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.

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.

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.

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.