Installing Your Own Automatic Irrigation System

Gardening is the number one hobby in the United States. Americans want their lawns and gardens to look good and for them to look good they need to be watered regularly and properly. Vegetable gardens, lawns and landscape plantings all have different watering needs. Most gardeners would prefer to spend their time gardening instead of watering the garden. Installing an automatic irrigation system to water for you can free up your time to spend on other things.

A drip irrigation system is relatively easy to install yourself. With drip irrigation you are applying water directly to the soil slowly. Drip irrigation is much more efficient than sprinkler irrigation because you are applying the water directly to the soil. It isn’t evaporating on its way to the soil nor is it running off the soil and you are putting it only where you need it, on the roots. You need a backflow valve to make sure the water doesn’t flow back into the house, a pressure regulator, a filter, a tubing adapter and the drip tubing and that’s it.

A sprinkler irrigation system on the other hand is a lot more involved and most people will hire a professional. For a sprinkler system to work properly it needs two things: water flow and water pressure. All the water flow in the world won’t help you at the sprinkler where it comes out if you don’t have enough water pressure. The pressure is what moves the water through the pipes and there has to be enough left once the water gets to the sprinkler for it to operate properly. The right size pipes, valves and other parts must be used to adequately control the amount of pressure that is lost in the system before the water gets to the sprinkler itself. Getting all of this right requires a lot of calculations and knowledge of PSI (pressure per square inch) so it can get a little technical for a lot of people.

You start by measuring your yard and sketching the area you want to irrigate. You then need to determine an initial flow rate which is basically the rate the water flows through the valve. Once you know the flow rate you need to look at all of the things that will use your water pressure as it moves from the valve to the sprinklers and how much pressure each of these things uses to determine the actual water flow and pressure values you will need to use for the system. You then draw the irrigation system on paper dividing it up into zones and laying out the piping routes and finally determine the size of each pipe to be used. You are now ready to start digging and installing your project. It is complicated and a lot of work just in the planning let alone the building. The average cost of professionally installing an automatic sprinkler irrigation system is between $2500 and $3000.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years, she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, automatic hose reel and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.

Know Your Soil Type before Installing a Lawn Irrigation System

An important first step in planning a lawn irrigation system is determining what type of soil you have. How often you should water your lawn will depend on the type of soil you have. The two major concerns with any irrigation system are the health of the plants and conserving water.

There are three basic types of soil. The three types are: clay soils, loamy soils and sandy soils. Sandy soils dry out quickly and require frequent watering. You have to be careful you don’t water too much at one time with sandy soils. Too much water will drain quickly down through the soil moving too fast for the roots to absorb it, plus the water is wasted. The best approach with sandy soils is to water for a short period of time several times.

Clay soils also benefit from watering over several short periods. Clay soils retain water but absorb it slowly so several short periods allow the water to slowly seep into the soil.

Loamy soils are considered the best soil for almost any plants and if you have loamy soil you are to be envied. Loamy soils easily retain water but they also drain well which lets air get to the roots. These soils can be watered regularly without having to worry about watering in several short bursts.

As an example of how the different soil types handle water 1 inch of water will penetrate sandy soils to 12”, loamy soils to 6-8” and clay soils to 4-5”

If you don’t know what soil type you have you can send a sample of your soil off to your state’s soil analysis lab or cooperative extension service. The lab will determine the soil texture and oftentimes also do a nutrient analysis for you. The nutrient analysis will tell you what nutrients your soil lacks which will help you determine what type of fertilizer to use and how much. There is normally a small fee for this service.

Or you can do your own simple test. Pick up a small hunk of moist soil and try to shape it into a ball. If your soil is clay you will be able to roll it into a ball. With loamy soil it will seem like you can form a ball but it will eventually fall apart. Lastly, if it is sandy soil you won’t be able to form any kind of ball.

Dayelle Swensson is an avid writer for the web on a number of topics. Having gardened herself for many years,she is able to advise others about a variety of things including gardening tips, lawn and tree care, watering, hose reels and keeping your home garden looking good and healthy.

Hardy Vines and Their Ability to Liven Up Any Landscape

Newly constructed homes as well as older ones benefit from a well-manicured lawn and landscaped gardening, whether planned and detailed, or wild and inspired. Many beginning gardeners have trouble thinking outside the box, planting only vertically growing plants such as roses, peonies, pansies, and the like. A whole new world of adventurous and inspired gardening can be accessed by planting hardy vines and perennials, broadening and enriching the texture and increasing the dimensions of your garden in exciting ways.

One of Americans’ favored vines because of its hardiness and trainability is the clematis. Clematis will climb and coil its way around erected strings or framework, basically whatever is provided. There are many different types of clematis, one favorite being the Jackman clematis, adored for its oversized blooms that can be over six inches wide at their peak. The Jackman can grow to over ten feet in length, and provided it as ample sun and moist soil, it will give the better part of three seasons of healthy green growth and attractive blooms.

Different types of ivy also make great climbing vines and are very beneficial as groundcover as well. Ivy is one of the hardiest climbers because of its ability to tolerate shady areas where many other plants cannot. Ivy can be planted around the base of bushes, or on a sun-starved side of your house that just needs a little touch of greenery for beauty. Erect some lattice or a pleasant garden bower, and you’re in business. Ivy is an excellent climber, but you must be careful to train it not to grow up the trunks of your precious living trees, for it has the ability to choke the life out of even the tallest, most substantial growing trees, due to its fastidious nature and flourishing growth. Pruning and training ivy will reward you with a lush living landscape that your neighbors will enjoy every time they pass by. One of the most popular ivies chosen is English ivy because it needs little water, and it grows whether exposed to substantial sun or not. Many plantings must be within reach of your hose reel, but this is not a concern with English ivy. Also, once it is established, it will provide your landscape with years of worry-free coverage.

Truly, there are a myriad of choices when it comes to hardy growing vines. The best place to locate the ones that flourish in your area is at your local garden shop or bookstore. Once you pick the variety best for your purposes, plant it, and enjoy the results!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reel and landscaping. Please visit www.roboreel.com for more information.

The Plant You Can Grow To Organically Repel Mosquitoes

I don’t know anyone on this planet that enjoys the company of mosquitoes. They are definitely one of the most revolting vermin this world has to offer; existing only to suck blood from healthy bodied people and animals and spreading vile diseases such as Malaria and the West Nile Virus. As summer heat warms dirty, standing water patches in bogs, swamps, and yes, backyards, mosquitoes grow and take hold in new ecosystems, driven by nature’s instilled desire to breed, bite, and “bug” other inhabitants. New ways of controlling burgeoning mosquito populations are continuously researched, and new chemical mixtures and sprays rush to supermarket shelves, hoping to do the deed. A study has shown that mosquitoes are repelled naturally by a plant that is easily grown and cared for, and that will please your neighborhoods feline population as well: catnip.

Researchers in Iowa, undoubtedly spurred on by the rise of cases of the West Nile Virus in the United States, researched and tested several plant varieties, hoping to find a safer alternative to the active ingredient in many commercial mosquito repellents, DEET. DEET has been shown to cause brain-cell death and behavior changes in laboratory animals, and poses these risks and others when used to protect young children from mosquitoes. While DEET is no longer being manufactured, it still exists in small quantities in insect repellant sprays that are still sold. A head research scientist involved in studies at the University of Iowa found through extensive testing that the essential oil found in catnip, nepetalactone, is nearly ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than the toxic chemical DEET. This study also found that catnip oil repelled cockroaches as well, yet another of our world’s least appealing insects. Though testing has surely shown that mosquitoes and roaches are repelled by catnip, researchers aren’t sure why, but assume it must cause some sort of irritation to the vermin, if only that they don’t enjoy its smell.

The same oil that causes roaches and mosquitoes to flee, nepetalactone, causes at least two thirds of the feline population to flip their lid. Catnip is extremely easy to grow, both indoors and outdoors, whether from a seed or a start. Catnip does require adequate, but not constant, sun, and only minimal waterings are needed. Keep your hose on its hose reel (especially if growing inside!) and simply use your watering can to water the crop about once a week. You’ll be entertaining your cats and bidding adieu to pesky mosquitoes and roaches in no time!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reel, landscaping, and lawn treatment. Please visit www.roboreel.com.

Successfully Growing Your Vegetables in a Cramped Little Garden

Metropolitan areas offer many things to their inhabitants. Jobs are plentiful, eateries and watering holes are in high abundance, and arts and nightlife scenes are often very appealing. Those looking to move from more rural areas to perhaps an apartment or condominium in the city might feel they will be forced to sacrifice many of the attributes the country provides. Space is at a premium in the city. Suburbia and rural living offer more of it, and many people living in more spacious areas enjoy growing their own vegetables and tending personal gardens in their spare time. The fact is that vegetables are able to grow and thrive in smaller areas, and just because your space is limited, it doesn’t mean you and your vegetable garden need to be.

As a result of new research and development involving genetic modifications of standard vegetables and fruits we have all come to expect in a backyard garden, many seed companies offer seeds and starts of miniature or dwarf versions more suited for growing in limited space. Just imagine, growing tomatoes in a bucket on your tiny condominium deck could be so rewarding and the perfect addition to a summer salad. You can grow strawberries in small containers in your bedroom windowsill, strawberry shortcake, anyone? Growing your vegetables in containers has its advantages over a conventional garden because you can move your plantings inside if cooler weather should threaten and give your growing vegetables artificial indoor light in the interim.

Achieving a proper soil and fertilizer mixture is essential in your indoor/outdoor miniature garden’s success. At your local home improvement or garden store you can choose from a large variety of potting soil mixes especially designed for container gardens. Special care needs to be taken ensuring proper drainage yet adequate water retention to help nurture the growth of your plantings’ roots, keeping them evenly moist. A liquid fertilizer is preferred, as it will possess the ability to remain in the soil longer, achieving positive results. The liquid fertilizer should be evenly applied at every other watering. Since you probably don’t have a hose reel and garden hose in your apartment, you might need an attachment for your kitchen sink or a simple jug or cup could do the job of applying the daily irrigation for your burgeoning plants.

A final consideration is location for your garden. This of course depends primarily on the types of plants that are growing. For instance, lettuce only needs about four hours of sunlight daily, but your tomatoes require about eight. Plan accordingly, placing appropriate plants in appropriate environments according to their needs and specifications. By following these simple guidelines, you will have a perfect little garden, providing you with vegetables you can enjoy year round, in the middle of the urban jungle.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including garden hose reels, landscaping, and lawn treatment. Please visit www.roboreel.com.

Getting Rid of Those Pesky “Doggy Spots” on Your Lawn and Keeping Fido

If you’re like me, you’re a dog person. There’s just something about the companionship and friendship a dog provides. They’re eternally loyal, steadfast and true, if sometimes a tad smelly in breath and body. I love dogs, but I also enjoy keeping my lawn nice and green, which is extremely difficult having a dog in the yard. You will be happy to find out, however, that there are ways to lessen the appearance of brown spots in your lawn caused by your furry best friend. The solutions are quite easy and will help you keep your lawn green throughout, and eliminate those patchy-brown, favored spots of Fido.

It is helpful to know exactly why your dog’s relief brings such discoloration to your lawn. Dog urine burns your green grass because it is extremely rich in nitrogen. If you are already using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer on your yard, the added effect of your four-legged friend’s contribution will burn those spots because the extra nitrogen is more than your lawn can handle. If you are able to discern the spots your dog is attracted to well enough, try using little or no fertilizer in these areas, to help balance the nitrogen content. To help with nitrogen absorption and dilution, it would be helpful if you took your hose from your hose reel and sprayed the areas your dog likes, daily. This extra water can help more evenly spread that rich nitrogen across a broader patch, lessening its discoloring effects. Treat the problem directly as well, by making sure your dog drinks plenty of water, helping dilute the concentration of nitrogen content at the source.

Another popular fix for this less talked about problem is replanting. Plant more urine-resistant grasses such as Ryegrass or Fescue in the affected areas. Though you may love the look and lushness of your Kentucky Bluegrass and Bermuda, these grasses are extremely urine-sensitive, so it is important to keep the pooches away from these to protect their beauty.

By saturating affected areas with water from your hose reel, replanting these areas with more urine-resistant grass, and diluting the nitrogen in your dog itself, you can help keep your lawn as green as it should be. There are also many products on the market to help train your animal to relieve itself in a certain area, so those should not be counted out if all else fails. Green grass is beautiful, and it does not have to be sacrificed because you share your affection with your furry friend as well!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an Internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels, landscaping, and lawn treatment. Please visit www.roboreel.com.

Picking The Best Roses to Brighten Your Spot

Flowers do so much to beautify the front of your house, the border of a parking strip or driveway, and brighten up a shared public garden. More than any other flower, the rose possesses a beauty and aroma that makes it a favorite among professional gardeners, hobbyists, and admirers alike. A garden, bounteous with beautiful roses is sure to catch the eyes of all neighbors, young and old, beckoning them to walk by again and again, enjoying the beauty and smells as they emanate from its borders. There are secrets to growing the fullest, most exquisite roses imaginable, including picking the ones that are the best suited for particular climates and geographical locations.

Many who admire roses from afar would be surprised to find out just how easy growing roses of their own can be. Many types of roses are especially hearty and grow abundantly with little upkeep. Floribundas are among the easiest to grow and tend. Producing large clusters of attractive blooms late into the fall, these roses do well as broad landscaping, expanding easily to cover large areas. If low and expansive growth is not what you desire, many enjoy the climbers, climbing varieties of roses. These types of roses grow best on a trellis or really any structure that strikes your fancy. Climbers can be trained to grow on an antique bicycle frame if you so desire. Climbers are especially attractive to passersby as they greet them at eye (nose) level with sweet smells and alluring petals. If a small space or border is in need of some brightening, you may want to choose miniature roses. These types are made to grow to a small height of less than a foot, allowing them to be ideal for rockeries or lining walkways or paths. If you have a shed or outbuilding that needs brightening up, creeping roses can do the job. They do well in cooler climates and are easily trained to creep along your garden wall or up the side of your garage. By placing objects in their way and guiding them, a very natural look of creeping landscaping can be achieved and add to a wild, natural looking garden motif.

As a rule, roses should be planted after winter temperatures arrive and after chances of frost or snow has past. Roses enjoy ample sunlight each day, between six to eight hours, and enjoy routine watering sessions, so make sure the garden hose can extend from your hose reel to your plantings. Having found your special types of roses, get to planting and next season, you will reap the odiferous rewards of a rose-filled garden!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit www.roboreel.com

Keeping Soil In Place on a Sloping Lawn

Sloping lawns can present a challenge for landscaping, mowing, and keeping soil healthy and in place. Soil and water runoff from bordering slopes in a lawn can be starting points for mudslides and messy flooding. There definitely exists a need for growth on a slope, if only to prevent erosion, but what are the best choices, and how should the decision be made of what to plant?

A question to ask is how much sunshine the area will be receiving on a daily basis. Often times, homeowners plant according to their taste without keeping in mind what is practical growth provided given conditions. Depending on its daily allowance of sun, your embankment could benefit greatly from plantings of native wild grasses. Because these grasses are indigenous to your area, they will undoubtedly grow and thrive once they have gotten an adequate chance to take root. To give your sloped plantings the best chance possible to flourish, avoid planting them into the bare soil alone. If grass already exists on your slope, it can helpful to kill it, and plant your wild grasses and native plants into it. This gives the root systems an excellent chance to develop while making sure to avoid erosion during the formative stages of your new plantings’ development. Low growing groundcover such as juniper and thyme do extremely well in sun-drenched areas while providing excellent stability for sloping soil. A plant such as periwinkle flourishes in both full sun and full shade, so it is an excellent choice for planting; be careful, however, because flourishing periwinkle spreads in no time and can crowd your other plantings! Sufficient water is necessary to get this new growth off and running, so be sure you have adequate length of garden hose to extend from your hose reel in order to reach this slope; your daily diligent watering sessions will help ensure those burgeoning root systems take hold and prosper.

If finances allow, a terraced effect helps broaden your choices as far as what groundcover you choose to use. Some of the more attractive (relatively speaking, of course) plants and grasses need more gently sloping or flatter areas to really prosper. Terracing your sloped lawn can be quite expensive, so it is not always an option for all homeowners, but its advantages are great including the ability to better use your sloped lawn for entertaining and general enjoyment.

By weighing your options and making informed choices, you can ensure your lawn remains its most beautiful while maintaining excellent soil that eludes erosion, retains rich nutrients, and provides a perfect spot for growing your favorite grasses and plants.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit www.roboreel.com

How Much Water Does Your Garden Need?

There is nothing better than eating fresh produce grown in your very own backyard garden. Whether you have an acre or 20 square feet to work with, growing and tending to your own special patch of land can be immeasurably therapeutic and relaxing while filling you with as much enjoyment as your delicious crop fills your stomach. Inexperienced gardeners are “green” when it comes to the ins and outs of gardening, and for many, even watering their crop raises many questions that need be answered. This article will explain simple steps to follow in order to make sure your garden gets all the valuable H2O it needs, without flooding or saturating it with excessive amounts.

It can be easy to overwater and flood your garden, but by following a few simple steps and making necessary observations, you will easily find out exactly how quickly your soil absorbs the water applied to it and never over water wastefully again. To begin the process, go to your garage or tool shed, and grab a shovel, hoe, or post-hole digger. Now, dig a hole near your garden that ends up being about six inches wide and one foot deep. Go to your hose reel and unroll the appropriate length of hose to get you to that hole (naturally). Turn on the water to a gentle flow, allowing the hole to retain its shape while you fill it with water. Let the water drain out and absorb into the soil underneath and surrounding it. Fill the hole again with water, after it has drained completely. The water will not drain as quickly as before. It is now necessary to record how long it takes for the hole to completely drain of its contents that second time. If the water drains and is absorbed completely into the soil in under three hours, your soil lacks the necessary fortitude to hold water, consisting mostly of sandy soil, and will require you most likely to increase the amount of water you’ve been applying in order to ensure your plants and vegetables receive the hydration they need to grow. On the other end of the spectrum, it may take over eight hours for your hole to completely drain. In that case, your soil consists of too much hard clay in the soil and you will need to decrease the frequency of watering in order to allow it to be absorbed and avoid flooding. If your lucky enough, and the hole drains in four to six hours, your watering schedule is probably adequate and should remain the same.

Now that you know how often to water your garden according to the soil’s absorption time, start watering and soon you will reap the rewards of your hard work!

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit www.roboreel.com

The Right Amount of Water Keeps Your Lawn Looking Its Best

You know the guy. He might be your next-door neighbor. He might live just down the street. Everyone knows him by the piece of grass he tends that puts even the greens at Pebble Beach to shame. What is his secret? How is his grass so green and lush, so full of life and vitality? Your lawn is veritable desert wasteland, yellow and brown in areas and greenest where the neighborhood dogs do their business. What does he know that you don’t?

The first thing you need to address is exactly how often should your lawn be watered. There is nothing worse than an oversaturated lawn; a muddy mess is not hospitable for lounging, tossing the Frisbee, or playing with your kids. It essential to let your lawn absorb the water it is given. Watering treatments need to be spaced out accordingly in order to optimize the resiliency of your lawn to drought as air is allowed to enter and help stimulate deep root formation. How much water is necessary to fully hydrate your lawn depends on the type of soil that is present. With sandy, more porous soil, runoff can be prevalent, so monitor the water intake closely. Watering sessions needed to be closer spaced as much is lost to runoff before it can be absorbed. Dense soil with a heavy clay content takes much longer to absorb the water applied, so make sure and take note of how long it takes to absorb the given amount of water as to avoid flooding. Clay-heavy soil can be watered less frequently and can withstand heavier watering sessions due to its thick makeup. A good way to measure how much water to put on your lawn at each given treatment is to place a small container (a used margarine tub will do nicely) with a depth line drawn showing a third to a half inch in depth in the middle of the area you are going to water. Gather your hose from your hose reel and spray, using a nozzle, covering the area until that depth is filled in the container. This is the amount you should water each given area of your lawn on a given basis, and observe how long it takes for this amount to be absorbed. Watering your lawn at optimum, cooler times of the day, can ensure that water is not lost to the sun’s rays and evaporated. Water at the same time daily, as routine is helpful for your lawn’s prosperity as well.

The truth is, a buoyant, lush, green lawn takes a lot of work and tending. The end result, however, can be worth it if you enjoy the positive effects a well-tended lawn provides. It doesn’t hurt be the envy of your neighbors for a change, either.

About the author: Jon Bassfarm is an internet content writer who enjoys researching and writing about many subjects including hose reels. Please visit www.roboreel.com