We see it so often driving down the road; some poor homeowner that’s left for work has their own geyser in their front yard from a broken sprinkler head.  Unfortunately that broken sprinkler head can lead to several problems:  increased water bills, dead grass, weeds, disease and the list can go on!

So before spring rolls around and you get caught with your own national monument, you should have your Irrigation System inspected by a professional.  Make sure they check your:

• Timer box – is it set correctly for the type of sprinklers you have, watering restrictions and the amount of water your landscape needs?
• Zone pressure – is there enough pressure to each zone to ensure water is covering the entire zone? 
• Sprinkler head type – do you have the right sprinkler heads for the type of watering your landscape needs?
• Rain sensor – is your rain sensor working properly?  Do you have one installed?
• Zone coverage – are your sprinklers covering the entire zone?  Are they misdirected? Do you need risers installed?

Don’t stop there though!  Irrigation systems require ongoing maintenance and should be maintained and monitored more than once a year (our Irrigation Maintenance Program is quarterly).

Leave Old Faithful where she lies!

Just this week it was announced in West Palm Beach that because of drought conditions, they were ordering one day watering restrictions.

These restrictions are important because they protect our water supply. However, even with proper nutrition and fertilization, these restrictions in combination with the heat and drought can affect the appearance of your lawn.

Here are a few expert tips you can follow to ensure that when you are watering your lawn, you are watering it effectively:

• Inspect all zones to ensure you have proper coverage
• Water with the right amount of water (3/4 to 1″ per zone is generally sufficient)
• Check your timer to make sure each zone is operating effectively

Check out our video to learn more about proper coverage for your zones!

Massey Services has been committed to providing environmentally responsible services for over 20 years and constantly works to produce new initiatives to protect the environment. Being green is part of Massey’s past…and future.

Here are five simple things you can do at home to go green- while also saving money: 

1. Conserve Energy – turn off lights, televisions, radios, etc. when not in use or when leaving a room.
2. Conserve Water – turn off the water when brushing teeth and try to take shorter showers. Inspect your irrigation system frequently to ensure sprinkler heads are intact and not just gushing water.
3. Recycle – items that can be recycled include aluminum cans, glass jars and bottles, plastic soda bottles, plastic milk jugs, newspapers and magazines, junk mail, office/printer paper, plastic grocery bags and cardboard.
4. Think Before You Buy – make a conscious effort to purchase things that will last. This practice reduces the number of items that quickly break and end up in the trash.
5. Reduce – limit the amount of pre-packaged and disposable products you use. Try buying everyone in the family a reusable water bottle instead of using bottled water, soda and juice or buy snack items in bulk and package them in small reusable containers.  

We hope that your family will adopt these simple practices to help conserve our natural resources, save money and keep our planet clean.

A properly adjusted irrigation system is essential to a healthy, green landscape.

Check Irrigation Coverage and Timing

Sprinkler heads that are not properly adjusted are most likely wasting water, running up your bill and actually doing more harm than good.

• To achieve the best water coverage, make sure the water from each sprinkler head sprays all the way to the next one, in each direction. This is called “head-to-head coverage” and it applies to both rotor heads and spray heads.
• Position heads so water lands on the lawn and shrubs and not on paved areas.
• Water lawns during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces evaporation and waste.
• Also, check your sprinkler heads every month to make sure your landscape stays healthy and green and to make sure that water isn’t wasted.

For expert help or to find out how our Irrigation Maintenance Program can maintain your irrigation system, schedule a Free Irrigation Inspection or call Massey’s GreenUP Landscape Services at 1-888-2MASSEY (262-7739).

Despite drought conditions, one of the more common problems homeowners have is over-watering their landscape. Usually, causes are related to improper irrigation, such as incorrect or broken heads, clogged lines and improperly timed zones. Over-watering causes a multitude of problems, from encouraging the growth of certain weeds, like dollarweed, to the development of fungal problems to the run-off of valuable top soil.

Over-watering also contributes to the mounting water shortage.  There are several state,county and city government agencies that have placed strict regulations on watering.  Please be sure to check with your local water management district to determine if there are any restrictions in your area or you could be facing fines and add to the increasing shortage.

Having your sprinkler system optimized and regularly maintained will ensure that your landscape gets the right amount of water it needs and that we’re all doing the best we can to conserve our water. Contact Massey GreenUP for your free irrigation inspection. We can fix any problems, plus provide regular expert maintenance.