News & Tips Archives - Page 4 of 7

Caring For Your Lawn This Fall

Summer is winding down, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop caring for your yard. In fact, you can do a few things this fall to get the most out of your irrigation system for the next season. Your yard and your wallet will thank you come spring.

Winterization: No one wants to deal with busted pipes during frigid winter months, so it’s important to winterize irrigation systems. All customers need to receive this service. The process involves blowing out all pipes and parts with an air compressor, which will keep you from getting any frozen pipes during the cold winter months. Winterization season starts September 15 and runs through around Thanksgiving.

We offer a service package in the early spring that includes Fall Winterization in addition to other services such as Spring Activation and a Backflow Preventer Test. Mark your calendar so you can take advantage of the deal next year if you haven’t already.

Read more about winterization and our other services here.

Installing a new irrigation system: Fall is a good time to re-establish your lawn. Take advantage of the mild weather from now until about the end of October and put in a new irrigation system. Re-establishing now will mean you’re ready to go come warmer weather. Installation only takes one day, so you’ll be on your way to conserving water and saving money in no time.

Click here or call (636) 692-4441 to schedule your appointment with one of our highly trained and experienced service technicians.

Preventing Backflow With A Wilkins 375

When it comes to the irrigation of a home it is important to have the right instruments in place to do so correctly. A Wilkins 375 backflow preventer is one of the instruments that is available to help protect the water flow to and from a home while maintaining the irrigation that the plants and lawn need in order to thrive and provide the aesthetically pleasing function which they were planted for. There are a couple of reasons why it is important to prevent backflow while providing irrigation for the flora around a home and the benefits are well worth it.

What exactly does a backflow prevention device do? The purpose of a backflow prevention device such as a Wilkins 375 is to make sure that water which is impure does not reenter the system due to back flow. Many water sources throughout a home are kept at a certain water pressure so that water will be readily available when it is needed. Some of these water sources contain potable water such as that leading to the interior of the home which is used to drink, clean, and cook with. Without proper backflow prevention it is possible for contaminated water to flow back into the system and contaminate the potable water which is used in other areas of the home.

The Wilkins 375 is the protection that a home needs to prevent the occurrence of backflow in the system. It is capable of keeping the water pressure in a home high while reducing the risk of potential backflow issues into the system. It does this with a series of valve bodies and shut off valves which can be used to insure the safety of the water supply that runs to the rest of the home while still regulating and maintaining the water which is used to irrigate the area surrounding the home.

Any water source can be improved with the use of a backflow prevention device such as the Wilkins 375. It is important to take the necessary precautions so that there is no need for worry when it comes to backflow entering the home and contaminating the water which is used for consumption. Keeping the area around a home well irrigated should be a high priority but not at the cost of the safety of the water supply leading into the home. Check out all of the features of the Wilkins 375 and the advantages that it can provide to any home.

Installing A Residential Irrigation System for Ultimate Lawn Control

When it comes to maintaining a yard that is aesthetically pleasing without having to spend an exhaustive amount of time on its upkeep there are few solutions which are as simple and elegant as installing a residential irrigation system. A residential irrigation system offers many benefits to a homeowner that enjoys taking pride in the appearance of their yard while under the confines of a busy schedule. Maintaining a beautiful and healthy yard no longer requires the constant surveillance and maintenance that it once did in the past. Installing a residential irrigation system will allow a homeowner to have ultimate control over the automatic maintenance of their yard.

One of the biggest benefits that a residential irrigation system offers to homeowners is that the ideal amount of water can be provided without having to manually hydrate the lawn and plants. Owners can put an end to the days of over or under watering their lawn and the damage that is caused by either of these landscaping missteps. A residential irrigation system can also help insure that the water is spread evenly and effectively across the entire yard. Many owners deal with dry spots or differences between sunny and shady areas of their lawn. With the control provided by this system it is possible to customize the amount of water that should be delivered to each area of the lawn.

Watering according to an ideal schedule is another challenge which is present in the world of lawn care. A residential irrigation system will allow the hydration process to continue without the homeowner’s presence being required. This is ideal for those with busy schedules who are not available to water their lawn and plants at the ideal time of day to insure that they remain as healthy as possible. The lawn and plants can be watered automatically at the ideal time of day with the timer system. The system also has a backup battery so that in the event of a power outage the cycle will not be disrupted.

By monitoring the amount of water delivered to the plants in a yard owner’s can avoid the over watering of plants. This will save money on the utility bill in the long term and can even offset the initial cost of installing a residential irrigation system. With all of the benefits available to homeowners it is easy to see how installing a system like this could be beneficial.

Preparing for Spring Lawn Seeding

With the end of winter comes the time to re-imagine the lawn as it should be. No more leaves on the ground, no more layer of snow covering everything, and the end of weather that keeps people indoors most of the time. Spring is a time when homeowners can make their lawns as nice and enjoyable as possible to be ready for the warmer weather which will bring folks outdoors. Here are some simple tips for those looking to prepare to seed their lawn this spring in order to return it to the glory that it has had in years past.

The first step in spring lawn seeding is the clean-up and removal process. Start by clearing away any leaves, sticks, and other winter debris which has settled into the area where you would like to grow your lawn. These can and will inhibit your lawns ability to grow evenly if not removed and can have a negative aesthetic effect on the finished product. It is better to take the time to create a clean slate early on than to have to back track once a lawn has grown in that doesn’t live up to expectations.

It is important to check that the dirt beneath the existing lawn is still level now that the cold weather has ended. If there are any high or low spots within the lawn area it will cause problems during watering and irrigation later down the road. Low spots will collect water and high spots will cause problems when going over the lawn with a mower. If there are any unleveled places within the lawn it is important to grab a shovel and begin evening out the base surface. Having a solid foundation to work with will make things much easier later in the process.

It is now time to aerate the area. It is important to break up the surface of the soil so as to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass and create rich soil for its continued health. It is recommended that aeration takes place one to two times a year and during spring reseeding is one of the best times that homeowners can choose. After aeration you can add any type of fertilizer in order to enrich the soil beneath your lawn. Once this is done you are ready to lay down the seed which will become your lawn. With proper preparation this will produce a lawn that anyone would be proud of for the rest of the season and throughout the summer. Using a professional irrigation system to water the lawn will help maintain its health and aesthetic beauty.

Is Your Yard Ready for a Vacation?

Sunny Days and Relaxing Thoughts

It might be hard to imagine, but right now is the best time to start planning your Spring/Summer vacation. The chaos of the holidays is behind us, travel prices and bookings are down, and tickets are still available for all the shows and attractions that you want to see.

Of course, there’s more to planning a vacation than simply picking a place and buying tickets. Preparations include everything from requesting off of work and arranging house-sitters to figuring out where the suitcases went.

Preparation is the key to success!

But what’s this got to do with your lawn?

Well, lots! Your property has to prepare for the warmer months as well. For many of you, that means an irrigation system.

Proper St. Louis irrigation means uniform growth, lush greenery, and less weeding! Having just enough water in just the right places means that your lawn can be on vacation all the time! Sitting back and letting the system do the work…that’s what vacations are all about!

And it helps with your vacation plans, too! Since you don’t have to worry about coming home to a beige carpet of dead grass, you don’t have to dread the return trip quite as much.

And after the vacation?

After your vacation, your lawn will stay on vacation! The system keeps working, keeping your greens green and your yard feeling fresh.

An added benefit is no more early mornings or interrupted evenings uncoiling the hose to stand and water the grass. No more missed family time or accidental over-watering.

Your irrigation system does all the hard work and keeps you in the green!

Pro Outdoor Can Help!

It might be hard to imagine, but right now is the best time to start planning your Spring/Summer vacation. Contact at Pro Outdoor, and get your lawn’s vacation installation booked today!

Take A Moment to Re-imagine Your Lawn

Your Lawn and Westward Expansion

Picture your lawn at its best. Maybe it’s not even its best today…picture your lawn they way you pictured it when you first moved in. Lush, verdant, and rife with possibility.

It’s the platonic ideal of a lawn: an expanse of deep green, trimmed to a uniform length, the tips of the grass blades gently shifting with the light breeze. You look out, and that land-locked sea seems to beg for a cookout, a garden, or a game of tag.

From the edge of your porch to the border at your fence, your yard is an adventure waiting to happen. An expedition into the wilderness surrounding your home.

Now, as you look out over your yard, this vast green territory, perspective begins to shift. You’re the master of your space, an explorer! You are Lewis & Clark, looking westward to untamed spaces and untold adventure.

Your yard is the frontier, and can be the source of excitement and joy for as long as you continue to think about it that way.

But Wait!

Lewis & Clark were more than just Lewis & Clark. It was them and over thirty other folks that helped to chart and capture the west. They planned ahead, they had support, and they knew that—even though they were capable and strong—they couldn’t succeed on their own. They needed a team.

Who’s Your Team?

A lot goes into establishing and maintaining a beautiful lawnscape: the layout, the landscaping and hardscaping, and the lighting, just to name a few. Then you have your maintenance concerns: seeding, aerating, fertilizing, mowing, and watering are just for starters!

But you already know that. You’re already lashing canoes to the wagons and embarking on your journey to a magnificent lawn. You’re ready for your team.

The Pro Outdoor family is ready, too! With years of servicing and building trust in your community, we’re the obvious choice to be on your crew. From installation to our Lawn Leaders maintenance plans, we know the lay of the land, we know what to expect, and we can’t wait to help you reach the frontier.

Contact Pro Outdoor today to sign up for the Lawn Leaders program, ensuring that your system is in perfect shape…for whatever adventures you might be planning.

Give Us a Call! 636-692-4441

Category: News & Tips