Baseline Systems BaseStation 1000 - Manual (Page 12)

BaseStation 1000 Irrigation Controller Manual
Optimal biSensor Placement for Slopes and Berms
If the slope or berm is irrigated as a part of a larger zone that is mostly level, Baseline recommends
that you place the sensor in the larger level area. However, for most efficient results, set up
separate zones to water the top, middle, and bottom of slopes and berms.
Burying the biSensor
Install the biSensor according to the installation instructions that are included with it. When
installing a biSensor in an established landscape, avoid disturbing the surrounding soil in order to
reduce the chance that adjustments will be needed later.
In general, you should install the biSensors in the top 1/3 of the root zone for the plant that is being
irrigated. In the case of turf grass, the top of the sensor blade should be 2 inches to 3 inches from
the bottom of the thatch layer.
Note: Burying the moisture sensor too deep can cause poor results. If the sensor is deeper than the
top 1/3 of the root zone, these roots can become too dry and the plants may become stressed.
Turf Grass
As previously stated, you should bury the sensor 2 inches to 3 inches below the thatch layer, or in
the top 1/3 of the root zone of the grass.
Newly Seeded Turf Grass or New Sod
The default watering strategies for the 1000 are intended to optimize water efficiency for
established plants and turf. This style of watering can result in poor performance for newly seeded
turf.
If you want to install a sensor in newly seeded turf grass, follow the installation instructions and
bury the sensor at the proper depth. Baseline recommends that you water according to an
appropriate timed schedule until the grass has rooted sufficiently (typically 60 to 90 days) before
enabling a sensor based watering strategy. After the grass has rooted, you can convert the zone to
a sensor based watering strategy.
Likewise, newly installed sod has very shallow roots. Water the new sod on an appropriate time
schedule until it has rooted sufficiently to enable a sensor based watering strategy (typically 30 to
60 days).
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