® Eco-Mat INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE GUIDE Efficient Subsurface Solution For for Turf Grass and and Smaller Turf Plants
TABLE OF CONTENTS PRODUCT DETAILS .................................................................. 3 RECOMMENDED PRODUCT APPLICATIONS ............................ 3 SITE PREPARATION.................................................................. 4 CALCULATIONS FOR QUANTITY OF PRODUCT REQUIRED...... 5 POSITION THE ENTRY AND FLUSH MANIFOLD ....................... 5 LAY THE PRODUCT................................................................... 6 GREEN ROOF ..............................................
• • • • • Subsurface drip application product Available in rolls of 30 meters, 90 meters (with 17mm PLD,) or 100 meters (with 16mm PLD) 32 inches (80 centimeters) wide roll with two parallel runs of Eco-Wrap® (dripline wrapped in fleece) at 14 inches (35 centimeters) on center, centered on roll Fleece-wrapped dripline helps prevent root intrusion Wrap and Mat create unmatched distribution uniformity resulting in decreased run times compared to conventional drip irrigation systems Built-in check valves in e
SITE PREPARATION • • • • • • • • Recommended Eco-Mat installation depth per plant type: • Turf: 4-6 inches (10-15 centimeters) • Perennials and groundcovers: 8 inches (20 centimeters) • Shrubs: 12 inches (30 centimeters) Recommended to achieve 80-85 percent compaction rate of soil above and below mat. Recommended to scarify soil to a depth of 6 inches (15 centimeters) below mat installation.
• Run Eco-Mat parallel to longest irrigated area length to ensure quick installation and to minimize fitting quantities. To calculate Eco-Mat row quantity for a specific area, divide the shorter side of the area by 26 inches (66 centimeters). The width of the Eco-Mat is 32 inches (80 centimeters), but we will overlap the product by about 6 inches (15 centimeters) in order to attain regular 14-inch (35 centimeter) lateral intervals.
LAY THE PRODUCT • • • • • • • • • 6 Install Eco-Mat with dripline on the top side of the mat. Unroll the mat perpendicular to the entry header. Cut the mat with tubing cutters, scissors, or a blade to conform to irrigated space constraints. Overlap parallel runs of the mat approximately 6 inches (15 centimeters) over the edges to ensure consistent 14 inches (35 centimeters) on center dripline spacing. Install Eco-Mat lateral lines within 4 inches (10 centimeters) of the hardscape edge.
• Eco-Mat is particularly effective with rooftop gardens where the growing medium is very lightweight and porous. Typical dripline cannot succeed well within this soil profile, yet the Eco-Mat performs extremely well. Always refer to the project engineer or architect for rooftop installation parameters. ES • EN GREEN ROOF SYSTEM CHECK • • • • • • • Open the manual flush valve at the exhaust manifold and pressurize the system to thoroughly remove debris within the dripline.
BACKFILL • • • • • • In general, slightly sandy soil (sandy loam) is ideal for subsurface irrigation; this is because “medium” textured soils have the greatest amount of water available to plants due to lower capillary forces. Follow recommendations from the soils report. Backfilling on top of the installed mat can be done by hand or via machine. To avoid damage to the mat and dripline, place at least 4 inches (10 centimeters) of compacted soil on top of the mat before using mechanized equipment.
• • EN When installing sod, ensure proper contact between the sod soil and the wetted backfill soil by rolling sod with a sod roller after installation. Temporary supplemental overhead irrigation is highly recommended when sod is first installed to promote root growth and prevent the drying and shrinking of the sod rolls. Temporary supplemental overhead irrigation is necessary when germinating seed. Run overhead and subsurface irrigation together to ensure proper establishment and root growth.
MOISTURE SENSING • Install and use soil moisture sensor (Soil-Clik®) on or just above the mat to maximize water savings and reduce overwatering. ROOT INTRUSION • • Roots can, and likely will, grow through the mat. The PET fleece defends against root intrusion into the emitters without injecting toxic chemicals or harmful metal byproducts into the soil. MAINTENANCE • • • • Regularly check the Eco-Indicator to identify leaks or clogs in the system.
