce conflicts with the building facades WATER WORLD LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET FEBRUARY 2019 48 GATHER UP A large upper level deck provides tenants with an opportunity to gather outdoors The companys landscape maintenance crew is tasked with the daily maintenance of several thousand square feet of artificial turf and concrete paving Seasonal color planters provide character and color consistent with other plantings on the site Automatic irrigation is not available for these planters so daily monitoring for adequate water helps keep them full and vibrant