Hello Spring!
April 21, 2011, Number 4
After a long and snowy winter, it's time to start thinking about your lawn. First of all, I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we DO NOT call for the Spring Start-Up. If you need a technician to come out and get your system fired up, you need to contact us. Why don't we call you? Because Spring Start-Up's are incredibly easy... so easy I am going to post the instructions here:
1. Before you turn on the water to the system, make sure that all of the manual drain valves are in the "closed" position.
2. Open the system's main water valve slowly to allow the pipes to gradually fill with water. If the valves are opened too quickly, the sprinkler main lines are subjected to high pressures, uncontrolled flow and water hammer.
3. Verify the proper operation of each zone valve by manually activating it from the controller.
4. Walk through each station on the controller and make sure the zones are operating properly. Check for proper operating pressure (low pressure could mean that there is a line break or a missing sprinkler), proper rotation and adjustment of sprinkler heads, and adequate coverage. Check and clean filters on poorly performing sprinklers. Adjust heads as necessary.
5. Reprogram the controller for automatic watering. Replace the controller back-up battery, if necessary.
6. Uncover and clean the system rain sensor, if applicable.
7. Finish and clean any in-line filters for drip irrigation zones.
Relax, it's not as complicated as it looks! If you have any questions or problems, you can always contact us and we will guide you through the process or send out a technician.
So why do we pursue you so agressively in the fall? Because shutting down the system is FAR more important that starting it up. We reccommend that your system is shut down before the first freeze. If your system freezes, you might as well start a fire and throw your wallet into it. If the first freeze is predicted before we can get to you, you should turn off the water supply to your system and run the system until no more water comes out of the sprinkler heads.
Let's Talk about Fertilizer...
Right about now you should be coming in to get your first shot. The round 1 is a pre-emergent and we've just gotten in a fresh shipment so stop by and pick it up! You will need 1 bag per 12,000-15,000 square foot. We are back to our regular hours so stop by, have a cup of coffee and get some fertilizer.
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