3 Tips for Irrigating Your Home’s Foundation

Ensuring that the soil surrounding your home’s foundation has the right moisture levels is important. This is especially true in areas like Texas that have expansive soil conditions.

Sadly, foundation irrigation isn’t a widely taught practice, but it can have immense benefits for your home. Specifically, it can help you avoid costly foundation repairs.

Extended dry periods can cause the soil beneath your home’s foundation to shrink. When this happens, your home will gradually settle. Unfortunately, the sinking doesn’t occur uniformly.

One part of your house may settle more than the others. This differential settling is what may cause your foundation to crack and eventually to fail.

When it rains, the expansive clay soil absorbs water and swells. The swollen soil then pushes up against your home’s foundation causing it to crack. Besides the cracks, you may also notice that your doors and windows are becoming difficult to open and close.

More extreme damage occurs when cracks in the foundation cause the brick veneer to crack or separate, chimneys to shift and pipes to break.

To mitigate these forms of damages, you need to irrigate your home’s foundation. In this article, the experts from Granite Foundation Repair, a foundation repair company servicing DFW area, share important tips on how to determine when and how much you should water your home’s foundation.

1.    Create a dedicated irrigation zone around the house for the watering foundation.

If you have a watering system, create a dedicated irrigation zone for your foundation. Mixed zones are tough with the unbalanced water requirements for all the plants. On the other hand, a dedicated zone allows the watering to be consistent.

While watering systems vary widely in design, a drip watering system works best in this regard. This is essential because drip delivers water at a very slow rate – which is usually a drip at a time.

You should install it near your foundation and schedule the watering accordingly.

2.    Plant, grow, and water plants around the foundation.

Plants surrounding your home’s foundation help minimize soil erosion and moderate soil temperature. In addition, plants help shade the soil from excessive evaporation of soil moisture.

If drought restrictions limit how much you can irrigate, ensure that the irrigation method is as efficient as possible. Make sure that your sprinklers are working at their best. Ensure that the settings on your irrigation controller are set to short cycles rather than long cycles.

You could also further reduce moisture loss by adding mulch under the shrubs.

3. Attach a soaker hose or a drip irrigation to an outdoor faucet with a timer when watering the foundation.

Here are the options that you may choose:

a. If you don’t have a watering system for your foundation, protect your foundation by installing either a soaker hose or a drip irrigation around your foundation. Next, connect the system to the outdoor faucet.

Generally speaking, soaker hoses work best when placed 8 to 18 inches away from the foundation. Prior to connecting the soaker hose to the faucet, ensure that the faucet has a backflow preventer. The backflow preventer helps keep contaminated water from re-entering your household.

If it’s your first time running the soaker house, first remove the end cap and run water via the hose to remove any debris.

Soaker hoses work best at minimum pressure. In fact, most of them come with a pressure restrictor. If yours doesn’t have a restrictor (looks like a plastic disc), turn on the faucet so water comes out gently.

b. Drip irrigation is also another good option when you don’t have an irrigation system. It’s available at some garden centers, irrigation supply businesses, and large hardware stores.

Just like a soaker hose, ensure that yours has a backflow preventer on the faucet.

Drip watering also requires a drip watering filter. The filters help keep the nozzle openings from clogging. For connivance, add a timer.

Various drip watering timers are available that are battery-powered for setting irrigation. It can be your best investment when you’re not there to turn the water on, or when you forget to turn it off and run up your water bill.

Faucet timers are also available. However, unlike drip irrigation timers, it only turns the water off. It won’t help when it comes to turning the water on.

To summarize, before creating a foundation watering schedule, here are the factors to consider:

  • What will I be watering my foundation with? Will it be a soaker hose, a garden hose, or a drip irrigation system?
  • What season are we currently in?
  • Does any of my foundation get more sun or shade than others?
  • What type of soil do I have? (In Texas, it’s expansive clay soils.)

A home’s foundation is as essential as it sounds. Without a proper foundation, a myriad of structural issues can plague your home. To keep your foundation solid and strong, it’s important to irrigate it. This is especially true in areas like Texas that have poor soil conditions.

 

Drought Lawn Care

In Fort Worth we like manicured green lawns. How do you manage drought lawn care during a Texas drought and with water restrictions are in place? Some homeowners have sprinkler systems, but many don’t. But proper watering is only part of the formula for success. With or without a sprinkler system there are several other things that we can do to have healthy lawns that don’t stress too much in a drought. First step is planning. Most of the work needs to be done before your lawn gets stressed out. We spend a lot of money taking care of our yards. Here are some tips on when and how to spend your money to have a lawn that will best withstand drought conditions.

Drought Lawn Care

Keeping grass green has more to do with how it’s maintained before the drought hits than how often it’s watered during lean times. Lawns are able to survive long ¬periods without water — often they will turn brown and go dormant, but after the drought lifts, they’ll bounce back in a few weeks.

Change Your Mowing Habits

The good news is that there are steps you can take before the brown sets in, including making small changes to the way you mow. Raise the lawn mower blade so you remove only the top third of each blade and keep the grass taller (at about 3 inches or 7 centimeters). This gives the roots increased shade and more shade means less evaporation. Mulching also helps a lawn retain moisture; the simplest way to mulch is to leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing. This may require mowing a little more often to avoid piles of mulch.

Planning Ahead

Although it’s a good place to start, keeping grass green during a drought takes more than adjusting how you mow. Fertilizing properly in the spring and fall help build a healthy root system which is essential in keeping your lawn health. Lawns do not need to be watered as much in the winter as they go dormant. But, if the drought continues through the winter then the lawn should be watered occasionally.
Keeping the lawn green, mowed and maintained is good for more than your homes aesthetics — turfgrasses are good for the environment because they release oxygen while trapping dust, dirt and polluting gasses such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen fluoride and perosyacetyle nitrate. They’re also responsible for water filtration, and they help reduce erosion and runoff.

The next time your experience a Texas drought you will now know more about drought lawn care.

lawn maintenanceMaintaining lawn during drought

How does a water fountain work?

water fountainWater Fountains are becoming more popular as a feature in Texas outdoor landscaping. Water fountains are a great way to incorporate art in your outdoor living area. Aside from the enhanced visual appearance that they add to your outdoors, water features can be a source of relaxation and add financial value to your home. This article focuses on how these amazing features of nature work.

Since there are endless creative ways to incorporate a water fountain in your outdoor living area, you will find water fountains to different designs, shapes and sizes. However, most water fountains have these important parts.

  • A Water Source
  • A water Pump
  • Delivery Channels

Water Source

The water source, often referred to as the water reservoir, is hidden most of the time. This is where the water is drawn and where water returns, forming a cycle. It’s there to keep the water bill down and save you some guilt. There are multiple types, sizes and shapes of reservoirs depending on the needs of the homeowners.

On some occasions, you will find water fountains to be part of a pond. In this case, the pond is the reservoir.

The Water Pump

The water pump is submerged in the reservoir and this is what pushes the water out of the reservoir. Therefore, the pump used in a water fountain is chosen based on the amount of water pumped per hour. The pressure and speed determines the optimal flow of the fountain and helps achieve the needed visual effect.

Delivery Channels

As the water leaves the reservoir, it is forced by the pump into the delivery channels, often called fountain heads. Most of the fountain heads have a small diameter to increase the distance sprayed. The diameter of the fountain and the number of nozzles used are another factor to the dynamic spraying, splashing, arching effects.

Fun fact:

You will notice that on most residential properties, the water fountains are always placed near a bathroom.

This is because it’s the location where a large water source has already been established. When the water fountains are built as an addition to an existing building, to lower the cost of plumbing, the water fountains are placed near a kitchen or bathroom to use a water source that’s already in place.

Caring for a water fountain:

Water fountains are easy to maintain once you understand how they work. Since most of fountain heads are made with fine nozzles, you might need to utilize a water filter so that they don’t get clogged.

At Ideal Landscape Services, we have had a lot of success helping homeowners install water features.  You can check some of our previous water fountain installations here. If you are looking for a professionally installed water fountain, give us a call at 817 457 7507.

Summertime lawn maintenance tips for Texas homeowners

You know they say that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence,  but this summer, why not keep the grass greener on your side of the fence? Summer brings about warm weather and longer days which is great for outdoor activities. However, the warm days of summer can have a significant impact on your lawn. These few, quick tips could help you keep your lawn healthy all summer.

 

 

How often do you need to water?

One of the biggest issues your lawn might face during the summer is the drought. To keep your lawn healthy and green, you need to water it frequently. Generally lawns need at least one inch of water per week to stay in good shape.

Here is what you should do:

  • Water deeply and leave a reasonable time interval to allow the grass to develop drought-resistant roots. Be careful though! Some homeowners wait till the lawn gets brown and dormant and then try to water it back to life. This does not help! If you are not able to water your lawn regularly during summer, you can just leave it. Usually the lawn recovers when the weather changes.
  • Water your lawn during less warm hours preferably early in the morning. This allows the soil to absorb all the water and the all the moisture.

How often should you mow your lawn during summer?Health lawn

To allow your grass to develop deeper roots, you should set your mower’s blades as high as possible. Taller grass is more drought-resistant and helps provide shade for the surrounding soil to maintain moisture for longer periods.

You should keep your mower blades sharp to avoid tearing and beating the grass and reducing stress during warm temperatures.

Weeding:

During summer most weeds bloom and disperse their seeds. It is vital to remove the weeds before they bloom to avoid dealing them in the next season. The good news is that it’s easier to fight weeds during summer than in colder weather.

Additional tips:

  • Did you know that you can use a small straight-sided can to gauge the amount of water that received during irrigation?
  • The best time of the year to fertilize your grass is at the beginning of spring and at the end of the fall.
  • Applying products like fertilizers and herbicides during summer can damage your grass, contact your local landscaper before attempting to apply any products on your lawn during summer.

If you would like more tips about how to take care of your lawn during this summer for your specific location check out our blog give us a call at 817 457 7507.

Top 3 Low Maintenance Landscaping Ideas

Texas Landscaping Ideas for Fort Worth, TX | Xeriscaping – Arlington, TX | Low Maintenance Landscaping – Southlake, TX

Spring is the best time to get out and start working on your yard. There is no more excuse of it being too cold and it’s not yet too hot to be out. However, some might have limited or no time at all. While some landscape styles require a lot of care, there are some other stylish alternatives that require less work and give the same, if not better, looking results.  Consider these Texas landscaping ideas for your yard.

Texas Landscaping IdeasIn this article, we share a few ideas to help get keep your landscape looking good throughout the year. The idea is to clean up whatever mess that was left by the winter and prepare for the famous Texas summer heat.

1. Implement a Xeriscape design

In our previous article, we shared some Xeriscape ideas.  Xeriscape is a landscaping style that requires less to no irrigation. This style is favorite of most Texans because it not only reduces the amount of water used for plants, it also saves the time it takes to care for the plants. Most of the plants used while xeriscaping can naturally survive with minimal to no maintenance.

2. Use Mulch / Stones Instead of Grass When Possible

Everyone knows that mulch is good for fertilizing your plants and preventing weeds. Mulch can also be used to add both color and texture to your yard. Instead of grass you can add mulch around you outdoor living space. Depending on your taste, you can find a lot of cool colors to keep your yard vibrant. This will save you on the time it takes the mow or water the grass.

Depending on the aesthetic of your home, pea gravel or crushed stones can be a nice alternative to mulch. They can be personalized according to your outdoor living space style, house color, your neighborhood…since pea stones and crushed stones are available in different sizes and colors, it’s always a good idea to choose which size you want to use while keeping in mind the amount of wind you get in the area.

3. Use native plants 

The climate is one of the biggest factors that you should consider while styling your outdoors. Using plants that are already accustomed to your climate will save time and energy. They rarely need to be watered.

While picking which plants to use in your lawn, consider mixing them up according their blooming seasons. Some plants bloom in spring others in summer, mixing them up will add a sense of life to your yard and keep it looking good all year long.

If your lawn tends to morph into your flower bed, edging could spice up the looks and save you the time of cutting and pruning. Edging also allows you to create attractive walkways.  

Over the years, we’ve had success using nice-looking native plants. For some creative Texas landscaping ideas or plant-related questions give us a call at 817-457-7507.

Xeriscape Design tips for Texas

xeriscape landscaping

Daily, 31% percent of water used in an average Texas family is dedicated to outdoor use or landscape irrigation. This percentage can even get above 50% during the summer. According to the EPA, 50% of the water we use outdoors is wasted due to evaporation and inefficient watering methods. Xeriscape landscaping has been a remarkable solution to reduce outdoor water use. Xeriscaping is not only environmentally friendly but when done right, it can save time and money. All this, while also maintaining good looking landscapes no matter what time of the year it is.
xeriscape landscaping design Xeriscape & outdoor living

Our 7 xeriscape design tips

To implement good looking xeriscape, you need to carefully examine your landscape area and make a design based on your creative needs and water-use budget. Ideal Landscaping has always helped homeowners come up with unique and eye-catching xeriscape designs. In this article, we have put together a few tips to help you get your creative juices flowing. The xeriscape concept’s main purpose is water conservation while maintaining good looks.

  • Regional and native plants

Determine which type of plants perform best in your area. Using native plants from your region will benefit you because they require minimal water supply beyond normal rainfall. These also rarely require additional fertilizers; and are mostly resistant to local pests and plant diseases.

  •  Limit your lawn/turf area

While maintaining a reasonable turf open space can work for visual appeal, it is wise to use water-conserving species. If you need a recommendation for some good options that work well for you give us a call at 817-457-7507 . You can also consult your local garden center.

  • Group plants by their water needs

Grouping like-plants together helps enhance the visual appearance. This also helps you avoid over-watering and helps you establish an irrigation system that prevents evaporation during warm weather.

  • Soil Improvement

Providing an efficient amount of organic material will create a healthy environment for your plants to grow in. This will also help in aeration and quick drainage, while also storing water.

  • Implement an irrigation system based on plant needs.

To achieve this, you need to carefully plan your garden. As we suggested on number 3, group together plants that survive on the same amount of water. Systems like drip-type irrigation and soaker hoses are considered the most efficient because they deliver water directly to the plant roots.

  • Proper Mulching

Mulching is one of the most important features of a xeriscape design. While mulch slows down evaporation, it also adds an aesthetic value to your lawn and reduces the weeds. When you choose the right color of mulch, you realize how much it contrasts your flowers. Organic mulch will slowly enhance your soil as it naturally decomposes over time.

  • Low maintenance

While low maintenance is one of the benefits of implementing a xeriscape design, good planning will help you reduce the maintenance required for your lawn. However, from time to time, you will need to check on the thickness of the mulch, cover bare soil and get rid of the weeds.
For a free estimate; and some success stories, give us a call at 817-457-7507 or check out our before and after page for some creative ideas.

What is Scalping anyway??

drought lawn care

Scalping is not beneficial for all grass types. It is mainly intended for Bermuda and St. Augustine grass here in the south. The term, “scalping”, simply means mowing your grass on the lowest setting on your lawn mower. Cutting the lawn down low allows the warmth of the sun to raise the soil temp and encourage new growth. Scalping also helps remove any thatch, or dry dormant grass, that could be holding too much moisture which may eventually lead to various lawn diseases later on in the spring. Just be careful when planning to scalp that there are no more cold fronts or freezes headed your way, as scalping too soon may have adverse effects on your lawn.

Mulch, Too Mulch!

There is an ongoing debate over how much mulch is too much or too little. At what point is mulch counterproductive? Some say 1-2 inches, while others declare 4 inches is a must. We believe somewhere in the middle is the best way to go. Too little mulch will not do anything to discourage weed growth. Alternately, too much blocks adequate water and oxygen exchange at the root of the plants forcing them to grow into the mulch as opposed to down in the soil where the nutrients are. A good 3 inch layer of mulch will provide the protection the soil and plants need to thrive without inhibiting their natural growth.