http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:25:20 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en_US Most trees in our area are struggling during our extreme drought.  If you have new trees you should be providing them approximately 10 gallons per caliper inch of water each week.  Unfortunately, irrigation systems are designed to water small plants and grass but will not provide enough water for trees.  Unless your irrigation system has been fitted with bubblers for your trees, you will need to provide additional water to minimize loss.The best way to accomplish ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/17.html Central Texas mandatory watering restrictions (Stage 2) are in effect or will be implemented very soon for most water suppliers.  The LCRA has information from most water districts on their web page.  www.lcra.org  If you click on "Watering Restrictions Schedule" in the left column of the page.  This will take you to a listing of most water districts in the area.  Pick your water provider to determine your watering stage and watering days. ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/16.html The "exceptional drought" is causing much the grass in our area to stress or die.  Depending on the water restrictions in your water district you may be able to compensate by adding additional time to your irrigation system.  Each irrigation system is different and each site will be different.  The amount of sunlight, soil and rocky conditions will all play a factor in how brown your grass will get.  Based on our area's Evapotranspiration ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/15.html Are you developing brown spots in your grass?  Many people immediately believe their irrigation system is not working properly.  This may not be the case.  The current "Exceptional Drought" is causing many problems for existing lawns, trees and plants.  Many people do not adjust their irrigation system or watering habits for the changing seasons or during hot drought periods.  It is very important to adjust your irrigation system's run time by adding additional minutes ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/14.html Water standing in your yard can be a good indication of an irrigation leak.  It can also be caused by the irrigation system running too much.  Check your irrigation controller settings and verify you do not have the system programmed to run each day or you do not have multiple start times.  This time of year you should be running your irrigation once or twice a week.  Pop up spray heads for grass should run 10 ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/13.html Top dressing can be done in the fall or the first of spring.  It is important to do it when the weather has cooled off and will not create too much heat on your lawn causing your grass to stress.  You should use a light composted mixture that preferably has some sand in the mixture.  This will make it easier for you to spread and for it to settle into the lawn and not sit on top. ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/12.html We are now taking resumes to fill a full time landscape & irrigation designer position.  This position requires a minimum of 2 years experience designing landscaping and irrigation in Texas.  This is a full time commission based position with our 32 year old company.  A private office at our showroom facility in Leander will be provided to the new team member.  We are looking forward to a busy year in 2011 and need another experienced designer ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/11.html Can you plant or have new sod installed during the winter months.  Yes!  During the cold winter months most sods used in Central Texas will have the upper portion of the sod (the blades) turn brown.  This is a dormant stage for the blades of grass.  The root system continues to grow during the winter.  You must continue to water so the root system has the moisture for continued growth.  Most of the sod farms ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/10.html Our current economy has forced many existing landscape and irrigation companies out of business creating many new small companies or ex-landscape contractors working out of their homes and even their trucks.  Some of these companies are merely workers from the out of business companies.You want to make sure your landscaper or irrigator will be in business to back up their product.  Landscaping and irrigation is an investment in your property value and it is important to have ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/9.html 1.      Irrigation systems in Texas are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as well as your local water purveyor.  Check to make sure your irrigator is licensed @ http://tceq.state.tx.us/nav/permits/landscape.html2.      A licensed irrigator or licensed technician must be on site during the entire installation of an irrigation system.3.      All irrigation systems must be designed by a licensed irrigator and signed, dated and stamped with the irrigator’s registered seal.4.      ... http://www.thegrasspatch.com/grass-blog/archive/8.html