An irrigation system makes watering lawns and the entire landscape easier and more cost
effective. A balanced system applies the correct amount of water to different areas of the
property to meet the individual needs of specific plantings. The key to lovely looking landscapes
is establishing a balanced system.
Watering schedule
With modern, programmable irrigation systems, it’s easy for the installer to program the
system to facilitate the most efficient and effective watering schedule. Summer rains provide
natural moisture and irrigation systems can be equipped with sensors to detect the moisture
level in the soil. Plants also have different seasonal watering requirements. Modern irrigation
systems can also be set to deliver the correct amount of moisture according to the season.
Hand Watering
Many homeowners choose to water their lawn with a hose and detachable sprinkler head,
while watering flower beds by hand or drip irrigation hoses, depending on the size of the
property. When performed in this way, it’s less efficient and often results in run off or puddling
that does little to meet the needs of plantings or lawns.
It can be extremely difficult to gauge how much water to apply and when. A hose and sprinkler
system will deliver, on average, ½ an inch of water over 30 minutes. A watering schedule of 20
minutes, 3 times per week, will deliver about 1 inch of water to a lawn. The property will need
to be watered at dusk or later to maximize water retention and minimize evaporation.
Variables
The watering by hand method works ideally for healthy lawns. It’s a good idea to use a rain
gauge to determine how much rain is received during a storm. An inch of rainfall can disrupt
the most carefully planned watering schedule. Avoid daily watering as it will result in a shallow
root system. During winter months, lawns can be watered as little as twice a week.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

Installing a new landscape is exciting as individuals look out upon their environment and envision all the beauty and activities they can enjoy. A new landscape is a delicate environment that requires some specialized care for it to grow and flourish. Proper watering is one of the most important elements, but it has to be performed carefully.

Irrigation

If a programmable irrigation system has been installed, the professionals can set it to provide the appropriate amount of moisture at the right times. The irrigation system will deliver different amounts of water in each area to accommodate the needs of different plantings.

Watering By Hand

The process is trickier if individuals are watering the landscape on their own. Smaller landscapes also benefit from an irrigation system. Watering by hand should be performed at night when it’s cooler to avoid evaporation. For lawns, individuals shouldn’t let the top ½ inch of soil dry out until the grass is at least 1 inch in height.

For those using a hose or a sprinkler that attaches to a hose, the landscape will need to be watered every day for the initial 2 weeks following planting – unless a substantial rain is received. After the first month, watering can be reduced to 2 to 3 times per week. Apply about ¾ of an inch of moisture per watering session.

New flower beds also need moisture. Pelting them with a stream of water from a hose will accomplish little other than to damage plants. The best option is a trickle or soaker hose that gently delivers moisture at the soil level.

Overwatering

One of the biggest mistakes individuals make when watering their new landscape is overwatering. Doing so increases water bills unnecessarily. Too much water at one time won’t be able to soak into the soil to benefit plantings. Instead, it simply pools, puddles, and creates runoff onto driveways, sidewalks and the street.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

Irrigation systems ensure your lawn and other plantings are well-watered and green. The automated systems are convenient and saves you time and money. Every mechanical construct eventually needs maintenance, even your sprinkler system.

The signs that your system needs maintenance or repair can begin subtly and go unnoticed at first. The situation can quickly escalate depending on the source and nature of the problem. Leaks, drips and other malfunctions can occur due to damaged sprinkler heads, a broken pipe or a defective control valve.

Higher Water Bills

The first sign of trouble is often a water bill that begins to creep up. Other times it could be a sudden spike, depending on the scope of the problem, and an irrigation system is a prime suspect.

Water Pressure Problems

Low water pressure could be a problem related to the city water supply, but it can also be your irrigation system. Your water pressure indoors may or may not provide a clue. When sprinklers operate, the stream of water can suffer. The water stream coming from your irrigation system can appear weak, uneven, or the sprinkler heads can sputter or dribble.

Irrigation Inconsistencies

Your irrigation system is designed to deliver the precise amount of water to all areas of your yard. Uneven watering is a common problem when sprinkler systems need maintenance. Some areas will be desert dry, while water may be pooling in other locations. The health of lawns and plantings will suffer and there may also be runoff onto sidewalks and driveways.

Sinking Turf & Holes

It’s not uncommon to see your previously level lawn develop holes or areas that have sunken when a sprinkler system needs maintenance. The soil can become supersaturated with water and become more “fluid.” Water sinks down through the soil and causes movement, resulting in dips, holes and similar areas. Excess water in the soil can also result in damage to building foundations.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

An irrigation system helps keep your landscaping well-watered, eliminates labor-intensive watering by hand, and aids in saving money. Modern systems are equipped with sensors that can identify when moisture is needed, eliminating overwatering or underwatering. You’ll need to consult with an irrigation professional, who will design and install the system. There are multiple factors that will need to be considered.

Traditional sprinkler irrigation systems deliver water to the top of the ground and the moisture soaks into the ground. It’s the most common type of system used by homes and businesses. You can also utilize a drip irrigation system, a highly effective, efficient and eco-friendly method of watering the landscape. It delivers water directly to the roots through underground installations and it’s beneficial for minimizing weed growth.

Lawn Size

The larger the yard, the more sprinkler heads will be needed and they’ll have to be calibrated to release the correct amount of water over the entire landscape.

Plantings

Plantings have different water requirements that must be met. The sprinkler heads in the irrigation system will need to be adjusted to deliver a specific amount of water within each different zone to ensure moisture amounts are correct for different plantings.

Water Source

Water may contain a variety of minerals that can be detrimental to plants and has the potential to clog irrigation systems with sediment. Water sources may also contain bacteria or algae that can damage plantings.

Rainfall

Normal rainfall will have a significant impact on the irrigation system. It’s just one of the reasons that an irrigation system with moisture detection sensors is so important. The system will only activate when needed. Systems without sensors will activate on a predetermined schedule, which can result in overwatering that kills your plants and lawns if there’s been a recent rainfall.

Soil

The type of soil will be an essential factor in your irrigation system. Different soil types absorb water at different rates. Your irrigation system will need to be calibrated to release different amounts of water, depending on the soil’s absorption rate.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

An irrigation system is convenient, saves money, and ensures that plantings receive the proper amount of moisture to accommodate their individual needs. The systems require monthly inspections to ensure the sprinkler heads are clean. Clogged sprinkler heads wastewater and leads to higher water bills.

Sprinkler heads can become clogged by dirt, debris and ground residue. The heads can easily become clogged and present a variety of problems that interrupt water flow. The situation will be detrimental to plantings and expensive on the wallet.

When an irrigation system is installed, each sprinkler head is calibrated to deliver a specific amount of water to different areas of the lawn. Water flow is adjusted to meet the moisture needs of the plants within its sphere of influence. Modern systems can be set to deliver different amounts of water depending upon the season and even sense when the dryness of the soil.

Mowing, fertilizer and even flooding can take a toll on sprinkler heads. They can also become misaligned, producing puddles in some areas, depriving other locations of enough water, or end up shooting water onto homes, vehicles, fences, and driveways and sidewalks. Those errors waste water, damage property, and creates potentially hazardous runoff.

Individuals should check each month to see if any of those situations are causing a problem in their yard and that all heads are functioning correctly. Sometimes a head becomes clogged and stops throwing water. It may instead distribute water in a very small area directly around it or simply put out a mist. Clogged sprinkler heads can also produce problems in water pressure.

Individuals can learn how to clean their own sprinkler heads, but there may be other problems involved that an irrigation professional is best equipped to handle. Keeping the heads of an irrigation system clean and free of debris will ensure that all areas of the lawn are watered appropriately and plantings remain healthy. It also saves individuals money and aids in protecting a valuable natural resource.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

Lawns need moisture 12 months of the year, but that requirement is significantly less during cooler winter months since the rate of evaporation is far less. Many popular lawn grasses enter a dormant phase in the winter to wait for warmer temperatures in the spring. However, using a sprinkler system correctly in the winter will help ensure the lawn has a healthy return in the spring.

In the South Florida climate, an automated irrigation system is almost a necessity to avoid overwatering or underwatering. The systems can be adjusted to accommodate highly sensitive seasonal needs. Homeowners that don’t know how to set their irrigation system should definitely engage the services of a landscaping professional.

Water Requirements

Lawns will typically require 1 inch of water during the winter. Beginning in Sept., experts from the University of Florida recommend that lawns be watered twice a week for 48 minutes and reduce that time to 43 minutes in Oct.; 32 minutes in Nov.; 16 minutes in Dec.; 12 minutes in Jan.; and 17 minutes in March.

Overwatering

When a lawn is overwatered, homeowners are essentially drowning the roots of their grass. The roots are unable to breathe and the part of the root system that survives is shallow, which opens the door to predation by insects and diseases. Overwatering also supports the proliferation of weeds, which adds an additional level of stress to shallow root systems.

Lawns that are overwatered aren’t able to absorb the nutrients they need through the roots. The result is grass that’s unhealthy and lacks the desirable rich, green color. It will also lead to extra work during the upcoming spring and summer months to rectify the damage done.

Underwatering

Even though the grass isn’t actively growing during the winter months, it still requires a certain amount of maintenance moisture. A lawn that’s underwatered will have grass blades that are brittle, fragile, easily damaged, and the lawn may not return in the spring.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

One of the most important aspects of landscaping is the installation of an irrigation system. It’s a facet that’s highly overlooked in the South Florida climate. It’s true that the area receives significant rainfall, but plants and trees need water during drier months too, but in different amounts. There are numerous reasons why an irrigation system is an essential feature in the landscape.

Seasonal Needs

There are times of the year when rainfall isn’t as plentiful and an irrigation system will ensure that adequate moisture is provided over the changing seasons.

Type of Plantings

Water requirements vary among plantings. Lawns are a good example. St. Augustine Grass is a common lawn covering and it’s more water-dependent than other species.

Conservation

Irrigation systems are an important way to maintain a beautiful landscape while conserving a critical natural resource. Programmable irrigation systems deliver the correct amount of moisture for the season. Monitoring systems with sensors “know” when water is needed. They automatically apply it and at the correct time of the day to maximize efficiency and minimize the amount of evaporation.

Efficiency

The sprinkler heads of an irrigation system are adjustable. They’re able to apply different rates of water to different areas throughout the landscape. It ensures that numerous types of plantings can be enjoyed in the landscape and moisture application is customized. It also prevents wastage because driveways, streets and sidewalks aren’t being watered along with the landscape.

Multiple Options

Individuals can choose wide-use watering irrigation systems, drip irrigation systems, and a combination of both. Wide-use is what’s typically utilized for lawns and large open areas. Drip irrigation systems are an ideal way to conserve water, particularly when watering flowerbeds. Moisture is delivered slowly at the ground level where it’s need most and prevents flowers from being crushed or drowned from the output of traditional sprinkler heads.

Savings

The efficient watering of landscapes minimizes water waste, which will save money on water bills. It also saves individuals a considerable amount of time and effort over water by hand, which is the most inaccurate and inefficient methods to employ.

RCH Landscaping is a full-service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians has an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

An irrigation system will keep your lawn and other plantings healthy throughout the year. It’s a smart investment that will save you a considerable amount of time, effort and money on your water bills. However, irrigation systems can be expensive and many people are tempted to do the work themselves or skimp on materials. It’s a decision that could come back to haunt you.

Water for All

Trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers all need water, but they need them in different amounts. Watering them all in the same way will result in some plants getting too much, while others are water-starved. Installing irrigation heads in the right number and calibrating the output is essential.

Different Methods

A properly installed irrigation system typically incorporates sprinkler heads for lawns, along with a drip system for flower beds and similar areas. Trusting in lawn sprinkler heads to water delicate flowers can beat smaller plants down with the force of the precipitation.

Output and Boundaries

Sprinkler heads should be adjusted to operate at different output levels for varying amounts of time, depending upon the area being watered. Without proper calibration, you can also have overspray in which the precipitation is dispersing water over your boundaries and into your driveway, sidewalk, and roadway.

Coverage Area

Each type of sprinkler head has a maximum distance over which it disperses water. Putting in fewer sprinkler heads than necessary will result in dry areas where the moisture doesn’t reach. You’ll be plagued with dry areas where plantings don’t receive sufficient water.

No Rain Shut Off

Florida receives a substantial amount of rain that feeds the moisture needs of plants. Every irrigation system should include a rain shutoff setting that senses the amount of moisture in the soil. It ensures the sprinkler system only activates when necessary for plant health and water savings for you.

Technology and Professionals

It’s well worth the money to hire irrigation professionals. They have knowledge of, and access to, the latest technological advances. They know how to calculate coverage area, adjust sprinkler heads for appropriate output, and install systems that ensure every planting receives moisture according to its own needs.

RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

The most efficient and cost effective way to water the landscape is with a programmable irrigation system that delivers an exact amount of water in different areas according to the needs of the plantings. For those that haven’t had a system installed, there are other ways to make the task of watering less tedious, time consuming, and more cost effective.

Efficient irrigation doesn’t have to be an elaborate or expensive set up. Those caring for small gardens can purchase drip/trickle irrigation or soaker hoses that connect directly to an outside faucet. Rather than spraying water through the air, drip and soaker hoses release small amounts of water directly onto the ground around plantings. They can reduce water usage by 30 to 70 percent.

Soil sensors are a great way to monitor the moisture in lawns and beds. They eliminate the guesswork of trying to determine if the lawn needs to be watered. The devices can be incorporated throughout lawns or beds to ascertain if a specific area requires water. The sensors help to eliminate over or under watering.

A spray hose attachment is another alternative. With the attachment, individuals can direct water at the plants that need it while leaving surrounding soil dry. An added benefit is that aids in minimizing weed growth.

Watering at the right time is equally important. Watering at night or early in the morning minimizes evaporation from the sun’s rays. It also helps to minimize the scalding of plants. Consider collecting rainwater and using it to water small areas and hanging baskets.

Mulching does much more than reduce weed growth. It also works to retain moisture around plantings and enables flowers, trees and shrubs to go longer between waterings.

Some professional landscapers are adding water retentive gels or granules to soil. They soak up water like a sponge and retain it where it’s available to plants. Individuals shouldn’t try to utilize this method on their own. Creating the right formula of soil to granules is a very precise science.

Individuals should also consider plantings that require less water to flourish. There are numerous options available that are aesthetically pleasing and accommodate gardeners’ desire for unique plants and brightly colored blossoms.

RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

A sprinkler system is convenient and saves money on watering costs. It’s essential in arid conditions, but in South Florida where it rains nearly every day in summer, an irrigation schedule will need to be adjusted to account for the levels of natural moisture.

The majority of rainfall comes to South Florida from June through September. Depending upon the exact location, rainfall totals can range from 39 to 74 inches. Individuals will also need to consider the type of lawn grass they have and it’s unique moisture needs.

Installing a state-of-the-art irrigation system is one solution. The modern, programmable systems have the ability to monitor the moisture in the ground and automatically adjust the frequency with which water is applied, along with the amount.

Many individuals simply turn off their irrigation system during the summer months, relying on nature to provide the needed watering. The problem with the approach is that even though South Florida sees rain almost every day, the actual amounts can vary considerably.

Lawns need about ½ to ¾ inches of water twice a week to keep it healthy. Individuals making their own adjustments to their irrigation systems will need to consider the quantity of water being delivered, the frequency, uniformity of coverage, type of soil, and the time of day water is administered to the lawn.

The University of Florida IFAS Extension recommends that individuals monitor their lawns for signs that it may need water before activating their sprinkler systems. Those include footprints that remain visible on the grass, lawns that appear bluish-gray, and blades of grass that have folded in half to conserve water. Then it’s time to provide ¾ of an inch of water.

Overwatering wastes money and water. An easy way to ascertain the amount of water being delivered in a specific time period is to place empty cans around the yard and measuring the amount of water after 30 minutes of irrigation. If cans have ¾ of an inch of water after 30 minutes, individuals know how long to run their irrigation system to deliver the appropriate amount of life-giving moisture lawns need. Adjust any sprinkler heads that are under-delivering or over-delivering compared to the other heads.

RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760