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

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

When the work is done, a newly installed landscape is a wonder to behold. Maintaining that beautiful environment isn’t as easy. It will take effort and work on your part, along with an understanding of the plants in your care. If you travel frequently or don’t have the time to devote to the task, your best solution is to hire a professional landscaping company.

Lawns

A manicured lawn requires regular mowing, but be sure not to remove more than one-third of the height of the grass. Cutting too frequently or too short stresses the grass and makes it more susceptible to drought, heat, sunburn, insects and weeds. Always make sure lawn mower blades are sharp so they cut cleanly.

Weeds

A weed is a nutrient thief, often deceptively disguised as a flowering plant. Weeds rob the soil of nutrients that desirable plants need to thrive and they find their way into your landscape through multiple means. Remove weed blossoms so more don’t sprout and eliminate the entire plant if it’s possible to do so without causing too much disturbance to lawn or flower beds.

Fertilizer

Different plants have their own unique fertilizer needs. Native plants will require less fertilizer as they’ve evolved to local soil and climate conditions. Non-native plants may need certain combinations of nutrients to keep them healthy. Established plants will have different needs than those that are newly planted.

Pruning and Deadheading

Trees and bushes are pruned to remove damaged branches and stimulate growth. Pruning during the dormant season is essential before new spring growth appears. Trees and shrubs that are actively growing require more water and over-pruning deprive them of their natural ability to shade themselves against the sun. For flowers, deadheading may be required to keep them looking attractive and prevent them from propagating themselves throughout the garden.

Water

Moisture is essential, even in South Florida’s humid climate, and all plants don’t have the same water requirements. Too much or too little moisture is equally damaging. If you’re watering by hand or with sprinklers attached to the garden hose, be sure to water late at night or before dawn to minimize evaporation.

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 secrets to a beautiful and healthy lawn is fertilizer. However, fertilizing at the wrong time or using too much will produce the opposite effect. Weather conditions and the type of lawn grass will determine when the lawn is fertilized and how often.

St. Augustine grass is one of the most popular and frequently selected choices for South Florida lawns. It’s a dense grower, has attractive blue-green blades, and it’s easy to grow even in shady locations – though it doesn’t like deep shade. It’s also one of the most versatile and easily able to tolerate heat, humidity and salt. It’s not picky about the type of soil in which it grows.

Individuals should be aware that fertilization should only take place when grass is actively growing. While it’s true that the grass will grow year-round in South Florida, it’s most active from March-April through Sept.-Oct. The best solution for lawns is a fertilizer that contains slow-release nitrogen to feed the lawn throughout the season. Depending on the type of soil, additional applications may be needed.

Be aware that fertilizer will have three numbers on the package, such as 16-4-8. It’s the amount of nitrogen, phosphate, and potash it contains, respectively. The amount of fertilizer that’s applied is equally important as when it’s placed on lawns. Applying too much will burn the roots, kill the grass, and negatively impact the environment. Individuals will need to be cognizant of laws regarding fertilizers.

Proper application will also rely on knowing how many square feet the lawn encompasses for accuracy. Once that number has been determined, the county’s local Extension office can assist in calculating how much fertilizer to apply and when. An alternative is hiring a professional lawn service that will know the exact requirements of the grass depending on multiple variables.

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

If you’re like most people, you worry that your landscape isn’t getting enough moisture. Overwatering is even more damaging to the landscape, and in ways that you may not have considered. Watering by hand is time-consuming and leads to areas of excess water in some locations and not enough in others. The best option for watering is an irrigation system that can be programmed to deliver the exact amount of water every area needs.

The first way in which overwatering harms the landscape is through disrupting the way that grass and other plants grow. It drowns the roots and prevents them from forming deep, healthy systems while starving the soil of oxygen content.

Too much water also prevents microscopic organisms from performing the important work of breaking down plant matter through decomposition. Without that natural process, thatch builds up and strangles a lawn. It also creates a breeding ground for insect pests, mold and fungi.

A fungus infection in lawns is something that you’ll have to be vigilant to prevent, particularly in Florida’s humid climate. Overwatering doesn’t allow the soil to dry out sufficiently and plants remain damp longer. You may observe a reddish-orange tint to grass, brown patches, or toadstools growing throughout the landscape – a sure sign that overwatering has occurred.

Insects are drawn to landscapes where the thatch is thick and plants are damp. Even if you use an insecticide in an effort to remedy the problem, some of those pests live just beneath the surface of the soil where they chew on tender roots and surface chemical applications don’t reach.

Weeds are never welcome visitors in the landscape and there are several types that thrive in overly wet conditions. Landscapes that receive too much water are an open invitation to weeds that will deprive grass, flowers, shrubs and trees of the nutrients they need.

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

Irrigation systems have evolved significantly over the years and they’re no longer inconvenient arrangements that leave puddles or end up watering sidewalks and streets. Today’s irrigation systems are programmable, can be operated from a smartphone, and even have the ability to sense if it’s rained.

Irrigation is most effective when it’s performed in the late hours of the evening or early hours of the morning to prevent evaporation and ensure that lawns and plantings receive the full benefit of the moisture. Watering at other times is a waste of money. An irrigation system can be programmed to turn on and off at the appropriate times, ensuring the most efficient use of water and thereby saving money.

Watering by hand with a nozzle or using a sprinkler head is time-consuming, creates puddling and run-off, and doesn’t ensure every area receives the correct amount of moisture. Irrigation systems use sprinkler heads that are adjustable and directional. They’re capable of delivering varying amounts of water to different areas within the landscape to meet the needs of different plants. It eliminates run-off and puddling that wastes water and cash.

Old-fashioned irrigation systems delivered water on a pre-determined schedule, even if it was already raining. A state-of-the-art irrigation system is capable of sensing and monitoring the level of moisture in the ground. It only waters when the ground is dry enough to save on watering costs. The systems can also be programmed to deliver varying water amounts based on the time of year.

Perhaps one of the best water and money saving features available with the installation of an irrigation system is the ability to combine it with drip irrigation. It effectively and efficiently delivers moisture to the root systems of plants in flowerbeds or vegetable gardens. It utilizes far less water and results in minimal evaporation.

One of the biggest expenses associated with a well-maintained lawn is the cost of watering it. Installing an irrigation system eliminates puddling and run-off from overwatering. The systems ensure that each element of the landscape has the exact amount of water required, at just the right time. The result is a beautiful landscape with a significant reduction in water costs.

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