News + Features
With more than half of the U.S. in drought, irrigation professionals face growing pressure to balance strict municipal water restrictions with client expectations for healthy landscapes — experts share how they manage both.
From the EPA's new Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 to graywater systems and industrial applications, water reuse is rapidly moving from niche practice to mainstream infrastructure across residential and commercial landscapes.
Lighting experts Dawn Hollingsworth, Wes Jackson and Thomas Paterson explain how the five principles of responsible outdoor lighting can reduce light pollution while still delivering the aesthetically compelling results clients want.
The Irrigation Association announces its 2026 award recipients in education, innovation and industry achievement, opens Irrigation Show registration, and names the eight 2026 LaFetra scholarship winners.
Researchers at Oklahoma State University and Mississippi State University are studying whether bluemuda turfgrass can save water and reduce maintenance costs while keeping athletic fields green year-round in transition-zone climates.
New single-family homes saw a slight increase in median lot size in 2025; however, the shift did not change the larger trend of compact neighborhood development.
Columns
Brilliance LED trainer Kevin Smith walks through how to match low-voltage fixtures to every application — from path lights and accent lighting to tree fixtures and advanced techniques — for professional results that reduce callbacks.
IA policy director Andrew Morris explains how drought restrictions have grown more complex in 2026 — and urges contractors to learn the rules, engage with utilities and share field experiences with the IA.
Marketing consultant Kyle McCarthy argues that the most successful irrigation and lighting contractors in 2026 aren't generating the most leads — they're generating better ones and converting them into higher-value work.
Product Spotlight
FX Luminaire
The Terra™ TN-61 in-grade fixture blends affordability, durability, and easy installation into a single reliable solution for professional uplighting applications. It's the midsized fixture built to perform under pressure.
Hunter Industries
Save water without sacrificing landscape health. The Hunter Solar Sync® Sensor automatically adjusts irrigation run times using on-site weather data while providing instant rain and freeze shutdown. It's an easy way to add smart irrigation capabilities to compatible Hunter controllers.
FX Luminaire
The LumaKey™ Utility streamlines Luxor® fixture assignment with ActivAssign® Technology, enabling fast, wireless programming without adapters or extra hardware. Designed for landscape lighting professionals, its compact, durable design and Bluetooth® connectivity simplify installation, commissioning, and system updates, helping contractors save time while ensuring reliable communication with Luxor-compatible fixtures and devices.
Hunter Industries
Designed for precision, Pro High-Efficiency Nozzles combine a high-uniformity spray pattern with a matched precipitation rate across the line to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce water waste. These robust nozzles are packed with user-friendly features that ensure easy installation, optimal water savings, and easy mixing and matching on zones.
Hunter Industries
The MP Rotator® MP800 Nozzle Family offers a 0.8 in/hr matched precipitation rate across 6' to 24', providing efficient coverage for small spaces and spray retrofits. Featuring wind-resistant streams, high distribution uniformity, and debris-blocking double-pop technology, it maximizes water efficiency, performance, and landscape health.
FX Luminaire
The Terra TG-60 Ground Wash delivers powerful, wide-area illumination with field-adjustable light distribution from 90° to 360°. Built from durable solid brass and rated IP66/67 with IP68 submersion testing, it withstands harsh environments. Luxor® Technology enables zoning, dimming, and RGBW color control for versatile residential and commercial landscape lighting.
In The Magazine
Let there be night
Lighting experts Dawn Hollingsworth, Wes Jackson and Thomas Paterson explain how the five principles of responsible outdoor lighting can reduce light pollution while still delivering the aesthetically compelling results clients want.
Reduce, recycle, reuse
From the EPA’s new Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 to graywater systems and industrial applications, water reuse is rapidly moving from niche practice to mainstream infrastructure across residential and commercial landscapes.
