Richmond Irrigation Blog

 

The days are getting longer and warmer and, although we’ve had a couple bouts of March snow, spring is finally on the horizon. The arrival of spring means it’s time to start up the irrigation system. Be cautious though, winter weather is hard on underground water lines, and applying too much pressure at once can result in a massive water disaster in your yard.

We’re happy to provide spring start up services. Call us today at (804) 271-8030 or contact us online here. If you choose to do it yourself, follow these spring irrigation start up tips to safeguard against unforeseen damage.

Step 1- Be sure the ground is frost free, filling the pipes too early can lead to expensive freeze damage. Use a shovel to check 12 inches beneath the surface.

Step 2- Remove the sprinkler head found at the highest part of each zone to allow any air in the lines to escape the irrigation system while refilling.

Step 3- This is probably the most important step of the whole process…Start filling the main line very slowly. A quarter turn or so is about all it should take and be patient, it can take half an hour to fill each zone. Filling the irrigation system too quickly can cause a surge of air pressure that can bust fittings and blow up your system.

Step 4- Once the main line is filled, repeat the same process with each zone.

Step 5- Take a look at the spots where you removed the sprinkler heads, when the water runs clear and doesn’t contain any air bubbles the zone has been properly filled. You can now replace the sprinkler heads and continue to run each zone for 2 minutes to ensure any trapped air has been flushed out of the system.

Step 6- Check the accuracy of your timer programs, then it’s safe to run your sprinkler system as usual.

If you come across any problems during start up, or at any other time, call Richmond Irrigation at (804) 271-8030 or contact us online here. We have the best irrigation system technicians and troubleshooting equipment available.

People often become preoccupied with holiday festivities and winter happenings and don’t think about their yard until the spring rolls around, but there are actually many activities you can do now to ensure your yard stays lush and beautiful:

• Protect your plants from freezing temperatures. Be sure to water thoroughly before a freeze, and then cover your plants with a sheet or blanket. Place a layer of plastic on top of the sheet and position it so the plastic is not actually touching the plant, the plastic can actually burn the plant when cold. Remember to remove the plastic as warmer temperatures approach because heat can accumulate under the plastic and damage the foliage.
• Aerate your yard now to increase air circulation, assist in the breakdown of organic materials, such as thatch, help sunlight reach the root system and improve moisture distribution.
• Prune trees and shrubs, it’s best to do so before new growth sprouts.
• Add mulch to discourage weeds, increase soil moisture and defend plant roots against freezing temperatures.
• To ensure a lush spring lawn, ornamental grass needs to be cut down this time of year to encourage new growth, which can be stunted by old foliage.
• Prune Crape Myrtles during the late-winter to remove weak and dead branches.
• Last, but certainly not least, winterize your irrigation system if you haven’t already done so. Water left in your pipes, valves and sprinkler heads can freeze during the cold winter months and cause serious damage to your system. We’re happy to provide winterization services or repair services, if necessary. Call today for an estimate at (804) 271-8030 or click here.

As the temperatures decline in the fall, remember to adjust your irrigation system to reduce your watering times and frequency and avoid over-watering. The summer heatwaves are over and the soil now stays moist longer. If you continue to water your lawn as you would during the summer the result will be water logged, weakened grass.

Now that it’s officially autumn, it’s also a good time to seed and aerate your lawn.  Aerating your lawn is key to a lush healthy yard because your soil compacts over time, which reduces the amount of oxygen that can circulate. Dense soil also decreases the amount of water that can be absorbed into the ground where it can reach the grass roots. When your lawn is aerated, cores are removed from the soil, allowing air to circulate, roots to grow deeper and water to be absorbed further into the ground. It’s best to heavily water your lawn a day or two before aerating to allow the aeration machine to work more smoothly.

Timing is essential when seeding or overseeding.  Spring seeding isn’t ideal because the new grass doesn’t have enough time to establish a root system before the summer temperatures burn it out.  Fall, however, is the perfect time to lay down new seed, as the extreme summer heat is over, but it’s not yet cold enough to damage the newly sprouted grass. Seeding your lawn each fall will help to reduce the rate of disease and prevent weeds.

It is also important to aerate and seed now, before you turn off your irrigation system for the winter, because once you’ve seeded it is very important to keep your newly seeded areas moist. These areas should be watered daily for 3 weeks.

Remember to schedule your winterization visit over the next few months before the temperatures approach freezing.  Print a coupon to have your irrigation/sprinkler system winterized for just $59 here.

Caring for your lawn through summer heat

If your lawn has survived the recent heat wave, which was one of the longest periods of temperatures over 100 degrees on record, then it's time to talk about summer lawn care. Some of us fight tooth and nail to keep our lawns green over the summer, but here are some tips that may save you time and effort.

Things to consider before watering your lawn

The first thing you need to consider before watering your lawn this summer is what type of grass makes up your lawn. Different kinds of grass require different amounts of water. You can use this tool from Scott's Lawn Care to figure out what kind of grass makes up your lawn. Learn how much water your breed of grass needs before watering it. Most breeds need about an inch of water over three to four days to thrive and infrequent watering is best.

When to water your lawn

Do your best to avoid watering your lawn in the heat of the day as evaporation will zap a good amount of the water. The best times are generally early morning (3am to 10am, depending on the predicted high temperatures of the day).Early evening or night (between 7pm and 10pm) can work, provided temperatures in the area don't get very cold at night.Generally not a problem in Richmond!

Other watering tips

Keep in mind that young grass and recently sodded lawns will require more water to keep healthy. Lush, over-fertilized lawns will require more water as well. Both re-seeding and fertilizing should be done in late summer or early fall to develop root growth and promote drought resistance.

What Is Backflow Assembly Testing and Why Do I Need It?

Your backflow assembly is a key component of your irrigation system. The water your irrigation system uses is the same water you use to drink, bathe, and more. The backflow assembly is a device that prevents standing water either in your lawn or surrounding your sprinkler heads from flowing backward into your home's water supply. In addition to being a potential health risk, Virginia state law requires annual backflow assembly testing to ensure that your backflow assembly works properly and that the integrity of your home and community's water supply are protected.

How Often Do I Need My Backflow Assembly Tested?

State law requires that you test your assembly at least once a year. If you do not have a current inspection on file you can be subject to fines. Counties may also impose their own fines. Inspections must be conducted by a licensed inspector. In light of the financial difficulties that state and local government are experiencing, this law is being more stringently enforced and some counties are stepping up the requirements. Chesterfield County in particular has its own set of laws governing backflow assembly testing and has set up its own schedule of fines in addition to state laws.

How Can Richmond Irrigation Help?

We have certified inspectors who can test your backflow assembly to ensure that it is working properly and that your system is up to code, meet your annual requirement and avoid any fines stemming from improper maintenance of your backflow assembly. All this can be done during one of our routine spring startup or winterization visits. To learn more about backflow assembly inspections, schedule an appointment for an inspection, or to learn about our irrigation solutions, contact us.

For our existing customers: Have you received your annual maintenance agreement sent to you via email?  If not, please contact us at 804.271.8030.

For those with irrigation/sprinkler systems that do not have a maintenance agreement with any irrigation company, give us a call. We'll take care of starting and pressurizing your system and check for anything that's not working correctly. You'll receive a 10% discount on any repair work (discount up to the value of your maintenance agreement).

At the end of the season, we'll winterize your system as well. If you would like a backflow test to meet county/city requirements, we can take care of that as well for an additional amount.

Winter is a great time to start planning for a new irrigation system. We can come to your property, take measurements, map out locations for sprinkler zones and heads. Give us a call for an estimate so you are ready for spring. 

Richmond Irrigation has uploaded a few videos into YouTube. These videos show our equipment and employees in action - installing lawn sprinkler systems.

The below video, Lawn Sprinkler System, Richmond Irrigation, shows the operation of a Vermeer LM 42. This machine installs piping with very little disturbance to your lawn and landscape. Here is our explanation of how it works:

• First we dig two holes - one where we want the pipe to start and the second where we want the pipe to end.
• Next we hook the PVC pipe to the blade of the machine and lower the blade to the appropriate depth. We typically install PVC pipe at a depth of 12"-18".
• We then engage the 'shaker' and start moving the machine towards our end point. The shaker causes the blade to vibrate very rapidly, clearing a pathway for the pipe that is trailing the blade.
• Finally, the LM 42 makes it to the end point - and we disconnect the piping from the blade.

Winter is upon us and freezing temperatures arrived with it. Is your irrigation system ready? If it has not been winterized, the damage from frozen pipes could be costly. Contact us to make sure you are ready for the cold winter.