Well, you have to start somewhere! 

Planning a new landscape project can be intimidating. Just like any project, it's important to set a budget, plan properly and take it in small steps. 

1. Set a budget 
2. Plan
3. Take small steps 

First things first, set a budget. 

Next, plan. This is the most tedious, time consuming and most important step. 
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Want to spruce up the yard a little bit without breaking the bank? Here are a few ideas for the DIY group that can be easily accomplished on a Saturday afternoon (and most for under $500).

Plant a tree to add some seasonal color. 
Look at your landscape and decide where you might want to add some color in the spring or fall. Choose a spot where the tree or shrub will have some room to grow. If you have a sprinkler system, maybe your contractor could add a drip emitter or spray head near the tree to make sure it gets regular watering.

Build a small extension near your patio for a grill.
Everyone likes to cook outside on the grill in the summertime, right? Build a small pad out of concrete or paver stones somewhere near the patio and also easily accessible to the back door of your home. This will open up living space on the patio and make more room to entertain or place some patio furniture. Plan ahead and make it big enough to fit your grill and a small table to prepare your food on or keep an ice chest. 

Add a pondless water feature.
There a many ways to add the relaxing sound of water without having all the extensive work that goes with having a small pond in the back yard. Check out your local home improvement store for ponds and water kits that are available, or look online for ideas to create your own water feature. Usually all that is needed is an electrical power source to plug in a small pump, and before you know it you've got the relaxing sound of a small water fall near your favorite spot in the back yard to sit and relax.

Add low voltage landscape lighting.
Add a couple of low voltage, LED lights that you can enjoy during the evening hours.

​Add a zone for your vegetable garden. 
Add an extra zone to your existing irrigation system for your vegetable garden. If you enjoy having a few fresh tomatoes or green pepper plants from the garden, but can't keep up with the maintenance, add an automatic zone to your sprinkler system. Now, the garden gets regular watering while you're at work. In most cases, the new zone can be programmed to run (automatically or manually) whenever you would like. The garden zone can run every day if you want it to, while the lawn or landscape only get watered two to three times weekly.
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These ideas can be done by a professional or the weekend warrior who likes to get his hands dirty and build a little sweat equity in his home at the same time. The idea here is to make your back yard or outdoor living space a little more functional and enjoyable, while not spending a ton of money on installation or maintenance.

​Comment below and let us know what DIY projects you completed for under $500! ​

Occasionally within your irrigation system you will get a zone that runs continually and will not turn off no matter what you do. This particular zone runs simultaneously with the other zones when being operated from the controller and starves water pressure, so it appears that nothing is operating properly. Even when the controller turns off, it still runs indefinitely.

The problem is most likely located in one of the solenoid valves. These valves are usually located in an underground access box outside in the yard. Before you call your irrigation service provider, you might want to take a look inside the access box. The fix could be a very simple one. All modern automatic sprinkler systems have electric solenoid valves. These valves can be operated electrically from the controller or timer, they can also be operated manually at the valve by simply turning a lever or bleeder screw.

In some cases the bleeder screw or lever may be in the open position, and it simply needs to be closed. If this is the case, simply turning the screw or lever is very easy to do and will fix the problem immediately. Congratulations! You just saved yourself a service call from your irrigation contractor.
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If the previous description didn't fix the problem, then you may have an internal valve failure or blockage. However, this can be a fairly easy repair as well if you’re interested in taking a little time to explore it further. There are many types of valves on the market, but most operate and look similar. For example, the Hunter PGV is very easy to take apart and repair with a few general tools, if it's accessible.

Follow these steps:

1. Identify the valve that is giving you trouble by locating the valve box and manually turning on one valve at a time with the bleeder screw or lever.
2. Turn off main water supply to sprinkler system after identifying the trouble valve.
3. Take a cordless drill or screw driver and locate the four bonnet bolts on the top of the valve body. Loosen all four bolts.
4. Carefully take the top of the valve body apart and visually inspect the inside of the valve body.
5. If there is debris or something inside the valve, carefully flush it out and put it back together again.
6. Slowly turn the water supply back on and verify that the zone is now turning on and off properly both manually and electrically.

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Lawn sprinkler system maintenance isn't always as complicated as it seems. As long as you have a few general tools around the house and you're willing to spend a little time and effort, you can diagnose and even fix your own problems when they arise. This will help save time and money, and you might even enjoy the sense of accomplishment that goes along with it!