• Check your lawn for diseases and insects. Look for spots of dead grass and check for thatch accumulation.
• Mow your lawn as soon as the grass begins to grow again. Leave grass clippings on your lawn to decompose and add nutrients.
• Treat your lawn with pre-emergent weed killer. Treat it before weeds have a chance to grow.
• Fertilize your lawn using a slow-release fertilizer.
• Test your soil for proper nutrient uptake and balance. Buy a soil test kit or have it tested professionally. Healthy soil is essential to a healthy plant.
• Check shrubs and woody plants for pruning needs.
• Lay down mulch. Mulching is one of the simplest and most beneficial practices you can use in your beds. Mulch helps deter weeds, protects the soil from erosion, reduces compaction from the impact of heavy rains and provides a “finished” look to your lawn.
• Plant your spring garden. Plant early-season vegetables, like root vegetables and leafy greens and herbs, as soon as possible after the last frost.
• All about brown spots. Brown spots in your lawn may not be from a lack of water. It could be suffering from a disease called Brown Patch. True brown patch spots are small to begin with, but in warm weather they can expand rapidly. If you are absolutely sure you have brown patch, the disease can be controlled with fungicides. Several are labeled for brown patch control.
• And don’t forget. The best watering time for your lawn is the early morning, just before the sun comes up. It allows the water time to saturate the ground without the sun evaporating most of it, like it would in the afternoon. Watering in the evening is not a good option because the water just rests on top of the ground without drying out properly which can often lead to fungus growth.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact me at our office if you have any questions at (865) 981-4270.

Everyone who connects a lawn sprinkler to a municipal water supply in Tennessee is required to have a backflow preventer. Each utility company has slightly different regulations regarding types, locations and testing of backflow preventers.

Backflow preventers are required to protect water users from potentially being exposed to chemicals or other substances that could enter public water supplies through lawn sprinklers.

Essentially, backflow preventers do what the name implies as they prevent water from moving backwards in the water supply.  It’s not likely such a situation would occur, but it could happen with a pipe break or when a large quantity of water is needed – during a fire for example.

Backflow preventers require annual testing to ensure they are working properly.  The device is one of the most expensive single pieces of equipment on a sprinkler system and must be maintained to function properly.  Backflow preventers require winterization if they are in a freezing climate.

Unfortunately, backflow preventers can be the target of theft, so homeowners should take every precaution to make sure that doesn’t happen. Rainscapes offers mock rock as an economical solution to this problem.

Call us today to see if you are in our testing district or to schedule a repair on your backflow. For more information about the backflow preventers or how to prevent yours from being stolen, please call me at (865) 981-4270 or visit our website. We’re just a click or phone call away.

Regards,
Clint

For this month, I thought I’d take an opportunity to let you get to know my family and me a little better.

I’m a Madisonville native and owner of Rainscapes. I spend most of my days selling or servicing sprinkler/ irrigation systems.

When I’m not at work, I love to spend time on the lake with my family. We’re really into boating and water sports. My life is either spraying water or playing in it!

My love of water skiing is actually what brought me to Blount County.  I used to do competitive water skiing and skied at the Master Craft test lake. That’s when I fell in love with Maryville and decided this is where I want to live and raise a family.

My wife Lori is from Louisville, KY. Funny story—before she agreed to move to Maryville and marry me, she made me promise I’d take her to the Kentucky Derby every year!

We have two beautiful daughters – Kayla and Isabella – who love dance, cheerleading and boating.

Before family life, I completed my first irrigation job in college and enjoyed the engineering aspect of water much more than the plant side.  Seeing water moving was very impressive to me.

I graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1991 with a degree in ornamental horticulture. After graduation, I worked for an irrigation/sprinkler system company before starting Rainscapes in 1996.

I’m thankful to live, work and play in such a beautiful region of our country.

If you have questions about Rainscapes or myself, feel free to give me a call at (865) 981-4270.

Best Regards,

Clint

The Rainscapes team is certainly itching for warmer weather and I’m sure you are too! With spring right around the corner, we’ve been happily busy scheduling spring start-ups. If you’ve not heard from us or made an appointment, please give us a call as soon as possible to schedule your spring start-up.

The spring start-up process is important for several reasons. It ensures that you are making the proper preparations to maintain a healthy lawn throughout the year and protecting your investment in your lawn.

Like I mentioned in my recent column for The Daily Times, now is also a great time to make your lawncare checklist to get your outdoor space ready for spring. Think of your outdoor space as a personal expression of what you want your home’s curb appeal to reflect.

Generally, the spring start-up process costs around $75-$100, but some package plans are available for those interested. Also, all of our maintenance package holders will get priority scheduling.

Creating a landscape and irrigation game plan now allows for enjoyable outdoor living space later.

For more information about the spring start-up process, please call me at (865) 981-4270 or visit our website (www.rainscapes.com). We’re just a click or phone call away from serving you.

Regards,
Clint

For those of you that already have an irrigation system in place, you may be able to upgrade your current system with a smart controller. Some new components are designed as easy add-ons to existing systems. Smart controllers maximize water efficiency by factoring in everything from soil type to the slope of your lawn to the amount of sun exposure different areas receive. All of these details are calculated for every zone of your automatic sprinkler system to help you maintain a lush, healthy lawn and landscape.

The new generation of “smart” irrigation controllers monitor things like weather; soil conditions; evaporation and plant water use; and automatically adjust your watering schedule. Smart controllers use weather and / or site data to determine when and how long to water. Then, sprinklers apply just enough water at exactly the right time in each zone of your yard.

Simply input a few key specifics, such as your zip code, allowed watering days and the plant/soil type for each zone and the smart controller does the rest. Your irrigation system waters only when the landscape requires it, plus you save 30 to 70 percent in water.

This innovative system is engineered to save valuable time, money and water. Some experts even say that a healthy lawn can raise your home’s value by as much as 14 percent.

For the most professional, best-qualified irrigation service in East Tennessee, call Rainscapes’ friendly staff at (865) 981-4270 to schedule an appointment.

Regards, Clint

Outdoor lighting around the home can enhance safety and security and accent the unique features of a home or landscape which adds tremendous value to a property.

There are two types of outdoor lighting: low voltage and high voltage. Low voltage is the most popular for residential installations due to safety issues and ease of installation.

A popular way to make outdoor lighting environmentally friendly is to use LED lights. These lights provide a bright light while using a fraction of the electricity and providing a bulb life that lasts approximately 10 times as long than a standard bulb.

Homeowners also can save more time and money by having a professional install outdoor lighting as opposed to doing it themselves. Self-installing lighting can leave room for errors that can cause shorts, electrical fires, electrocution and more.

Professionals take into account wattage, voltage drop, cable sizes, fixtures and bulb selection in addition to how the landscape will change through time. Professionals also are experienced in installation techniques which can ensure a system will be installed safely and correctly the first time.

The typical lighting system can be installed in one to two days. Basic professional grade systems start around $1,500 with the average job being $3,500. Also, there’s no need for a homeowner to be stuck at home all day while the outdoor lighting installation occurs since all of the work can be handled without the need for access to the interior of the home or homeowners.

Rainscapes provides design, installation and service for new and existing lighting systems. For more information on outdoor lighting and Rainscapes’ services, please visit www.rainscapes.com or call (865) 981-4270 to schedule an appointment.

Regards,

Clint

The winterization process includes fully flushing and removing water from the irrigation system prior to the season’s first freeze. Residual water in an irrigation system can lead to pipes freezing / bursting and a potentially costly repair job.

Many homeowners overlook the importance of winterizing their lawns. They often do not realize that by not prepping and winterizing their lawns they are allowing weeds to germinate and get a head start on the next season.

Our team offers the following tips to help homeowners get their lawns ready for winter:

• Overseed during the fall season, so new seedlings have a chance to grow and mature before the heat of summer.
• Start treatments of pre‐emergent herbicides before crabgrass and other broad leaf weeds start to grow.
• For warm season turfs (Bermuda, Zoyisa, etc.), fall is a good time to kill unwanted intruder grasses and weeds.
• Mulch trees and shrubs in the fall to help prevent cold weather damage.
• Winter is a good time to prune most trees and shrubs.
• And, winterize your sprinkler system!

Irrigation systems should be shut down before freezing water has a chance to cause harm. Winterizing a system is normally less than $100, which is significantly cheaper than replacing damaged equipment from bursting pipes that have not been winterized.

For the most professional, best-qualified irrigation service in East Tennessee, call Rainscapes’ friendly staff at (865) 981-4270 to schedule an appointment.

Regards,

Clint

Be sure to stop by our booth and meet the Rainscapes team while you’re there.

The show is designed to place homeowners in direct contact with quality home improvement, interior décor, landscaping, and outdoor living companies.  The show attracts homeowners ready to make decisions about building, remodeling, decorating, landscaping and lifestyle.  

Friday, September 23: 12 pm to 8 pm

Saturday, September 24: 10 am to 8 pm

Sunday, September 25: 11 am to 6 pm

Adult tickets are $8 each and children 12 and under get in free. Be sure to check in the Knoxville News Sentinel for a $2 off coupon. On Friday, Sept. 23, seniors (55+) will get in two for the price of one. There’s also free parking at the Expo Center. Show hours are 12 pm – 8 pm (Friday), 10 am – 8 pm (Saturday) and 11 am – 6 pm (Sunday).

For those of you who like to plan ahead, the Knoxville Spring Home Design & Remodeling Show will be held March 30 – April 1, 2012.

For the most professional, best-qualified irrigation service in East Tennessee, call Rainscapes’ friendly staff at (865) 981-4270 to schedule an appointment.

Regards,

Clint

Here are some tips on how to repair your lawn and get ready for the upcoming fall season.

Most summer damage to lawns can be repaired with an abundance of seeding in the fall and with sufficient watering. Repairing the lawn at this time lets the lawn establish itself before the next summer heat. Consistent watering along with a good fertilizer program also can keep the lawn healthy and minimize the weeds that seem to prosper during the hot months.

Knowing just when the best time to water a lawn can be tricky. In my opinion, the best time to water is early in the morning, which prevents water from setting on the grass overnight, causing fungus and disease problems. This also allows the grass to get more water into its root zone, so the sun does not evaporate the water and the wind does not affect the spray patterns.

To avoid future lawn damage from hot weather and lack of rain, cut grass to about four inches or higher.  During drier months, lawns need to be watered to prevent grass from going dormant or dying. 

Some may think using a standard water sprinkler and maintaining lawns themselves might save more money than using an irrigation system, but a lot of time, money and water can be saved by using an irrigation system as opposed to a standard sprinkler. A quality automatic sprinkler system is designed to water just the lawn or landscape areas, which prevents excess water from being sprayed on roads, driveways and structures.  Another advantage with the system running automatically includes people forgetting to turn off their sprinkler, which I’ve heard about numerous times. 

The average cost for installing a residential irrigation system for a home on less than an acre starts at approximately $3,000 for automatic underground sprinklers. Prices vary depending on yard size, complexity of the lawn / landscape and other factors that affect time or materials needed to install the system.  Each job is treated as unique and is carefully examined to determine exactly what it needs.

For the most professional, best-qualified irrigation service in East Tennessee, call Rainscapes’ friendly staff at (865) 981-4270 to schedule an appointment.

Regards,

Clint

As a homeowner, there are many potential obstacles for installing an irrigation system on your own.  There can be issues with permitting, water pressure, underground utilities, servicing, private utilities, state-required equipment, scheduling, precipitation rates, and clean-up, just to name a few.

The most common mistake made when installing a DIY irrigation system is poor design.  Even if the system is installed well, it will only be as good as it’s designed to be. With basic plumbing and electrical skills, a good “DIY person” can install a system, but a professional offers true know-how, not to mention trucks, machinery, and equipment designed specifically for the job.

In my 20-plus years of experience, the main reason most DIY irrigation installations fail is because of hydraulics. Oftentimes, homeowners didn’t take into account water pressure, flow rates, and velocity in the pipe. I’ve seen dozens of instances where a pipe was under-sized or not buried properly, back-flow preventers were put on backwards, wiring nightmares, and some plain ole head scratchers to be quite honest.

In the end, a bad DIY irrigation installation job could cost more to repair than actually hiring a professional to do it in the first place. A poorly-designed or installed system will use more water and typically requires more maintenance and repair in the long run.

By hiring a professional with the proper credentials, experience, and work ethic most home owners will enjoy the benefits of a quality irrigation system for many years to come.  The cost of paying a professional to do very demanding work will be quickly recovered in a short amount of time.

For the most professional, best-qualified irrigation service in East Tennessee, call Rainscapes’ friendly staff at (865) 981-4270 to schedule an appointment.

Regards,

Clint