You are here: Home / Archives for Landscaping tips

2012 How-To Guide: Repairing Your Sprinkler System

November 22, 2011 By

sprinkler sprayingHaving a sprinkler system installed in your lawn is very helpful, especially if you have a large piece of property. Hand-watering can be a very tedious and time-consuming task, and with the help of a sprinkler system, there is no need for hand-watering unless you have problem spots that need to be watered for longer than the rest of the lawn. Along with every great invention, there are possibilities of something going awry and the great invention must be fixed. We provide you with a how-to guide to fix your system on your own.

Where’s My Problem?

There are two places where your sprinkler system can break: the sprinkler head or along the main line. Breaking sprinkler heads is a very common thing and can be fixed easily. You can break a head by accidentally running over the grass in your car or with a lawnmower. If you have a break along the main long, it is certainly a more expensive and involved process. A break can occur during aeration, or from a frozen pipe, or a faulty installation. Once you have determined where your problem is, you can follow this guide accordingly.

Main Line

  • Determine where the line is broken. There’s usually no problem in finding this part; there’s usually a fountain of water spewing from the area.
  • Shut off the main water source!
  • Dig around the area so that there will be room for you to maneuver your arms around the pipe.
  • Carefully cut the broken area of the pipe. Make sure that your cuts are straight and even!
  • Clean and dry off the area because you will be applying an adhesive.
  • You will need to purchase glue specific for piping. You should get the kind that has primer and glue so that you won’t need to buy them separately.
  • You will also need to purchase an expansion repair coupling. Some people choose to buy just regular PVC piping, but the coupling enables you to expand the piping to better fit your sprinkler line, and you’ll only need to cut out a smaller part.
  • Apply the glue to the cut ends of the pipe, in addition to inside of the coupling where it will be joining the pipe.
  • Quickly put all the parts together and hold them together to ensure that they fuse properly. Allow the glue to dry for about 15 minutes.
  • Turn the water back on to make sure that there are no more leaks.
  • If there are no leaks, congratulations! Celebrate by filling in the hole that you dug.

Sprinkler Head

  • Dig a hole around the sprinkler head so you’ll have room to work with it.
  • Unscrew the sprinkler head, but make sure that you don’t take the riser along with it.
  • Clean the area of any dirt.
  • Set the old head aside and screw in the new one on the riser.
  • Turn on your sprinkler system, and your problem should be fixed.
  • Fill in the hole that you created.

Sprinkler Riser

  • Dig a hole around the sprinkler to give yourself some room.
  • Take off the head.
  • Since the riser is broken, you’ll most likely need pliers in order to remove the whole thing.
  • Make sure the sprinkler is clear of any dirt.
  • Install the new riser.
  • Turn on your system, and it should work properly.
  • Fill in the hole.

Repairing your sprinkler does take a bit of time and effort, but if you do it correctly, then it should be fairly simple. The most important thing that you can do is to make sure that everything is clean before you replace any part. Having the slightest bit of dirt could cause damage to your system. If your system is still not working after you’ve followed the instructions, then you’ll need to call in a professional because there could be something else wrong with your system. In fact, you can call a professional if you feel intimidated by any aspect of repairing it on your own.

 

If you need assistance with your sprinkler system, call us at .

Filed Under: Landscaping tips Tagged With: , ,

Lawn Care Tips for the Winter Season – 5 Tips to Protect Your Lawn from the Chilly Weather

November 3, 2011 By

Grass LawnAs the temperature dips at the end of fall, you’re likely to want to stash your mower and forget about doing anything for your lawn until springtime. However, not taking the proper precautions before the chilly weather sits in will make your springtime lawn care regiment a longer and more involved process. Before your lawn hibernates for the winter, you can do certain preventative tasks that will create a lush lawn when your lawn wakes back up in the springtime. We have given you 5 tips for the winter season that will help you to do just that.

Clear Your Lawn of Debris

During the fall months, trees shed and become bare for the winter time, and they always leave their leaves on your lawn. With a blanket of leaves covering your lawn, it has no room to breathe or let in light, causing your lawn to suffocate. It’s okay to have a few stray sprinklings of mulch or grass clippings because they can return nitrogen back into your soil. Also, be sure to clear your lawn of anything that could cause bare patches, such as toys or lawn equipment.

Aerate

With the excessive use of your lawn during the warm months, the soil underneath can become compacted and cause various problems. Aerating involves punching 3-4 inch holes in your lawn to allow moisture, air and nutrients in the soil. In order to make the aerating process easier, you should water your lawn a day or two before your plan to aerate so that it is moist and therefore easier to work with. It’s best to go to your local hardware store to rent aerating equipment.

Mow

During the end of fall when you mow your lawn for the last few times, adjust your mower settings so that they are lower than what you normally use. New growth is more susceptible to disease, so lowering your mower settings will prevent new growth. Be sure to lower the settings gradually so you don’t damage the turf. Make sure you bag all of the clippings!  Weeds may be hiding in them, and if you leave the clippings to sit on your lawn then they could take over  your grass during the wintertime.

Fertilize

At the end of fall, make sure that you fertilize your lawn. Instead of using all of the nutrients right away, your lawn will store the fertilizer in its soil and roots while it is dormant and then take full advantage of the nutrients when the winter is over. By using a fertilizer that has time-sustained capabilities, your lawn will absorb the minerals gradually even while it is latent.

Seed and Water

This tip is more-so for lawns that have bald patches before winter even hits. When you seed the bare spots, the cool weather will allow for the seeds to germinate without weeds completely taking over. You should do this early enough so that the empty spots will fill in before the first freeze. Also, it’s important to give your lawn a good dose of water. This will stimulate both the seed and the fertilizer.

For any more gardening help or advice from professionals, call us at .

Filed Under: Blog, Landscaping tips Tagged With: ,

Different Types of Sod- What Will Work Best in Your Lawn

October 26, 2011 By

Sod is grass that has already begun the growing process, and is preferred over grass seeds because of this fact. Growing a lawn from grass seeds takes a lot more time for grass to grow and mature into a lush lawn. Sod is generally more expensive than grass seeds, but is worth the extra money because of the fast results. It is grown on a sod farm, cut into squares to make it easier to lie, and then sold to consumers or lawn care contractors. Sod is comprised of grass and topsoil that grow into the soil where it is placed and creates a healthy lawn in up to 30 days.

Much like seeds, each type of grass has its own type of sod for the growing process.  Some of the types grow better in certain climates than other ones, and therefore require different maintenance routines. Sod can be separated into two types: warm season and cool season.

Warm Season

Warm season grass, as the name suggests, thrives best during hot weather seasons and are ideal for areas in the south.

Bahia

This type grows best in Florida and the Southern Atlantic coastlines. It is extremely drought, bug, and disease resistant; therefore it is perfect for high-traffic areas. It is a very thick and coarse grass, needs to be cut every 5-7 days, but rarely needs to be watered.

Bermuda

It is very common in the south and requires full sun for proper growth. Bermuda grass is very drought-resistant, good for high-traffic areas, coarse, and must be cut at a height of 1-2 inches. During the winter, this grass turns brown and becomes quiescent, but when the weather warms up, the grass turns green again.

Zoysia

Zoysia is a slow-growing grass that grows wells in the southern and transitional zone. It requires full sun, and must be watered if there is a drought that lasts longer than one week.

Centipede

Centipede grows at a very slow rate but is a very low-maintenance grass. It can grow in full sun or partial sun, and thrives well in acidic soil levels. This type has very shallow roots, and therefore can be infected with bugs easily.

St. Augustine

One of the most popular types of grass in the south, it provides a thick and green lawn that does not handle cold weather very well at all. It is not for high-traffic areas, and grows the best in sunny and warm areas.

 

Cool Season

Cool season grasses are mostly grown in the northern areas that have a cooler climate year-round. When these grasses are exposed to extreme heat or drought, they become dormant and must be kept moist during whilst planting the sod.

Kentucky Bluegrass

It is most often mixed with other types of grass to ensure the best growth results. This type grows the best in loose soil and with shady conditions. One problem with Kentucky Bluegrass is that it sometimes needs to be treated with a fungicide due to it being prone to leafspot disease.

Perennial Ryegrass

It doesn’t need to be exposed to full sun to survive, and is also mixed with bluegrass or fescue grasses to make it look uniform because it grows in bunches. This type is often used to seed grasses in the south that go dormant during cold seasons.

Fine Fescue

There are three different types: creeping red, hard, and chewings. Fescues grow the absolute best in cool and shady climates, so high temperatures will require more water and maintenance.

Tall Fescue

This type of fescue is used mostly in mixes due to the fact that it grows in bunches instead of in a uniform pattern. It is low maintenance and handles high traffic very well, which is why it is the grass of choice on sports fields.

 

To inquire about the types of sod that we offer, call us at .

Filed Under: Blog, Landscaping tips Tagged With: , ,

Sod Installation – How to turn your dead lawn into a lively one

October 21, 2011 By

So your lawn for some reason has decided to turn from green and lush to brown and dead. Perhaps it got infested with pests and there was no saving it, or perhaps it wasn’t getting enough water. Or maybe you just want to try out a new type of grass. Either way, you need to re-install your sod. This can be done either through a professional, or you can do it yourself.

Apply an Herbicide

If only some of your lawn has suffered damage, you’ll need to kill the rest of the healthy grass in addition to any weeds. The easiest way to do this is to apply a strong herbicide while your grass is in its highest growth mode (which happens when you fertilize and water your lawn). One application will typically work. If the whole lawn is dead already, then you can skip this step entirely.

Remove the Dead Grass

The next thing to do is to pull up the dead grass. You can do this easily by using a sod cutter, which can be found at any hardware store.

Tilling

After you discard of the dead grass, then you will need to till the soil. This will allow for the new grass to grow strong, get rid of weeds, and to de-compact it. It’s also imperative to install or repair your sprinkler systems. By doing this now, watering your new sod will be a much faster process. For tips on installing sprinkler systems, click here. Also at this time, you should rake the land and get rid of any rock or debris and make sure that the soil is uneven. Sod will conform to any hiccup in the soil, so if you don’t get rid of debris, then the sod will not grow correctly.

Distribute Starter Seeds

The next step is to distribute the sod starter seeds, and then roll the soil so that the seeds are distributed evenly.

Lay Down the New Sod

As soon as the sod arrives, lay it down on the soil as if you were stacking bricks so that there are no gaps in between each piece of sod. You can cut the sod if you have to get around curved boundaries or walls. After you install the first 200 feet, you should lightly water the new sod. After all of the sod is put down, use your roller so that the soil and the new sod are in contact with the other one. Water thoroughly when this is complete.

Upkeep

The grass will start growing, and it will require you to mow your lawn after one week. Continue to water your new grass regularly.

If you would like an estimate of installing new sod in your lawn by a professional, call us at .

Filed Under: Blog, Landscaping tips Tagged With:

Backyard Inspiration: Hardscapes

August 8, 2011 By

In a new series we’re doing, we want to show you some well designed and quality installed landscaping ideas that you can use when you want to overhaul your yard. This week we are focused on beautiful hardscapes that accentuate the yard’s various features. Ground Source is a hardscape installer, having created beautiful brick paver patios and walkways.

If any of these inspired designs have you thinking it’s time for a change contact us to see what works best.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Landscaping tips

Alternative Planters for Landscaping Accents

July 12, 2011 By

Cultivating LifeThe creative gardeners over at CultivatingLife.com have provided some excellent ideas for DIY gardeners that have beautiful lawns, but are looking to expand their greenery landscape. They offer the option to use repurposed concrete blocks, in their various forms, to decorate your home’s landscape.

With a little creative thinking, construction waste can easily be turned into interesting landscape accents for your yard. Leftover cement footers can be reused as house markers, planted and painted with your house numbers. Unused cinder blocks can be planted and used to line the edge of a landscape bed. Cement junction boxes that look like expensive modern planters are perfectly repurposed when planted for a patio corner or focal point. Concrete is an excellent planting material due to its long, low-maintenance lifespan and alkaline-friendly attributes.

Check out the video after the break:
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Landscaping tips

Windermere Sod Installation

June 25, 2010 By

Ground Source Landscaping in the Windermere area will be more than happy to come to your home or business to assess your landscaping and irrigation needs. We will measure your property, as well as provide a full irrigation analysis or quote if needed, to get the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. What’s hot in the world of landscaping right now? Zoysia sod installation is growing in popularity and Ground Source is ready to deliver. Not only is Zoysia sod easier to keep up with, it has a softer feel and is very resilient against bugs and weeds. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Landscaping tips Tagged With:

Ornamental Trees and Storm Damage

February 23, 2010 By

Ornamental trees are some of the biggest investments, time-wise, into your landscape design.  Most take years to fully mature and losing one can be a major setback and expense.  Storms represent one of the biggest dangers to ornamental trees. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Landscaping tips

Landscaping Solutions – Non-Terrain Related Issues

February 21, 2010 By

When tackling a large-scale landscaping project, one is bound to hit a snag or two.  The most common issues arise around problems with drainage, irrigation and shade.  However, there are a number of issues that have little or nothing to do with the physical aspects of the property.  These problems require their own, unique solutions. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Landscaping tips

Landscaping Solutions – Tackling Problem Spots in Your Terrain

February 20, 2010 By

Anyone who has ever undertaken a landscaping project knows that landscaping can present some unique challenges.  Even if you are fortunate enough to pull off your design without a significant hitch, it can still be quite a task.  Most aren’t so lucky, though.  Almost any installations scheme will run up against at least a few problem areas that just won’t conform to the ideals of the landscape design plan.  Fortunately, such problem spots can be overcome with just a bit of flexibility and creativity. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Landscaping tips
« Older Posts