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How to plan an upgrade for your outdoor living space.

9/1/2016

1 Comment

 
Maybe you're planning on building a new home next year, or the landscape and patio area in your back yard needs updating.

You probably have an idea of what you like based on something you saw in magazine, at the neighbors’ house or maybe you visited the latest home and garden show. But do you really have a plan? Have you really thought about what it takes to create that awesome vision that you've been dreaming of?

There are some things to consider: goals, budget, order of operations, do it yourself vs. hiring it out, etc. It's never too early to start planning to ensure that things go as smooth as possible.

Consider Goals/Needs 
Decide what your goals or needs are. If you're building a brand new home, then chances are, you're starting from the ground up. You'll need to consider things like landscaping, hardscaping, lawn installation, lawn irrigation and landscape lighting. In most cases, it's much easier to build "new."

If you're renovating an existing space, sometimes things get a little complicated. Maybe the new patio is going to be much larger than the old one so you need to consider what kind of available space you have to work within, and how to work with existing obstructions such as landscaping, hardscaping or irrigation lines.

Set a Realistic Budget
A good rule of thumb is to spend about 20% of the home value on your outdoor space. This includes the patio area, landscaping, hardscaping, irrigation and outdoor lighting. Be sure to have the funds available to accomplish your goals. The last thing you want to do is skimp on an important part of the project because you ran of money due to bad planning or unforeseen circumstances.

Sometimes a project can be done in phases for financial or other reasons. Be sure to get things done in the proper order. For example, it would be very difficult to excavate for your new patio if two months before you had those large trees and shrubs installed right where the footer and base belong for the new paver stones and sitting wall. That would be counterproductive and usually increases the cost because of the extra labor that is needed.


Choose a Contractor Wisely
Most people like to deal with one contractor for all phases of the project. There are many trades and skills needed to create an outdoor living space. Be sure that the firm you choose has the right guys for the job. Many companies claim to be good at everything, but are they really? If you are interviewing contractors or taking bids, make sure that they have the right certification, experience and insurance to take on all aspects of your project. Also, ask them if they mind if you bring on another contractor that might specialize in a certain field or if you can do some of the work yourself to save a little money.


Take the time to think over what you’re trying to accomplish, so the small things don't get overlooked and you have a clear vision of what you want. It's always a good idea to put your plan on paper (most cities even require it for permits) so that everyone that is involved in the project knows what the end result should be. Then it’s time get to work and start building!
1 Comment

How to plan and execute a landscape project.

7/31/2016

7 Comments

 
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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How to Plan
A sketch of your property will help you visualize and put things into perspective. Take a few measurements, and include any large existing structures within your sketch. Next, start filling in the blank areas with the components of your landscape that are most important to you.

Follow the Plan
Now that you have a sketch in place of where everything will lay out, you can see how certain things will fit your space. This will also help determine which parts of the project have to be completed first and which ones can wait till later. From a contractors point of view, there is always a preferred order of operations. Unfortunately, the homeowner may not see things the same way. Budget and timing can get in the way quickly.

Choose your Priorities
An example of the preferred order to install from the contractors point of view: 
  • Patio/hardscaping
  • Landscape beds construction and planting
  • Irrigation system
  • Water feature
  • Landscape lighting
  • Lawn installation

However, the homeowner may not have the same vision (for any given reason). The above order does not have to be followed as long as the property owner is aware of a few things and the contractor is able to accommodate these things. Choose your priorities based on time of year, budget and personal preferences, so your contractor can plan and price your project accordingly. Keep these things in mind though:

Patio/Hardscaping: Usually require heavy equipment that need space to work, easy access to the job site, and could damage things like existing turf, landscape beds and irrigation systems.

Planting Beds: Also require equipment to move soil around the property and can sometime cause space restrictions and impede traffic flow around the worksite.

Irrigation System: Easiest to install before the turf is planted. Best to install after things like patio, deck, and hardscape. Requires certain things to be roughed in like water supply, conduits for future use under driveways, patios, and sidewalks.

Fencing: Can limit equipment access to the property. Your local city or HOA may have restrictions on size, shape, color, and location of the fence.

Water Features: Usually require a power supply, water supply and underground catch basin. Things like swimming pools or hot tubs may also need a gas line for a heat source to be trenched underground to the heater location.

Final Touches: Things like mulch, lighting, annual flowers are usually left until the end of the project.

Lastly, take small steps. Planning and executing a landscape project can be stressful and expensive. Eliminate unnecessary steps by taking things slowly. 
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Again, the above order of operations doesn't need to followed exactly, but the owner and contractor must be able to discuss and agree to a way to execute the plan to accommodate all of the project phases without one interfering too much with the other.
7 Comments

What is a backflow preventer? Why do I need a backflow preventer on my sprinkler system?

7/20/2016

8 Comments

 
By definition, a backflow prevention assembly is used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution due to backflow. Backflow occurs when water travels backwards or is syphoned backwards in the opposite direction that it is intended.

Below is a picture of a common backflow preventer, a Wilkins 720-A. ​
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Believe it or not, there are many ways that contaminated water can back flow into the main water system through a cross connection and cause problems. 

So... Why do I need a backflow preventer? 

Because a lawn sprinkler system is considered a cross connection and a high hazard. This means there is a high possibility for contaminated water to enter the main water supply through the main sprinkler piping. Your lawn and landscape are filled with poisons or contaminants such as fertilizer, pesticides and animal feces just to name a few. Since the sprinkler heads are also located in these same spots, there is a possibility of dirty water entering through them.

Another common example is a garden hose that is attached to your irrigation piping. Sometimes we use the garden hose to fill a swimming pool or a bucket of water to wash the car in the driveway. If this hose is left in the pool or bucket, a back flow or back siphon-age may occur, and it would suck the chemicals from your pool or wash bucket into your drinking water. And not just your drinking water, but quite possibly the entire main water supply as well.
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Using a garden hose end applicator to dispense fertilizer, pesticides and repellants is another example. So let’s think about this… I’m going to connect a canister full of chemicals to the hose that is attached to the same pipes that I use for drinking or cooking? I’m pretty sure I want some sort of protection between those chemicals and my kitchen sink!

So... How can this contaminated water actually back flow into my drinking water? 

It’s much easier than you think! Maybe there is a water main break down the street and water is gushing all over the place. This could cause water to be syphoned out of your home due to the low pressure from the break.  Maybe the fire department is flushing the hydrants or connecting their booster pumps to their fire truck to extinguish a fire. These circumstances would also lower the water pressure at your home and the potential demand for water could be so high that it would actually syphon water backwards from any source that is connected to the main supply lines.


These are just a few instances of how back flow can occur and affect the safety and health of your family or neighborhood. Why take a chance?

​Make sure your lawn sprinkler system has the proper back flow assembly installed and be sure to have it tested annually to ensure its working properly at all times.
8 Comments

DIY projects under $500 for your lawn

7/1/2016

2 Comments

 
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.
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​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.
​
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! ​
2 Comments

What is low voltage landscape lighting?

6/20/2016

15 Comments

 
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Low voltage lighting is becoming more popular everyday for many reasons. First the obvious, it’s a great way to add safety to your home! Also, it helps you enjoy your landscaping and outdoor living areas at night. However, there are other great reasons as to why you should choose low voltage lighting (24 volts or less) over high voltage lighting.

1. Cost
The first reason you should choose low voltage is because installation is usually much cheaper compared to high voltage systems. The low volt wires do not need to be buried as deep as 120 volt systems, nor do they need to be buried in conduits or pipes which also keeps the cost down.

2. Safety
Next, a properly designed low volt lighting system should be designed with roughly 11-12 volts running to each fixture. This means that the system is completely safe for children or pets running around the yard. This also makes routine yard maintenance more safe when planting or edging flowerbeds.

3. Flexibility
Another advantage of low voltage systems is their flexibility. Many fixtures can be run at the same time and often be installed in creative locations to accent features in the landscape or patio space. Consider the winding path that leads to the back yard or the beautiful specimen tree near the water feature next to the patio, these are areas that you might want to show off during an evening party or get together.

4. Efficiency 
Lastly, most of the newer systems are utilizing L.E.D. bulbs and fixtures. The typical life span of an L.E.D. bulb is usually around 40,000 hours. Also, L.E.D. bulbs produce less wattage than conventional incandescent bulbs. This means they are now even cheaper to operate and maintain on a yearly basis.
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If you would like to schedule an evaluation or estimate for a low voltage landscape lighting system please call (440)935-1182 or email irrigationincorporated@gmail.com anytime!
15 Comments

How to keep mosquitos out of your yard without using bug spray.

5/17/2016

2 Comments

 
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Have you ever wondered how you can keep mosquitos out of your yard without those nasty bug sprays? Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy summer nights on your patio without the worry of those nasty insects?

This summer you can help control mosquitos without the use of bug repellent! Read here to learn about mosquito-repelling plants.

There are many plants that repel mosquitos, however here are ten of the most common examples:
  1. Ageratum
  2. Basil
  3. Catnip
  4. Citronella
  5. Clove
  6. Garlic
  7. Horsemint
  8. Lavender
  9. Marigolds
  10. Rosemary

Among many other benefits of natural mosquito repellents, these plants are all non-hazardous for children and pets.

Citronella is the most common natural ingredient in most mosquito repellants. It can come in many forms such as grass, small shrubs or trees. Grasses can grow up to 5-6 inches tall and can be used as ground covers.

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The citronella geranium tree (pictured above) can flower all summer long with bright pink blooms. It can also be taken indoors for the winter months if you live in colder climates. If you rub the leaves of this tree with your fingers, it will emit a sweet citronella smell which will naturally keep the mosquitos away! You can also burn the dry leaves in your fire pit.
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Marigolds are another popular annual flower that that offer bright yellow or orange flowers, and they are easy to grow. Besides repelling mosquitos, they can also keep other insects away from your tomato garden. Be careful though, the bright colored blooms could attract wasps or bees!
2 Comments

    Welcome to our blog!

    It is our hope that you can find the answer to common irrigation questions on our blog and FAQ page. If you need additional information, send us an email at scott@irrigation-incorporated.com!

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