Consider cost, purpose for lawn sprinkler options

Published 4:25 pm Wednesday, March 5, 2008

I’m thinking about installing a sprinkler system. What factors do I need to consider?

Irrigation systems certainly can be worthwhile investments. Not only do they save time and effort, but they also can help conserve water because of their precision controls. Many people overhydrate their lawns and gardens when they tackle the job by hand. However, since the initial cost can be significant, you’ll want to weigh several factors in order to determine the type of irrigation that matches your needs.

A drip-irrigation system consists of perforated tubes that snake throughout a property, delivering water to small-scale vegetable, container or rooftop gardens. There’s also in-ground irrigation, in which subterranean pipes carry water to sprinkler heads. This alternative, which is more expensive than a drip system and requires professional installation, is designed to keep large lawns and foundation plantings hydrated.

Companies usually charge per number of sprinklers. Depending on soil conditions, in-ground installation will cost $2,400 to $4,000 (including labor and materials) for the average suburban yard. For an additional charge, you may be able to run drip-irrigation lines off the system. In-ground irrigation can be operated manually, or you’ll need to choose a controller, which determines when and how much water is released. If you live in a hot, dry area with water-use restrictions, you might want an ET controller (ET is short for evapotranspiration, the process that causes soil to lose water). Equipped with smart technologies such as soil sensors and Internet links to local weather stations, these controllers deliver only as much water as needed (automatically turning off when rain is in the forecast, for example). Certain municipalities even offer rebates on them.

Perhaps the most important decision of all concerning in-ground irrigation is choosing a contractor. This professional will be responsible for designing and installing the system, plus he or she will handle routine maintenance issues. In other words, this is the start of a long and lasting relationship. Ask friends and neighbors for recommendations, or visit www.irrigation.org to find a certified professional in your area.

I bought kaffir lime leaves for a steamed-fish recipe, and now I have almost the entire bag left. How else can they be used?

Kaffir lime leaves are those rather unusual looking leaves that are sold in Asian markets. They actually resemble two leaves joined end to end. They have a unique fragrance and are used for flavor and aroma in Thai cooking.

If you go to marthastewart.com, you will find several recipes that call for kaffir lime leaves. I suggest you try the hot and sour shrimp soup, a wonderful, traditional Thai dish.

If you have any Southeast Asian cookbooks, you also can refer to them. They’re bound to contain many recipes that include this exotic ingredient, which will keep in the freezer for up to three months.

Do you have any advice for safely organizing computer passwords?

It’s hard to keep all of those numbers and characters straight, especially since you shouldn’t use the same password for more than one service. Some people store them in a document on their home computer. This is fine — if (and only if) you encrypt the file, a feature available on most personal computers. Encryption scrambles text, so it will be unreadable if someone hacks into your system. Even with this defense, make sure your main log-in is protected by a “super password,” one that has at least eight characters and a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols and numbers.

There are other, more high-tech storage options to choose from. For example, you could put your passwords on a portable USB flash drive with fingerprint recognition. The biometric device costs upward of $100, but you’ll be the only person in the world who can access its contents, because only your fingerprints will open it.

Then there are programs that you can download from the Internet (often for free) that will maintain a protected database of passwords for you. Some of them are even programmed to upload your address and credit card information automatically when you make purchases online.

Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10036. E-mail to mslletters@marthastewart.com.

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