San Diego’s Rainy Season: How to Prepare Your Commercial Landscape
October: The Start of the Rainy Season
It’s October, pumpkin spice scents are in the air, spooky decorations are everywhere, and though it’s still quite warm, rain is coming soon. That means it’s time to prepare your commercial property and HOA community for San Diego County’s rainy season (October 1 to April 30).
As a property manager, you know heavy rain can be as challenging as drought, and you don’t want to wait for the first major storm to discover your property is unprepared. Preparation steps include inspecting and clearing all drainage systems, adjusting irrigation controllers, and stabilizing slopes.
A strong El Niño is forecast, so we expect wetter-than-normal conditions. With the possibility of heavy rainfall, careful planning can help prevent costly structural damage, including erosion, which can damage trees and plant material and expose roots.
Commercial properties also play a key role in preventing pollutant runoff, such as oil, soil, fertilizer, trash, and other pollutants that typically enter waterways. Preparing for the rainy season helps avoid severe environmental compliance violations. How severe? Polluters who violate the Clean Water Act can face federal and state civil penalties exceeding $51,000 per violation, per day!
Irrigation System Inspections
When did you last schedule an irrigation audit? Irrigation audits help identify hidden water waste, such as underground leaks, misaligned sprinklers, and broken valves. Even if you don’t plan to schedule an audit, it’s a good idea to adjust your irrigation schedule. Of course, not every zone needs the same adjustment, but you want to make sure you aren’t overwatering.
When rainfall starts, pause your watering schedules. When should you turn it back on? You’ll know when to turn each zone back on based on your property's conditions. For fertilization, avoid applying pesticides or chemical fertilizers at least 48 hours before and after rainfall.
Key points:
- Turn off or reduce irrigation
- Inspect weather-based or smart controllers to ensure accuracy
- Adjust sprinkler heads if needed to prevent them from spraying onto sidewalks, parking lots, etc.
Inspect Drains
A property manager's life is never boring, and during the rainy season, there are a few things to watch for before major storms arrive. Add drain inspection to your to-do list. This can protect your commercial property from severe parking-lot flooding that can endanger vehicles and visitors alike.
Taking a proactive approach can also help protect building foundations. Advise your maintenance crew to clear pipes so they can move water away before it saturates the soil and causes foundation issues, including shifting and concrete cracks.
Key points:
- Clear all debris, leaves, and trash from ground drains, downspouts, and catch basins
- Clear building perimeters and rooftops of debris that can wash into the storm drain system
- Keep waste, such as landscape runoff, debris, and leaves, from storm drains and streets
Walk the Slopes
Erosion can be a major issue during major storms. You can help prevent erosion and manage slopes by walking the area and inspecting it for bare patches, early signs of soil movement, and cracks. It’s also a good idea to prepare for short-term erosion control by installing straw wattles, weighted sandbags, or silt fences. Also keep loose mulch and any stockpile of fertilizer or soil at least 50 feet away from drainage paths and inlets.
Key points:
- Inspect slopes and hillsides to ensure stabilization
- Add a 2-3-inch layer of mulch to planting beds
- Keep emergency barriers such as straw wattles, sandbags, and gravel bags on hand
Ensure Pedestrian Safety at Office Parks and Retail Plazas
In areas with heavy foot traffic, such as walkways and parking lots, pedestrians and employees face health risks, including slipping and tripping. To prevent accidents, inspect entryways, concrete pavers, and walkways, and clear moss, algae, and wet leaves, which can become slick after rain.
In office parks and retail centers with mature shade trees, pruning is recommended. Pruning overextended and dead branches may help prevent them from snapping and falling onto parked cars, buildings, and walkways.
Preparing for the rain
Rain is a welcome sight in San Diego County. However, with the rain comes specific needs for your commercial landscape. With a heavier-than-normal rain forecast, preparation is essential to prevent issues from damaging your commercial property or causing harm to your employees and customers.
Experience Quality Service. The Difference...Is Growing
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For a competetive landscape maintenance bid, contact us at 760-650-3120 or send us a message.
Let's work together
Do you have a landscaping project in mind? is it time for a new HOA landscaping company? Westturf Landscape Management Inc. is ready to help. We offer a wide range of services, from synthetic turf installation to weed and brush clearance and complete landscape transformations. When it comes to quality, efficient landscape maintenance services, we have you covered.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Westturf Landscape Management Inc.
701 Mercantile Street
Vista, CA 92083
Phone: 760.650.3120