Be Prepared - Prepping for a Spring Garden in Denver

Be Prepared - Prepping for a Spring Garden in Denver

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

Already most of your landscape is exposed since the majority of Denver’s snow has melted. Soon plants will start budding with new foliage and flowers. The lawn will need the first cutting, trimming and edging to make things look sharp. The lawn sprinkler system will need activated and all sprinklers repaired to start the growing season off right. Plan now in order to be prepared for Denver’s upcoming lawn mowing and garden maintenance season.


The twigs from shrubs protruding are looking bleak among the mulch and trees. The bare ground where your lush garden stood last year is still active and growing in your Denver garden. These apparently baron sticks will bring forth leaves and early spring flowers. Fruit trees will present their beautiful and fragrant blossoms. It is important to tend to these plants in the correct season to add consistent splendor to your Colorado garden.




Whether you live in Englewood, Golden, Lonetree, Greenwood Village or in the heart of Denver your lawn will need to be trimmed multiple times in April. This prevents shock and stress to the turf grass which occurs when you take off more than 1/3 of the grass’s leaf blade. Usually in the Denver metro area, a Denver lawn mowing contract would be from the beginning of April and last through the end October. During the first month and the last month of the lawn mowing season, April and October, the grass is usually only mowed twice due to the turf areas growing more slowly at these times. Irrigation systems for your lawn and garden might affect how quickly your grass grows.



A properly functioning lawn sprinkler system is essential in Denver. With our weather patterns always changing ,we never know when the next rainfall will occur. Your Denver lawn sprinkler system repair’s need to occur when the irrigation system is started up. All sprinkler zones need to be ran through and adjusted on a regular basis, weekly after mowing is best, through out the season while actively irrigating your residential or commercial landscape. Having your system tuned up by a qualified sprinkler repair technician is an important way to help prevent water waste from irrigating your lawn and garden.



A wise person prepares for and takes stock of what needs to be done. If you need some assistance, A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC provides full gardening & flower maintenance, lawn mowing contracts and sprinkler repair services. Call on us, (303) 433-3750, if you need help this year. Not only will your plants be healthier and happier, you will have A Better Garden.

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.

Freeze Alert Denver Front Range - Local Weather Centers Issue a Freeze Warning for Saturday October 10, 2009

Freeze Alert Denver Front Range - Local Weather Centers Issue a Freeze Warning for Saturday October 10, 2009

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

Professionally having a lawn sprinkler winterization or lawn sprinkler blowout performed reduces the risk of damage to your Denver Lawn Irrigation System.



Denver’s Weather forecasters have predicted a rain/snow mix on Saturday into the night. Low temperatures are expected to reach mid to high twenties (25-28 Degrees Fahrenheit) everywhere across the Denver Metro Area from Golden through Greenwood Village all the way down to Lonetree, Colorado. Across the Denver Metro Area we have already experienced a light frost roughly a week ago. This frost expected Saturday would be a harder freeze which would be more damaging to Backflow Prevention Devices (BP). There are several ways to delay and hopefully avoid the onset of freeze damage to a Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) or Reduced Pressure Assembly (RPA).


Allowing an irrigation system to continue watering the turf and garden areas requires the Backflow Prevention Device to be wrapped in Insulation. The Reduced Pressure Assembly (RPA) or Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB) is wrapped in Encapsulated Insulation and secured with Duct tape. Black Trash Bags are used to protect the insulation from water. The bags must also be secured by Duct Tape. Denver Area Commercial properties usually have the irrigation system running until the end of October and sometimes later. This is usually based on how low temperatures fall in Littleton, Englewood, Golden, Denver or the rest of the Denver Metro Area.



The most common method to avoid damage under short notice is to drain the Backflow Prevention Device. This only allows for expansion of the water through opening such as the Test Cocks. Backflow Prevention Devices (BP) should have the water to the irrigation system turned off. All Test Cocks/ Pet Cocks must be opened and left to a forty-five degree angle. Turning ball valves to a forty-five degree angle will also help reduce possible damage. Some Backflow Prevention Devices (BP) sometimes have a brass drain elbow or a brass drain coupler installed to help drain the pipe completely. It also has an added value of allowing water to drain over the winter if you have a defective Gate Valve.


Defective Gate Valves often are the true culprit of damage to Backflow Prevention Devices after they have been professionally winterized. The reason is because, Gate Valves contain a rubber gasket which over little time wears through or disentegrates and prevents seating of the valve. When the valve does not seat, water slowly and continuously leaks through your main shut-off to your Greenwood Village or Arvada lawn sprinkler system Backflow Prevention Device (BP). Defective Gate valves can be replaced with a ball valve by a company, such as A Better Garden Maintenance, LLC, which is licensed for Inside Tap and Backflow Devices.


If anyone would like to get a Denver Metro Commercial or Residential Property’s irrigation system winterized , please pay attention to the listing of the areas we will service dependent on the day. We still have openings on Mondays and Thursdays for the South Denver Metro area (Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Lakewood, Greenwood Village, etc.) and on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the North Denver area (Denver, Arvada, Thorton, Highlands Golden, Morrision, etc.) till the end of October.



As an added incentive, every customer you refer to us for sprinkler winterization you receive $5.00 off your own bill. Sign up as a friend or fan on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter and receive $5.00 off of your sprinkler winterization bill as well. Get four or more of your neighbors in a four block radius together and sign up for our group rate. Call (303)-433-3750 or contact us at our website at www.abtrgarden.com to schedule your sprinkler winterization scheduled today.

Rain Smart Technology - Update your controller and have options.

Technology - Update your controller and have options.

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

It is amazing to see the progression of the green industry in Colorado. Ten years ago we had just started installing user friendly controllers with rain sensor shutoffs for lawn sprinkler systems. In 2009 we now have irrigation controllers which can have soil moisture sensors, internet connections to your own computer and even soil salt content sensors. We even have controllers based off evapotranspiration (ET Controllers) specific to the immediate area based on a variety of factors and soil conditions.





Whether you just need a basic controller to turn on your denver lawn sprinkler or want a complete computer based irrigation system for Greenwood Village estate, we can help. A Better Garden is here to provide any sprinkler repair service and renovation across the Denver Metro Area. Here at a Better Garden we also provide basic maintenance in dealing with sprinkler shut offs / sprinkler blowouts /sprinkler winterizations and other irrigation repairs.

Shrubs and Trees - Little thoughts that make a big difference

Shrubs and Trees - Little thoughts that make a big difference

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

A Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) has an amazingly brilliant red fall color. It adds interest to your landscape just like the Aspen (Populus tremuloides) clumps which set ablaze our Colorado mountains with gold. Another popular shrub which has a bright red fall color is aptly named “Burning Bush” or Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alatus). Bushes and Trees are ever present in the garden. Many have color branches or beautiful flowers. There are bushes and trees for all situation presented by the Denver landscape.



When installing shrubs or trees in the Colorado landscape it is important to dig a hole which is two to three times (2x-3x) the size of the pot or root ball. Amending the soil is required in certain municipalities for commercial landscape installations and is a water conservation practice. It is heavily recommended to amend all Denver soils by A Better Garden Maintenance, college professors and other professionals. It is important to recognize the water and light requirements of all plant material being installed into a Denver garden prior to planting into the landscape. The amount of shade and sun differ depending on the type of plant. If you like we can develop a plan together which fits your unique landscape’s needs. This can be done during regular garden maintenance or as a special enhancement project.



We attempt to be flexible to fit your schedule. If you want to have a garden installed in your back yard or just need to reclaim and restore your existing landscape, call us. We can give you an estimate on the cost or just setup it up to perform the services on a time and materials basis. We operate across the majority of the Denver Metro Area. We service the Denver Highlands, Golden, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, Lonetree, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Belmar, Bo Mar, Littleton, Stapleton, Englewood, Wheatridge, Arvada, Washington Park, Congress Park, and other areas in between for sprinkler repair, weekly lawn mowing, weekly garden maintenance, seasonal pruning of shrubs and garden renovation & cleanups. Call today to start service. We look forward to helping you in pursuit of A Better Garden.

Installing a Lawn Sprinkler System - Always choose a qualified contractor

Installing a Lawn Sprinkler System - Always choose a qualified contractor

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

Delivering water to a garden or lawn turf area seems like it would be a simple matter. Yet the installation and maintenance of a lawn sprinkler system requires a license and permit in some municipalities. The water which is supplied to the lawn being mown is connected to a public drinking water supply. This supply is mandated to be protected by city and state regulations. Water drop due to a connection by firemen to a local fire hydrant would cause a backflow of water to the system main line and potential health problems without the regulations. Besides the safety issues, there are items to be addressed for your personal residence to ensure you have a proper & effective lawn sprinkler system.



Sprinkler system designs are based on available water. Both pressure and volume influence the requirements of a lawn sprinkler sysem. Most municipalities require a backflow prevention device. Sprinkler heads are utilized depending on space and design requirements. Minimal systems can be installed at cheaper rates, yet a system should be installed to meet the specifications of the area being irrigated. To remain fully pressurized and functional, each zone should not exceed the maximum amount of water at a given pressure which is available at you point of connection.



Residential systems are usually installed by mean of an indoor tap off the main water supply. The tap off the water supply is usually isolated by use of an indoor ball valve which has a drain towards the backflow device. Gate valves are no longer used as they have a tendency to leak as the rubber gasket deteriorates over time. Ball valves are useful to shutoff the sprinkler system during the cold Colorado months. These valves feed into a backflow prevention device (usually RPA or PVB) which protects families and municipalities from contamination of pesticides and other chemicals in the lawn & garden.



Some systems require the use of a stop-n-waste valve connected between your water meter and the connection of your house. This can be beneficial if it allows a higher pressure or larger volume of water to be allotted to your lawn sprinkler system. The backflow prevention device must be utilized after the stop-n-waste valve as it is a point source for contamination.



All lawn sprinkler systems contain a mainline or in most residential situations a manifold. This is the water line which is constantly under pressure to supply the lawn sprinkler sytem. Zones, or isolated areas to be watered are supplied off this via an electric control valve. Each valve is controlled by an irrigation controller which can be installed indoors, in the garage, in a shed or outside if the component is manufactured for such use. The standard is that a similar grouping of sprinkler heads are included on a single zone.



Most zones are planned for a residential lawn sprinkler system to have a water flow of 10-12 gpm at an acceptable pressure. This allows for approximately 3-5 rotar pop-up heads and 4-7 stationary pop-up heads. The number of drip emitters availble are calculated by the total gallons per hour divided by the gallons per hour of the drip emitter being utilized. With drip systems the key is to realize what type of drip you are using (spray or emitters) and separate them. Also it is important to keep the annuals on a separate system as they usually require more water.



Remember a quality system shouldnt need replaced for at least 15 years. They will need to be maintained. This should include a yearly spring start up, periodic adjustment (heads, controller, etc), sprinkler repair as necessary, and in Colorado a winter shutdown. Contact us today if you wish to get an estimate to have a new lawn sprinkler system installed or if you need a qualified technician to service youre existing system.