Caring
for Landscapes
When considering a residential landscape project
you must consider your front or back yards as another space that
requires renovation. Much like a home renovation or a new home
building project, there are all kinds of choices to make; material
to choose, construction debris, traffic flow interruption, re-thinking
and changes to original design.
Whether you are planning your new home landscaping
ideas or revitalizing your ''old back yard'', the initial planning
stage is some times the most overlooked. The most important decisions
are made in the initial stages of the project, as they impact
the site's development, management and maturation.
Sawyer's can assist you with the initial planning
stages of your project, and make the transition from paper to
planting without all those ''renovation'' disruptions and headaches.
Listed below is the information you will need to plan a rough
layout of your landscape project.
Things to consider prior to landscape estimate:
- Do you have the time to develop a Landscape
Plan/Budget?
- When do I want the project to commence?
- Have you visited local tree nursery's, suppliers,
read information supplied?
- Do you like a certain properties in your
neighborhood?
Our Estimator will be able to answer any of
your questions during the landscape estimate.
Maintaining your landscaping after the installation
After an installation is complete, it is necessary for homeowners
to take care of their property to maintain its vigor and aesthetical
appeal. You can reduce the risk of plant stress by providing proper
location, sunlight, soil, moisture, a proper balance of nutrients
and protection from insects. Maintaining a nicely landscaped yard
provides many social and financial benefits to your properties
value.
Having below average rainfalls has forced us
to access the way we manage our water consumption. Water conservation
and usage will be the most important environmental factor in establishing
and maintaining your landscape.
Irrigation System
Generally, homeowners will require an irrigation system for lawns,
gardens, and planting beds. The design of the sprinkler system
is directly related to the areas covered by irrigation. Head to
head coverage refers to the optimum water coverage in lawn areas.
This will reduce the number of dry areas caused by stretching
the coverage of the system. Watering times are reduced with head
to head sprinkler coverage, thus reducing the water bill.
Irrigations systems are all custom built to
the requirements of the landscape. ''Objects in the way'' may
pose a problem with design or cut off access to a particular area
of the landscape making it impossible to irrigate the area.
A standard system design will have manual valves,
most likely mounted near the existing outside water tap. This
requires ''switching the zones'' to the area needing watering
for the desired amount of time. This type of system does not require
any hoses or quick couplers to be functional, all is installed
underground.
An automatic timed system gives the option of
having your sprinkler system turn on in the evening when pressure
is optimum. A timer allows the user to seasonally adjust the system,
program various start times for watering 2-3 times a day, have
the system fully operational when away on holidays, and still
allows the homeowner to manually turn on any zone at any time.
Winterization and Spring Start-Up
Due to our lovely fall and winter temperatures, we are required
to winterize our sprinkler systems. This involves shutting the
inside water off, and removing any of the water in the underground
system. A substantial sized air compressor is used to force the
air through the lines, leaving them empty for the winter. Winterization
will reduce damages to the system; with early freezes this is
not always possible. It's always best to book a blow out early
to reduce any leaks or winter damages.
In spring the system is recharged with water
and adjustment done to the sprinkler settings, and clean nozzles
from grass and other debris that can contaminate the system.
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