Landscaping Services
Our goal is to transform your landscape dream into reality through creativity, integrity and experience. Whether you desire a full renovation, small enhancements or seasonal color change, The Grass Patch can turn your landscape into a work of art.
Sales
- Free Estimates
- Custom Landscape and Irrigation Designs
- Designers on Staff
- Licensed Irrigators (Download Obtaining TCEQ Rules)
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Lighting
- Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting
- Custom Lighting Designs
- FX Lighting
- Fixtures / Transformers
- Pond/Stream Underwater Lighting
Drainage
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- Underground Drainage Systems
- Underground Guttering
- Surface Drainage Correction
- French Drain Systems
Landscapes
- Planting Bed Layout
- Bed Edging
- Formal Gardens
- Tree Installation
- Shrub Installation
- Turf (St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysia, Buffalo)
- Hydroseeding
* We install all sizes of trees and shrubs.
Site Grading / Clearing
- Tree Clearing & Removal
- Tub Grinding on Site
- Leveling
- Bedding Soils
- Top Soil / Soil Amendments
- Blended Soils
Hardscapes
- Mortared Rock Walls
- Rock Patios & Walkways
- Concrete additions
- Dry stack Rock Walls
- Natural Boulder Rock Walls
- Mortared Rock Patios
- Paver Patios
- Walkways
- Rock Bed Edging
- Outdoor Fireplaces
- Fire Pits
- Natural Boulders
- Natural Stepping Stones
- Decomposed Granite
Irrigation
Is your irrigation system up to state standards? Irrigation systems are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (www.tceq.state.tx.us). TCEQ passed new stricter regulations in 2009. Your water purveyor also passed new stricter standards for irrigation systems in 2009. Refer to TCEQ document “Obtain TCEQ Rules”
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If your irrigation system is in need of repair please call our office and set up a service call. Call our Irrigation Service Coordinator directly to discuss your irrigation needs. 512-616-0222.
Our Service Department has State of Texas licensed Irrigation Technicians to repair, evaluate or trouble shoot your irrigation system. You should never let a non-licensed person or company work on your irrigation system. It is the law! We have four licensed irrigators and 6 licensed irrigation technicians and our own licensed backflow inspector on staff to help resolve your irrigation problems.
Do you have water standing in your yard? Possible leak or are you just watering too frequently? Our technicians will check for leaks and make sure your irrigation controller is working correctly.
Is your grass brown? We can check to make sure your irrigation heads are adjusted correctly and verify your system is operating correctly.
Is your irrigation system wasting water by pouring water onto your driveway, sidewalk, fence or even your house? Our irrigation technicians can evaluate your system and let you know how you can stop the waste. Our technician will check your irrigation controller to make sure it is functioning correctly. Run through each of your irrigation zones to determine how and where you can save water.
Is your irrigation system up to state standards? Irrigation systems are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (www.tceq.state.tx.us). TCEQ passed new stricter regulations in 2009. Your water purveyor also passed new stricter standards for irrigation systems in 2009.
Local Water Purveyors:
Do you have any water restrictions? Contact your local supplier to find out. We work with all of these purveyors during our irrigation permitting process.
Do you have an Isolation/Emergency Shut Off Valve on your existing irrigation system? Emergency shut off valves are required on all new irrigation systems and can help you quickly shut off your water source in the event of a leak.
Do you have a working backflow device? Our licensed backflow inspector can inspect your backflow device, as required by the state, to verify it is functioning correctly. A correctly functioning backflow device can help make sure your family’s drinking water is safe from yard contaminates. If any repairs are needed our backflow inspector is licensed to make any repairs necessary. Never let an unlicensed person or company make any repairs to your backflow device.
Do you have a master valve? A master valve is an irrigation valve installed on your irrigation main water line near your water meter. This valve is turned on by your irrigation controller (usually in your garage) and allows your irrigation system to become charged with water. This type of valve helps save you money in the event of a leak. Systems without a master valve can loose large amounts of water if a leak develops in the main water line. This valve protects you from unnecessary water cost, if a leak develops, and protects our most precious natural resource. Many water utility districts require this type of valve on all new irrigation installations.
Do you have a moisture sensor? Moisture sensors detect moisture and temporarily turn your irrigation controller off so you don’t water when there has been 1/4″ of rain or more. Inexpensive and saves you money! Rain/Moisture sensors are required on all new irrigation systems.
Do you know how to operate your irrigation system? Our technicians can come to your home for an irrigation “walk through” showing you the different components of your system and how they work. They will show you how to program your controller and help educate you on how to operate your system efficiently.
Do you change your watering schedule according to the season? It is important to change your watering schedule when the seasons change. Cooler weather you can water less than if we are having 100 degree days. Our technicians can come out on a seasonal basis to check your system and reprogram the controller.
The Grass Patch, Inc. has over 32 years of serving Central Texas and we strive to make sure our customers are happy with our services. Give us a call for your next irrigation service.
Helpful Precautions and Troubleshooting Tips
Freeze Precautions
Most irrigation systems are equipped with a Double Check Assembly backflow device. Normal Central Texas weather conditions will not cause the need for your irrigation system to be drained or turned off at the backflow device. You should turn off your system at the controller when freezing temperatures are forecast. You don’t want to cause an unnecessary ice event! This will help protect your plants from damage or death.
If your irrigation system is equipped with a RPZ Reduced Pressure Backflow Device (required in some water districts) it is necessary for you to turn of the valves and drain the device. Your RPZ is installed with insulation; however, the valve can freeze and break causing water to flow freely. You must take additional measures to insulate you RPZ during freezing temperatures. If freezing and damage occurs, turn off the RPZ valve shutting off the water flow. Utilize the emergency shut off valve (isolation valve) to eliminate water flow to the RPZ.
Winterizing RPZ
This process needs to be done in conjunction with turning water off to the RPZ at the gray ball valve “Emergency Shut Off Valve” or “Isolation Valve” (preferably), or at the RPZ itself by the two handles located on its side first before any other work is done.
Now in order to winterize the RPZ, first locate the test cocks on top of the backflow. These usually have a plastic cover and are about one inch tall. Remove covers; now look for a small flat head screw in a horizontal position on the side of the test cocks. Turn this screw to a vertical position, doing this has opened small ball valves inside and will allow the water a way to escape if freezing conditions occur.
Troubleshooting Your Irrigation System
The Grass Patch, Inc. recommends you run through your irrigation system every month to check for possible issues with coverage and general function. You can run a manual check of each zone for 2 to 3 minutes to make a visual inspection. Remember: most systems are programmed to start when you are sleeping keeping you from viewing your system during operation.
Your irrigation system is equipped with MP Rotator type nozzles. These nozzles are designed to maximize water absorption by slowing the amount of water being dispersed by the nozzle. These nozzles put out multiple narrow streams of water at multiple distances helping to reduce overspray caused by wind.
Irrigation spray will never be perfect and you will have some overspray; however, it can be minimized by nozzle spray adjustments.
We have a full time irrigation repair technician available to service or adjust your irrigation system. Please contact our office to schedule a repair. If you need additional instruction on how your irrigation system functions, please call and our irrigation technician can set up a service call to provide instruction, check your system and make routine adjustments.
- Pop-Up Heads are popping up but not spraying any water. 1st Solution: Your nozzles may be clogged with debris. While the system is off, pull the pop up head to the up position and unscrew the attached nozzle. Inside the nozzle is a screen to trap debris and minimize damage to the nozzle. Check the nozzle for debris, clean and replace. 2nd Solution: The water pressure in your neighborhood may have changed due to additional demand on the water supplier. The set screw on top of the nozzle allows for adjustments to more water and less water. Turn the screw counter clockwise for additional water to the nozzle and clockwise to reduce the amount of water to the nozzle. 3rd Solution: Your valve for this zone may have the pressure control turned down causing a lack of water. Take the lid off of the valve box. The valve will have a large handle and a small knob below the large handle. While the zone is running, slowly turn the small knob counter clockwise to increase the water flowing through the valve (make sure to only turn it far enough for proper coverage). This can be caused by additional demand on the water supplier (more houses being built in the area and/or commercial growth) 4th Solution: You have multiple programs running at the same time. Check your controller to make sure you do not have overlapping times.
- Some of the heads in one zone are popping up and spraying but some are not. 1st Solution: Be sure you have checked to verify all the heads you think are on the problem zone are not actually on another zone. 2nd Solution: You could have a leak in one of your lateral lines (pipe after the zone valve leading to heads) causing no water to reach the heads not popping up. You can continue to run the remainder of your irrigation system by resetting your controller to zero time for this zone. Give us a call and set up a service call. Usually this is a quick fix and falls under our minimum charge, unless it was a manufacturer defect in the pipe or a fitting was installed incorrectly both are covered under your 1 year warranty (from the installation date).
- Heads are spraying in the wrong direction (on the house, fence, patio etc.). Solution: Please remember: heads can become out of adjustment by foot traffic, mowing, children, and dogs. Check your coverage once per month to make sure your heads are adjusted properly. This is normal homeowner maintenance. The heads can be adjusted easily by 1st making sure the nozzle is screwed down tightly. 2nd by turning on the zone you want to adjust and turning the outer ring on the nozzle which will adjust the spray. Watch the spray for several minutes to make sure the minimum stream and maximum stream are viewed. This will help make sure to minimize overspray.
- You have water leaking from your heads at all times or you have a valve which will not turn off. 1st Solution: Debris can get lodged in the diaphragm of the valve causing a constant leak. This debris can be from the water supply due to a repair in the area or if you are on a well system, debris can be picked up by the pump. This is usually not a quick fix for a homeowner. The valve must be taken apart and the diaphragm cleaned. Usually it doesn’t require any parts, just the cleaning of the diaphragm; however, if the diaphragm is damaged, the valve may need to be replaced (depending on its age). 2nd Solution: In the event your valve is running and will not turn off, you will need to turn off your irrigation system at the emergency shut off valve (near your water meter) or by one of the valve handles on the side of your backflow device. Call our office for a service appointment. NOTE: If your irrigation system is controlled by a Master Valve the zone will continue to run with other zones (2 at the same time) but will turn off when the entire watering cycle is completed. Call our office for a service appointment.
- You have a zone not coming on during its scheduled time. 1st Solution: Check your controller to make sure this zone has minutes programmed and is on a program with a start time. Verify this zone does not have two program times set to run simultaneously as this will cancel the zone from running. 2nd Solution: You could have a problem with the wiring in the valve box. Sometimes children or dogs will play with the wires and pull the connection apart. Find the valve box and make sure the wires are connected. They should all have wire nuts connecting the wires. 3rd Solution: You could have a bad valve solenoid keeping the valve from opening. Call our office to set up a service appointment.
- You have several zones not coming on during their scheduled time. 1st Solution: You may have a cut in a neutral wire or multiple cut wires. If you have been planting additional plants or digging in the yard, you may have cut one or more wires. This takes a wire tracker to locate the cut, unless you know exactly where you or another contractor damaged the wires. Dogs can also cause wire damage during digging. Call our office to set up a service appointment.
- The last valves in your program do not come on during their scheduled time. Solution: Check to make sure these zones are programmed in your controller. Sometimes time is inadvertently removed from a zone or zones at the end of the program. Verify time is set for zones not coming on during the regular cycle.
- Your system keeps cycling or your yard is extremely wet. 1st Solution: Your controller may have multiple start times on multiple programs. Double check the controller to make sure you do not have Program A, B, and C programmed with overlapping times or to run in sequence. 2nd Solution: If your yard is extremely wet or you see water standing, check the wet area to see if you have developed a leak. Run each zone in the system and visually check to see if you have water flowing from areas other than the heads.