Supplemental Water in a Colorado Landscape- Do I Need a Lawn and Garden Sprinkler System in Denver?

Supplemental Water in a Colorado Landscape- Do I Need a Lawn and Garden Sprinkler System in Denver?

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Colorado has a semi-arid, or a high plains desert, climate which needs supplemental water at times. Rainfall is inconsistent and sometimes sparse throughout Denver’s growing season. Automatic lawn and garden sprinkler systems are the best way to properly water the landscape at your Denver home or business. Just remember, most cities require contractors to pull permits and to be licensed & insured. It is important to make sure things are done correctly to prevent problems in the future.


Plants need supplemental irrigation to survive the high light intensity produced at the higher elevation of the Denver front range. The sun at our altitude can place more stress on plants at a much quicker rate. The rainfall varies from year to year. At times there is nothing but afternoon thundershowers which drench our lawns, gardens and Denver streets. Yet there is weeks of endless Colorado sunshine with high temperatures which cause drought conditions. These times make our parched plants scream for water to survive. During these periods of drought, water must be applied to prevent stress and provide healthy growth.


The best way to supplement water is with a system which efficiently provides it to the plant. It is important to ensure that the system is installed properly to achieve water wise management of the turf and garden areas. If a Denver lawn sprinkler system is not installed in a manner to irrigate similar areas with the same style of sprinkler head, or areas are not split to be ran by themselves, you will have water wasted in your landscape. Drip systems should be used whenever possible as the provide the water to the root of the plants, which deters a lot of foliage disease. Annual flowers for spring and summer color should be on a zone to allow them to be watered individually throughout the heat of the day. Make sure you hire a professional, with water wise experience, to design and install your Denver lawn sprinkler system.


At A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC we specialize in lawn sprinkler systems and garden drip irrigation systems. We provide lawn and garden sprinkler system renovations, design/build sprinkler systems based on pressure and available water, provide spring start-ups and sprinkler activation, install & service backflow devices, and also service the Denver metro area with a sprinkler repair technician & parts service. If your lawn is getting parched, needs a new sprinkler system or if you need to renovate your existing system to make it more water-wise we are here for you. Call us (303) 433-3750 to setup an appointment. Make sure you and your contractor understand the unique needs of your Denver lawn and garden landscape in order to have A Better Garden.

Sodding in the Rockies - Sod & New Lawn Sprinkler System installed in Denver in the month of November.

Sodding in the Rockies - Sod & New Lawn Sprinkler System installed in Denver in the month of November.

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Most people would be shocked to know that lawns & gardens gets installed in the winter. Landscape Construction can always be performed with the right equipment and the right conditions. The cool temperatures allow plants to support with ease and transport energy into the roots over the fall and winter. This newly installed sod and perennials needs to be watered over the winter. They are still actively growing and can suffer stress from lack of water. A lack of water over the winter from limited snow and rainfall which is not supplemented can cause dessication and dieback of the plant. Deep watering allows roots to grow deep limiting potential drought stress.

This yard below was requested to have a complete landscape and garden overhaul.

The garden along the Denver house had volunteers close to the foundation. The massive cottonwood in the center of the landscape had suckers all over the base and lower trunk. Landscape fabric was showing and plants needed cut back to their basal growth. The mixture of weeds and various grasses needed removed along with amending the soil with 5 cubic yards of composted dairy manure for every 1000 square feet of area.

The whole area was roto-tilled and lines were trenched in for the Rainbird lawn sprinkler system to be installed.

This quaint Denver home had an automatic three (3) zone RainBird Lawn Sprinkler System professionally installed. The lowest points of each zone had a Seal-A-Matic Rainbird 3504 Rotor installed to prevent water waste. The zones were nozzle to match precipitation rates. An outdoor controller was utilized to reduce the hassle of going inside for the lawn sprinkler system running outdoors. The inside tap and backflow prevention device requires a permit issued from the city and county of Denver. (These permits should be hung from your front window in plain sight). And a FebCo ¾” 765 was installed as required by Denver code.

The final touches of sod, perennials, and mulch were placed and the sprinkler system activated on November 7, 2009 as shown above.

Anytime is a good time to plant in the Denver Metro area, but Fall and Winter is a great time to plant. Give us a call today to setup a free estimate for your lawn sprinkler system, sod installation or shrub & perennial installation.

(303) 433-3750.

Seasonal tip from ALCC- How to get your sprinkler system ready for winter.

Seasonal tip from ALCC- How to get your sprinkler system ready for winter.

A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

Winterizing most sprinkler systems is in the $100 range or less and goes a long way in helping you avoid costly water damage and repairs. Repairs caused when your sprinkler system freezes can be many times that amount. Plus, depending on what freezes, you may be looking at water damage to your property.


So when you think about putting your landscape to bed for the winter, the sprinkler system needs to be high on your priority list. Each year, many Colorado homeowners have serious water damage when the sprinkler system left in summer-mode freezes in November or December. This headache is followed by expensive repairs to the sprinkler system itself that could have been avoided by taking some precautions.


Instructions for getting your sprinkler system ready for winter


Wrap the backflow prevention (BFP) device located outside to keep it from freezing before your system is fully winterized. If temperatures get into the freezing range, wrap the BFP with and old towel, cover it with a plastic trash bag and tape it in place. This keeps the device dry and helps to prevent freeze damage prior to the winterization.


Shut off the water to the sprinkler system. There's usually a shut-off valve inside the house in the basement.


Drain the system using the valve that's inside your house - usually in the basement.
Look at the valve shut-off and know what kind of valve you have:


Ball valve. This type of valve is more reliable in terms of freeze damage.


Gate valve. This valve is very common in Colorado and can often be defective even when the valve looks like it's turned off. When the small washer inside wears out, water will slowly drip and accumulate to the point where if there is a freeze, the part can burst and lead to serious water damage. Have an expert check out this valve.


Draining the system is not enough. Some people think that draining their sprinkler system is all they need to do. But even when you drain the system, water often stays in the pipes and even in the sprinkler heads. When that water freezes, much of your sprinkler system can end up damaged and needing expensive repairs. That's why it's best to play it safe and get your sprinkler system winterized before freezing-cold weather sets in.


Use the right size air compressor. Winterizing is done with an air compressor-and because of the equipment, usually requires the help of a landscape contractor. Many homeowners have small-sized compressors in their garages (for paint guns, nail guns, and so forth), but generally, these compressors don't have the capacity to create the volume of air required to push the water out of a sprinkler system.


Technically speaking, the rating of pounds per square inch (psi) does not determine the compressor size you need (common misconception). What you really need to determine if a compressor is strong enough to be effective is the measurement of cubic feet per minute (cfm) which is a measure not of pressure-but of volume.


To be adequate on a residential property, a compressor needs to be in the range of 100-500 cfm. The psi should be no more than 80 psi or the heat generated could melt the fittings. Before you let you neighbor offer you the good-buddy special to winterize your sprinkler system, check out the size of the compressor because a small compressor may not be up to the task.


Once you have the right size compressor, the final step is to hook it up to the sprinkler system. The compressor will be used zone-by-zone to push air from the compressor into the sprinkler lines which will in turn push water out of the pipes and out of the sprinkler heads. Getting all the water out takes 1 to 3 minutes per zone. This is the best way to make sure your sprinkler system has no water in it that can freeze, create damage and lead to costly repairs.



This article is republished off the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado ( http://www.alcc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64:seasonal-tips&catid=9:resources&Itemid=58)

A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC - Landscape Maintenance Firm servicing both commercial and residential properties.

A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC - Landscape Maintenance Firm servicing both commercial and residential properties.

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

"A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC provides Commercial Landscape Maintenance Contracts throughout the Denver Metro Area. Submit a Request for Proposal Today."

A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC is a full service landscape maintenance firm which provides landscape management in the way of commercial landscape maintenance contracts & residential landscape maintenance contracts. These contracts vary depending on the property and owner. Weekly lawn mowing, sprinkler system repair, garden bed maintenance & hand weeding, shrub pruning, light tree pruning, fertilization, aeration, sprinkler winterizations and lawn & garden cleanup are a few of the services we offer and include in our contracts. We also charge time & materials for customers as needed. Call and schedule a sprinkler blowout now.

"This residence was a zero tolerance snow removal job to allow a nurse daily access in Lakewood foothills after an five (5) inch snow storm."

Snow removal is available to both commercial properties & homes throughout the Denver area (Some areas are not serviced. Additional trip charges may be required if service is deemed available.) Snow plowing, snow shoveling and ice melt application (*materials extra) are still available this 2009-2010 snow season. Call today and setup a snow consultation. A contract will be available to reserve A Better Garden Maintenances, LLC services for the snow removal season.

"This Brick Paver Patio was an addition to a full landscape construction renovation project of a new garden maintenance customer in Arvada, CO."

Landscape Construction & Garden Enhancements are also available. This includes retaining walls, new cedar fences, paver patios & pathways, shrub & tree planting, lawn sprinkler system installation, soil ammendment, grading, sod laying, grass seeding, rock and wood mulch installation. We also perform repair services, such as sprinkler system repair & paver pathway and patio repair, with all services (sprinkler installation, paver patio installation, etc.) we provide.

Let A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC help you however it fits into your need’s in pursuit of A Better Garden.

Sodding and Seeding - Fall is a great time to install sod or seed in Colorado.

Sodding and Seeding - Fall is a great time to install sod or seed in Colorado.

By:Jonathan Manning, CLT
A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC
Denver, CO

I've gotten many calls asking whether it is a good time to install sod in the Denver area. Its not just a good time, but a great time to get a new lawn installed. In the fall the ground below the sod remains warm, yet the air above is cold. This causes the sod to root more effectively. The same is true with seed and most all other plants. As long as they receive supplemental water to establish, both immediately and over the winter, these newly installed plants will thrive.


In any situation our Colorado soil needs to be ammended. This is where the soil has composted manure incorporated into its structure to make it better. Organic Matter plays a huge factor by increasing the water holding capacity of the soil. Many micro and macro nutrients are introduced to the soil as well.


Also remember a lawn sprinkler system is a needed item in a Denver landscape. Since our Denver weather patterns are unpredictable and never consistent, we need to supplementally water our lawns and gardens. Here at A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC we can install whatever landscape you need to fit your budget and needs.


Call us today (303) 433 - 3750 to set up an appointment to get an estimate. We service both residential and commmercial properties across Arvada, Denver, Golden, Wheatridge, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, Cherry Creek, Cherry Hills Village, Lonetree, Highlands Ranch, Ken Caryl, Centennial, Englewood, and Littleton.