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Showing posts with the label maintenance

How to Care for Grass in Summer

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Do you want your lawn to be the envy of the neighborhood? You know the one. The full and lush green grass turns the heads of every visitor and dog walker that comes along.    Achieving the lawn of your dreams isn't out of your reach. If you learn a few basics, you will be able to maintain and enjoy a lush green lawn all summer long!   Early Summer Start by watching the temperatures for the best time to fertilize your grass. Warm-season grass grows best at 70 degrees, so fertilizing around that temperature can make your grass more resistant to heat and drought.   Next, mow with sharp blades to give your lawn a clean cut. In early summer, keep the grass a bit taller. Taller grass will provide more shade, keeping weeds from germinating.    Speaking of weeds, act fast to kill established weeds before they spread. You can hand pull the weeds or use a targeted post-emergent herbicide to eliminate the blooming weeds.   Mid Summer to Late Summer Keeping your g...

Common Issues with Irrigation Systems in Spring

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  Spring has sprung, which means it is time for new growth and, hopefully, plush green grass. Your irrigation system will help to make your lawn the envy of the neighborhood this season.    Avoid common issues with these underground waterways with these simple tips: Overspray Overspray occurs when the sprinkler system is overwatering an area, and the water is hitting something it should not, such as your driveway or the road. Overspray wastes your valuable water, and often it ends up in the storm drain. Overspray can be caused by several issues below, so read on!   Broken or Clogged Sprinkler Heads The broken sprinkler head is possibly the easiest problem to spot and repair. The solution is simple- replace that one sprinkler head. Clogged heads are often caused by debris covering the spray head of the sprinkler. To fix a clogged sprinkler head, turn the system off and lift the piece out of the ground. Screw off the clogged sprinkler head and wipe or spray off any deb...

Signs Your Sprinkler System Needs an Upgrade

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  Irrigation systems are the brawn behind a home's lush and healthy landscape. These workhorses are responsible for the cub appeal that comes along with a vibrant lawn. Regular maintenance is key to keeping your sprinkler system performing well, just like any home appliance. From updating parts to replacing the entire system, you must be familiar with your system to spot the warning signs your sprinkler system needs and upgrades.    The age of your system is the first thing to consider. How old is your irrigation system, and how does that compare to the expected lifetime? If your system is more than 25 years old, a newer option will be more cost-effective and energy-efficient. Keep track of the regular maintenance your sprinkler system receives. This record will help you assess the quality of your system and the need for replacement.   The second thing to assess is if you have leaks in multiple places in your irrigation system. Older systems often have leaks in their...

Sprinkler Heads: Which Is Best for My Yard?

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  Do you aspire to have the best-looking yard in your neighborhood? Are you dreaming about relaxing on the plush grass in your backyard? Getting the perfect lawn may be easier than you think.    Choosing the proper sprinkler head can help you get the perfect lawn because proper watering is key to the perfect yard. Landscape irrigation accounts for nearly one-third of all residential outdoor water use , equaling more than seven billion gallons per day, so it’s no surprise that homeowners want the best and most efficient sprinklers for their lawns.    Here are some tips if you’re looking to purchase a new sprinkler but aren’t sure which one is best for your yard.    Spray Heads or Rotors? Spray Heads. Spray heads disperse water in a circular pattern and can be changed out based on the needs of your yard or plantings. The size of the nozzle radius depends on the spacing between sprinklers. For optimum efficiency, do not space spray heads more than 15 fee...

Different Components of a Sprinkler System

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Installing a sprinkler system this spring? Having your own irrigation system is a great way to maintain the health and aesthetic of your lawn or garden. Though most of the system is underground and out of sight, it’s important that you have a good understanding of the different components of a sprinkler system. Not only will the installation be a breeze with the knowledge you have all of the correct parts, but you’ll also be able to identify any issues with your sprinkler system in the event something happens.  Sprinkler systems may seem like daunting machinery, but fortunately, the basic elements of an irrigation system are relatively simple. Here’s a brief explanation of the different components of a sprinkler system:  Sprinkler Heads. Sprinkler heads are the most visible part of the system and are strategically placed around the yard to provide a good amount of water coverage around your yard. There are a variety of sprinkler heads that you can get, but the most popular are...

Fall Lawn Care in Texas

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  Taking care of your lawn this fall is critical if you would like a great looking yard waiting for you this spring. A lot of people don’t understand how important it is to properly prepare your lawn before it goes into dormancy for winter. By following these steps, you can ensure that you will have a great looking yard come springtime.  Keep Watering A lot of Texas homeowners make the mistake of not watering their lawn during fall. They do a great job in the spring and summer, but then kind of fall behind when fall rolls around. They think they can rely on the weather to do the watering for them, which isn’t always necessarily true. Don’t be like those homeowners. Instead, make sure you keep watering your lawn up until the first frost around October. Each week leading up to the first frost your lawn should be getting one inch of water.  Rake the Yard It’s important that you rake the leaves from your lawn each fall. When you let leaves pile up on your grass, the sunlight ...

What is a Water Irrigation System and How do I Choose the Right One?

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  Keep your lawn and plants looking healthy and green with a water irrigation system. These systems are extremely convenient as you don’t have to drag your hose and sprinkler all over your yard, and you don’t have to go outside to manually turn it on.  Not only do water irrigation systems take the hassle out of having to water your yard, but they also save you water and money. Think about when you manually water your yard with a hose and sprinkler. You typically have an area that you would like to get watered, but you aren’t able to specifically target that area with the amount of water that it needs. Water can overshoot your targeted area and get areas that don’t need it. You could also forget that you have the sprinkler on and let it run longer than you need to. With water irrigation systems all those problems go away. Instead, you are able to program them to discharge more precise amounts of water in targeted areas, conserving water.  Now that you know the benefits of...

Water System Spring Tune-Up

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As the month of February concludes, it is a relief for countless people to know that spring is officially right around the corner. And that feeling of relief makes perfect sense; after all, there is so much to look forward to about the season ahead. The sun is going to shine just a little bit brighter. The temperature is going to be a little more pleasant. The grass is going to become just a little bit greener.  But getting ready for the spring season isn’t just about flowers blooming; there also comes a bit of responsibility when the weather outside turns less frightful, especially if you are a homeowner. The often harsh conditions of the winter months can wreak havoc on vital operating systems in your house, such as your water system. Yes, that’s true even in our beautiful Texas climate; even though we are the envy of much of the country from November to March, that doesn’t mean we are strangers to severe weather, and what it can do to our property. Here is how you can pr...

Why Winterizing your Sprinkler System is Important

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Although Texas is known for its wide variety of weather, one thing is certain, we are lucky enough to live in a state where we don’t have to battle treacherous and harsh winters. However, certain things still need to be done in terms of winterizing or “hibernating” your home’s essential components. One of those maintenance items is your sprinkler/irrigation system. A winter maintenance plan is important to prevent further damage and costly repairs down the road.  Here are some tips to consider when winterizing your system so it’s running optimally when you need it the most.    Do NOT turn sprinkler/ irrigation systems off   Contrary to what you might think, turning your system off during the winter months could actually cause more damage. Instead, leave your system on and flush your lines.  Consider reprogramming your system  Depending on which type of system you have, you can switch your sprinklers to rain mode during the winter months which c...