Category: irrigation systems

Get Irrigation Systems in Silver Spring MD Ready for Winter

Homeowners with irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD need to get them ready for winter.

You may think that the irrigation system pipes are immune from freezing because they are underground. The truth is that pipes within irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD can freeze and crack or burst when water is left in them.

Every year, we hear about pipes bursting due to a hard freeze. Those homeowners who fail to winterize their irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD are in for hefty water bills, replacement costs – and in some cases, a yard that is dug up to replace an irrigation system.

So what’s involved with winterizing irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD?

— An inspection of your irrigation system

— A sprinkler blow out, where water is blown out of your sprinkler piping and heads, using commercial equipment

— Parts are replaced where necessary

Please note: antifreeze should never be used to winterize irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD. Antifreeze won’t do the job, and it is unsafe for use around animals.

For more information on winterizing irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects.

 

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories irrigation systems, Silver Spring MD

Irrigation Systems in MD: Better for Your Yard and Wallet

Homeowners: irrigation systems for Maryland homes are better for your yards and wallets. How many times have you under watered or over watered your yard with a hose or old fashioned sprinkler? Probably too many times to count — and your yard and wallet have suffered because of it.

Under or over watering damages your lawn and other landscaping, and increases the likelihood that you will have to replace sod or plants every year. Also, when you over water, you are spending much more on water than you need to, and are wasting water. And that wasted water gets washed right down into the Chesapeake, damaging the environment.

Irrigation systems help MD homeowners to vary the amount of water used, when the water is used, and where it is used on their landscape. Adjusting for current weather and seasons, irrigations systems in MD provide the right amount of water according to the specific needs of your landscaping.

For more information on irrigation systems in suburban Maryland, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been suburban MD’s leading licensed landscape design company. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects for many happy customers. Please contact East Coast Landscape Design today for a consultation on irrigation systems.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories irrigation systems, Maryland, MD

Healthy Irrigation Systems in Gaithersburg MD

If you’ve invested in an irrigation system at your Gaithersburg MD home, you want to keep it healthy. Failing to do so will have consequences. Expensive consequences.

Ignoring the health of your irrigation system puts you at risk for losing the entire system, the loss of landscaping, and flooding that could do great deal of damage to your home. Here are areas where irrigation systems in Gaithersburg MD could malfunction:

  • Piping – could be broken, clogged, or (depending on age) corroding
  • Pumps – running continually, not running, or running for a while, then shutting off before the watering program is complete
  • Heads – could be clogged by dirt, grass clippings, thatch, or damaged by lawn maintenance tools (mower, weed-whacker, etc.). Also, sprinkler heads may need to be repositioned to best serve your landscaping needs.
  • System components – valves, wiring, the sprinkler control box

The bottom line is this: lots of things could go wrong with irrigation systems in Gaithersburg MD, and it’s important to ensure that your sprinkler system is in top condition when you need it.

For more information on keeping irrigation systems healthy in Gaithersburg MD, please the experts at East Coast Landscape Design. These qualified professionals understand hydraulic pressure, sprinkler system layout, soil concerns, and the watering requirements of your home’s landscape. They can assess and repair old irrigations systems, and if needed, design and install irrigation systems in Gaithersburg MD.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Bethesda MD, irrigation systems

The Effects of Frozen Irrigation Systems in Gaithersburg MD

In our area, pipes can freeze during the winter, and that includes irrigations systems in Gaithersburg MD. Homeowners who fail to have their irrigation systems winterized can expect the following effects of frozen irrigation systems in Gaithersburg MD:

  • Cracked or burst pipes: if any water is left in your irrigation system, it will freeze and cause cracked or burst pipes. Replacing cracked or burst pipes is the most costly of all irrigation system repairs.
  • Broken or missing sprinkler parts: if any water is left in a sprinkler, the head can pop off or break and the supply tube and sprinkler body can crack as well. Any missing or broken parts will need to be replaced before you turn on your irrigation system in the spring.
  • Broken manifolds: as the heart of your sprinkler system, the manifold is the main pipe that has several valves to control the flow of water. If water freezes in the manifold, the pipe and valves can crack. Replacing the manifold – or parts of the manifold – takes a lot of time and labor.

For more information on frozen irrigation systems in Gaithersburg, MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects. Please contact East Coast Landscape Design today for a consultation on irrigation systems in Gaithersburg, MD.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Gaithersburg MD, irrigation systems

Irrigation Systems in MD: Are you Overwatering or Under watering?

During a long, hot summer irrigation systems can overwater or underwater Maryland homes. How do you know when you are overwatering or under watering? While some signs are easy – like dry crunchy brown grass – while with others like wilting plants, it’s hard to tell the difference.

Here are some signs of over or under watering:

  • Leaves turn brown and wilt: under watering will result in crispy leaves; too much water and the leaves will feel soft and limp in your hand. Overwatering will cause slow growth and yellowing leaves. If you have yellowing leaves, old leaves, and new leaves falling at the same accelerated rate, you are overwatering.
  • Soil moisture and softness: stick a finger a couple of inches down into the soil – if the soil is moist, and you have some of the conditions above, you will want to reduce your water. Another way to tell soil moisture, and whether it’s uniform throughout your property: press a long screwdriver into the ground. When the soil is moist, the screwdriver should penetrate the soil easily. The depth of penetration will vary by the soil type, size of screwdriver, and your strength. As the soil dries up, the screwdriver will be harder and harder to push into the soil.
  • Slowed in growth is a sign a plant is not receiving enough water. This can be a temporary or permanent situation. If the plant experiences a temporary decrease in water supply, the growth may just slow for a short period. If the challenge is more permanent you may see new leaf growth being smaller than normal.
  • Foot prints remain visible on the grass: walk across your lawn late in the day, and look for your footprints. If the grass blades don’t bounce back after walking on them, the grass is being under watered.

For more information on overwatering and under watering using irrigation systems in Maryland, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been a leading licensed landscape design company in Maryland. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects. Please contact East Coast Landscape Design today for a consultation on irrigation systems in suburban Maryland.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories irrigation systems, Maryland, MD

Spring Tune-Ups of Irrigation Systems in Silver Spring MD

Spring tune-ups of irrigation systems in Silver Spring MD prolong the life of irrigation systems in Silver Spring Maryland and save water, time, and money. Performing a tune-up on irrigation systems in Solver Spring MD are not really a DIY project. There are multiple tasks to undertake – however, if you’re not an expert, a mistake could cost you.

The following steps should be included in a spring tune-up of your irrigation system:

  1. Open the system main water valve slowly to allow pipes to fill with water gradually. (Valves opened under too much pressure could cause sprinkler mainlines to crack.)
  2. Confirm that each station valve is working by manually activating all zones from the controller.
  3. Walk through each station on the controller, checking for proper operation of the zone. Check operating pressure, proper rotation, and ensure sprinkler heads provide adequate watering coverage.
  4. Check and clean filters on poorly performing sprinklers; fix or replace parts as needed. Adjust heads to grade if necessary.
  5. Reprogram the controller for automatic watering.
  6. Replace the controller back-up battery if necessary.
  7. Uncover and clean the system weather sensor, if applicable.

For more information, please contact East Coast Landscape Design, the irrigation systems experts in Silver Spring MD. These qualified professionals understand hydraulic pressure, sprinkler system layout, soil concerns, and the watering requirements of your home’s landscape.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories irrigation systems, Silver Spring MD

Irrigation Systems: Important to Landscape Health in Gaithersburg, MD

Irrigation systems can be very important in keeping landscapes healthy in Gaithersburg, MD. If you are tired of a lifeless looking landscape, or the hassle of watering your Gaithersburg, MD lawn yourself, a good automatic irrigation system is the solution.

Consider these benefits:

  • Maintaining a beautifully healthy landscape all season long, with your irrigation system delivering the right amount of water according to the specific needs of your landscape. Plus, irrigation systems can be adjusted to accommodate seasonal changes in Gaithersburg, MD.
  • Conserving water – irrigation systems that are properly installed and maintained will use less water than watering by hand.
  • Save time – automatic irrigation systems will do all the watering for you, no work required on your part.
  • Save Money – since irrigation systems conserve water and keep your plants healthy, your Gaithersburg, MD water bills will be lower, and you won’t have to replace your plants due to over/under watering.

For more information on irrigation systems in Gaithersburg, MD, please contact East Coast Landscape Design. For over 30 years, East Coast Landscape Design has been Gaithersburg, MD’s leading licensed landscape design company. Located in Montgomery County, Maryland since 1979, the company has designed and installed irrigation systems and other landscape projects. Please contact East Coast Landscape Design today for a consultation on irrigation systems in Gaithersburg, MD.

Posted on Author mdlandscaperCategories Gaithersburg MD, irrigation systems