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Showing posts with the label sprinkler

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...

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...

Troubleshooting Your Sprinkler System

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  Owning a home is likely one of the largest and most rewarding investments you’ll make but at times, certain systems in your home will go astray and need attention. Your sprinkler system is an essential part of your home and makes it convenient to water your field, flowers and plants: Furthermore, you can use a sprinkler system to water a large area of different types of crops, adjusting how large or small an area receives water. At times though, you may find your system is working less than ideal. Here are some signs to watch for and tips to troubleshoot common issues with your lawn irrigation system, according to The Spruce.  Problems with an irrigation system typically make themselves evident with several common symptoms: Individual sprinkler heads not working Low water pressure at the sprinkler heads Sprinkler zones do not turn on Leaking around a zone valve Leak at the sprinkler head furthest from the valve Tools and Supplies You Will Need Screwdrivers Multimeter Shove...

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...

Four Tips for Transitioning Your Lawn From Summer to Fall

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Add caption The Texas climate is unpredictable. While summer almost always assures scorching heat, fall and winter are less consistent. Use the following tips to transition your lawn from summer to fall to keep it looking great all year long: Fertilize Your Lawn. Although your grass doesn’t grow as fast during the Texas “cold” season, it doesn't mean we can take a break from lawn care basics like fertilizing. Depending on the type of grass you have, head to your local garden center and purchase the correct fertilizer for fall. Spread the granules onto your lawn with a manual spreader as needed. The fall fertilizer will make sure that your lawn maintains or regains all of the necessary nutrients, shielding it from colder winter temperatures and preparing it for the spring.  Don’t wait for the weeds to sprout. Be proactive and utilize preventative weed maintenance like pre-emergent weed control. This weed management program service is a treatment that is applied to your lawn ...

Preparing Your Sprinkler and Irrigation System for the Summer Months

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Here in Central Texas, a reliable sprinkler and irrigation system is a necessary tool for proper lawn care so you can maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn all season long, The first step to preparing your sprinkler and irrigation system for the summer months is to properly prepare your irrigation system for the winter months!  Proper winter preparation is critical to avoid costly replacements and repairs come springtime. Use the seasonal adjustment feature on your system to lower the run-time to as low as 1 minute. This will keep the pipes flushed and the valves free of debris. Remember, water to an irrigation system is like oil in your car engine. Only turn the system off in freezing weather to avoid mineral build-up. Mineral buildup causes deposits on the pipes to loosen up and flow to the head which can cause more damage. If there is an expected deep freeze, please call AquaTX for information and guidance on the best way to protect your irrigation system. One of the ...