On-Site Sprinkler Irrigation of Treated Wastewater in Ohio

Bulletin 912

Irrigation Area Landscaping

The goal of establishing plants in the irrigation area is to improve the appearance of the lot. Providing irrigation water year-round, in Ohio, benefits landscape plants in a number of ways:

• Supplemental water during dry periods, especially in late summer, helps the establishment of adolescent plants as well as maintaining water supply to established plants.
• Year-round irrigation also provides a cooling effect on the plants as the water evaporates.

When cooling occurs in the summer, plants are better protected from heat stress. The occurrence of an unseasonably warm, winter day will not cause the plants to prematurely bloom because of the evaporative cooling effects provided by the irrigation. In this way, the irrigated plants are protected from the damage that occurs when delicate buds and shoots are frozen when temperatures return to normal sub-freezing temperatures. Protection from desiccation from cold and dry winds is also provided when an ice coating forms on plants (Figure 5, back cover).

Research to determine appropriate plants for on-site irrigation systems is ongoing at The Ohio State University. Initial results reveal that most native trees and shrubs grow better when irrigated year-round compared to plants receiving no irrigation. Figure 6 and Figure 7 (see back cover) are photographs showing late summer leaf color and plant vigor. Comparisons of the two show an extreme disparity of plant health, with the year-round irrigated plot showing a much healthier appearance.

A preliminary list of appropriate plants appears in Appendix D. Additional plants will be posted on http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~setll/ as research continues.

Some plants are not recommended for wastewater irrigation sites. Listed in Appendix E are plants that are adversely impacted by ice build-up. Other plants, which are not included on this list, but should not be planted in wastewater irrigation areas, are those that produce fruit for human consumption.

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Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.

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