Orlando Landscaping

Irrigation is the process of disbursing water to land for crop growth or greenery growth.  There are several different types of irrigation, but one of the most common types of irrigation is known as drip irrigation.  Drip irrigation, trickle irrigation, or microirrigation are all basically the same type of irrigation in that they deliver water in small amounts to the roots of the crops, flowers, tree, shrubs, or other greenery.  There are advantages and disadvantages to drip irrigation and it is important to learn more about the process to determine if it is a good choice for you and your needs.

Some advantages of drip irrigation include less leaching of minerals or fertilizer into the soil and water, due to the water being applied directly to the root system, decreased soil erosion, allows you to use recycled water safely, and the distribution of water is made much easier and less time consuming.  Benefits for your crops or greenery include an increased harvest and early maturity of the crops or plants, as well as the foliage remaining dry, which can decrease the incidence of disease.  Being able to uniformly distribute water to the root systems is a wonderful benefit that can have lasting effects on the crops and greenery.

Disadvantages of drip irrigation include the expense of having the drip irrigation system installed, which can be quite high, depending upon the size of the area that you want it to service.  The tubes that disburse the water can be adversely affected by the sun, which can cause them to begin breaking down to the point where they will not work as efficiently.  If your water is not filtered and contaminants come through the irrigation system, this can cause the system to become clogged and non-working.  Still another disadvantage can occur if the fertilizer or herbicides need water for proper activation, because the drip irrigation system may not disburse enough water to activate the fertilizer or herbicide completely.

Proper installation of the drip irrigation system is essential.  You will waste time, water, and money if the drip irrigation system is not properly installed.  The land’s topography and soil must be carefully considered in the installation of the drip irrigation system to ensure that it does its job as efficiently as possible.  Without this time taken, your irrigation system may not work and your crops or greenery may suffer.

A drip irrigation system can be a lifesaver as far as your crops or greenery, because it will deliver water directly to the root systems.  This delivery of water can help to make your plants or crops flourish and grow, and this can increase your harvest.  If you take the time to ensure that the drip irrigation system is the best choice for you and if you have it installed correctly, the rewards from this system will far outweigh the cost.  If you are looking for an easier way to take care of your crops or land, a drip irrigation system can be just the thing.  

Rain Bird sprinklers - the #1 choice of irrigation specialists everywhere – was the brain-child of a southern California citrus grower named Orton Englehart.  He filed for a patent for the Rain Bird sprinklers design in 1933.  Based in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services and the #1 choice for Florida homeowners.  Rain Bird sprinklers have been awarded more than 130 patents and are an icon of the American landscape.  Although Rain Bird sprinklers and controllers are used to control irrigation systems at huge places like sports arenas, golf courses, and amusement parks, they also continue to be one of the highest-quality sprinkler systems a homeowner can purchase.Today, a professionally-installed Rain Bird sprinkler system is a great way to increase the value of your home, save water (and money) and give busy homeowners more free time…all the while making your lawn the envy of your neighborhood.  A well-tuned sprinkler system is a must for any homeowner in Florida and most choose Rain Bird sprinklers. Warm-season grasses in hot areas with sandy soils need adequate water at the proper time to remain healthy. Think of it like this…Rain Bird is to sprinklers what Nike is to sports. You can easily spot Rain Bird sprinkler heads when you see them…their unmistakable bird logo symbolizes an ancient myth about a bird that would bring rain and save the crops. Their logo is now a recognized symbol around the world.  The Rain Bird sprinkler system is not a run-of-the-mill product. It has been specially engineered to deliver just the right amount of water to target areas in your garden or lawn, making it very water efficient.In spring of 2007, Rain Bird sprinklers changed the way homeowners water their lawns and gardens with the unveiling of the Simple-To-Set Irrigation Timer (SST), the world’s first “user-friendly,” multi-program timer that does not require an advanced programming degree to ensure maximum water savings all year long. Rain Bird sprinklers also have a moisture-sensing device that can automatically turn the system off when it rains.  A disc inside the sensor expands when it gets wet and contracts when dry; the expansion of the disc puts a break in the wire going to the electric valves and the pump will not kick on. There are more than 4,000 Rain Bird sprinklers, including the Rain Bird rainfall monitors and steel lawn sprinklers. Sprinklers for all types of irrigation are also available, and these can be customized to meet anyone’s requirements — be it for a business or a homeowner. Rain Bird sprinklers are offered nationally and internationally in five specific areas: consumer, contractor, commercial, golf and agriculture.  If you are installing a new system, you can choose Rain Bird sprinklers when working with your local landscape professional that can ensure that the Rain Bird sprinklers are placed at the right locations for optimum use.  Planning and design prior to installation are of the utmost importance.   

Landscaping in Orlando – and for all of Florida for that matter - is like no other in the country. It has been transformed into a highly specialized art form. The warm, year-round climate offers unique landscaping opportunities for Orlando homeowners.  Tropical and semi-tropical plants and trees are viable here, offering a much wider variety of choices for landscaping your Orlando home.  With proper selection and placement in their landscaping, Orlando homeowners can create a beautiful outdoor paradise that blossoms year round.  Choosing the right grass, plants, trees, shrubs and flowers to plant, as well as the array of mulches and other accents can be a daunting task - one that requires the assistance of a landscaping professional in the Orlando area.  If you have a difficult time deciding which plants to buy, control the impulse to buy one of everything. For bedding plants and flowers, choose 3 to 5 types and buy at least 15 of each plant. You can then mix them together, or plant them in overlapping sweeps in the flowerbed for a stunning visual effectThe landscaping surrounding your Orlando home should start with a good foundation planting, including trees and shrubs, both evergreen and deciduous. Plan to change your annual plants at least twice a year. Nobody enjoys looking at wilted plants, struggling to survive in the heat.  When making decisions for your Orlando landscaping, you may want to consider composting. This is especially helpful in Florida because you’ll be doing a lot of pruning over time, and you can help the environment by placing all the branches and other material you have removed from your yard into a compost bin. Feel free to throw your kitchen scraps, coffee grounds and vegetables into the compost bin as well, for an even richer blend.  Another issue when it comes to landscaping in Orlando involves the decision regarding how much turf to include in the entire design. Generally, in Florida it’s a better idea to focus more on landscaping and minimize the amount of grass you plant.  Keep in mind when landscaping your Orlando home, less grass = less water.  Even if you have a large yard, you can reduce the amount of grass planted by creating larger plant beds with shrubs and other plants, instead of grass. The type of grass you select is also important. Look for a grass that doesn’t mind a hot climate.

When selecting plants, think in terms of water conservation…choose plants that require little maintenance and small amounts of watering. Plants that attract wildlife are ideal, and if you select species that provide a lot of ground cover, eventually you won’t have to worry about mulch anymore. But don’t minimize the importance of mulch when you are establishing a garden, because it will conserve moisture and encourage root growth. When designing the landscaping for your Orlando home, keep in mind that vegetable gardens also do well in Florida.  So if you’ve been thinking about growing some of your own vegetables it shouldn’t be too difficult.  Because it’s common for soil in Florida to be lacking in nutrients, it can be more difficult to grow vegetables than other plants, which don’t require as many nutrients and can adapt to the local soil. If the landscaping around your Orlando home includes vegetables, you may have to add a rich potting soil mix to the bed so that the vegetables have access to enough nutrients to grow properly.

Hunter sprinklers are made by Hunter Industries, one of the bigger players in the irrigation industry.  On the surface, there doesn’t seem to be much difference between Hunter Sprinklers and those of its main competitor, Rain Bird, but a closer look reveals some unique products being offered by Hunter. Through its dedication to producing the best irrigation systems Hunter sprinklers have become one of the most respected names in the irrigation industry. Their escalating success can be attributed to its focus on dedication to its customers.  Hunter Sprinklers are the world’s best selling residential and light commercial irrigation systems available.In addition to Hunter sprinklers, the company offers an entire line of irrigation products. The reputation of Hunter sprinklers has been built on performance and durability, not just on price, making them a leader in the irrigation industry for many years.  The company’s “claim to fame” began in the mid 1980’s when they introduced Hunter rotors and the company launched an industry-wide “rotor revolution”.The key difference and selling point with Hunter Sprinklers is in their rotators. Hunter sprinklers have a PGP rotator sprinkler head which incorporates an innovative design that prevents materials from getting into the rotor that could cause potential damage to your sprinkler heads.  These innovative rotators have been designed with maximum water efficiency in mind, and are considered essential in the turf and landscape industry.  The great thing about the rotators offered by Hunter sprinklers is that they can fit on top of both conventional spray head bodies and shrub adapters, making it possible for homeowners to control the application rate, the arc and even the radius of the water spray.When exploring your various options, you’ll find that Hunter sprinklers offer both residential and commercial rotors and are ideal for low pressure areas. So if you’ve had pressure issues with your current sprinklers, consider updating your older model with one of the newer models with a rotating head offered by Hunter sprinklers.  Hunter sprinklers are also known for their versatility…there are options available for spacing considerations that can be spaced from 15 – 90 feet apart.Another factor that sets Hunter sprinklers products apart from their competition is the extra effort they put into testing. At their on-site labs, in independent test facilities, and with the installers who actually use their products in the field, they are constantly gathering feedback used as the backbone of their “continuous improvement” to their entire product line.   Hunter sprinklers also come with the guarantee of exceptional customers support.  There is simply no substitute for the quality and after-sale support that comes with every Hunter product. Hunter is the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable, efficient gear-driven sprinklers. Irrigation contractors and designers worldwide insist on Hunter sprinklers, spray heads, valves and controllers for their residential and commercial projects. Hunter’s leadership, precision engineering and commitment to quality assures its customers the benefit of years of trouble-free irrigation.The high-quality Hunter sprinklers and other irrigation products feature the most advanced technology used to precisely distribute water flow for turf and landscape irrigation applications alike. With more than 60 million Hunter Irrigation products installed throughout the globe, Hunter sprinklers continue to be the industry leader for sales and features.  From their team of worldwide sales representatives to their comprehensive network of distribution partners and the ever-increasing number of professional installers who choose to use Hunter sprinklers, they are known as “the best of the best”. 

Founded 25 years ago, Hunter Irrigation has become one of the most respected light commercial and residential irrigation suppliers in the world.   As one of the leading manufacturers of irrigation equipment for landscape irrigation, Hunter Irrigation has an excellent reputation as the innovative leader in irrigation products.Headquartered in San Marcos, California, Hunter Irrigation produces a full range of water-efficient products for residential and commercial use, as well as for golf course applications, including its legendary pop-up, gear-driven rotors, spray sprinklers, valves, controllers, central controllers and weather sensors.  Hunter Irrigation holds more than 250 product patents and 40 trademarks, dating back to 1983, with a patent for their pop-up, gear-driven rotor that revolutionized the irrigation industry.  With more product patents and trademarks than any other manufacturer in the industry, Hunter Irrigation is the leader in relevant and user-friendly innovation.Hunter irrigation products are sold through a worldwide network of wholesale distributors and are installed by professional landscape contractors.  Since its inception, Hunter Irrigation has developed more than 100 innovative products to meet the needs of professional landscape installers worldwide, including the new ACC Controller, which was voted the most significant new product upon its release.  Hunter Irrigation has long been known for delivering the landscaping industry’s highest levels of quality, durability and ease of installation/service. These attributes have enabled them to be the value leader with some of the lowest warranty costs and fewest callbacks in the industry.  Hunter Irrigation offers a complete line of irrigation products whose features, performance and overall level of craftsmanship are unrivaled in the irrigation industry.Whether you are a contractor, designer, sports turf manager or municipal groundskeeper, components from Hunter Irrigation’s wide variety of products make every system a “Complete Hunter Irrigation System.  If you are a homeowner or business owner looking for the best performance in your automatic irrigation system, your choice of Hunter Irrigation components will be your assurance of unsurpassed quality and value.Living in Florida means conserving water!  Capable of meeting the product requirements of any residential or commercial irrigation project, Hunter irrigation products are undeniably the industry’s best, as demonstrated by a long history of outstanding performance. Hunter irrigation products offer a full line of quality sprinklers and automatic valves and controllers, making your irrigation system fully automatic. With the addition of Hunter mini-click rain sensors, you never have to worry about your surface areas receiving too much water, or depleting Florida’s greatest resource.Hunter’s new ET System recently made its television debut as part of ABC’s hit series, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The episode, which aired in early April, focused on a complete rebuilding of a Florida home, halfway house and the surrounding landscape.  As part of the landscaping project, Hunter donated one of its first ET systems, which is designed to automatically create an irrigation program each day by measuring evapo-transpiration rates and replenishing any lost moisture to avoid over-watering. ET-based irrigation is considered a “best practice” by the irrigation industry and water purveyors.

Drip irrigation (also referred to as “trickle irrigation”) is a watering method that reduces the amount of water and fertilizer used by slowly dripping water directly on the plant’s root zone.    Utilization of this method with longer watering intervals, creates deeper roots and more abundant foliage.  Drip irrigation also helps maintain an optimum moisture level in your soil at all times, by eliminating the normal water loss created by the sun and wind.  Modern advances in drip irrigation have made it one of the most important innovations in the world of agriculture.  Easy to expand and maintain, it is the most efficient method of irrigating your plants.  While traditional sprinkler systems are about 75 – 85% efficient, drip irrigation systems typically boast a 90% efficiency rate.  The fact that this system uses far less water has made drip irrigation the preferred method in much of the United States.  Two primary factors are responsible for the efficiency of drip irrigation.  The first is the absence of evaporation (or run-off) of the water that occurs with conventional sprinkler systems.  The second is that water is only applied where it is needed – at the roots – rather than being sprayed in large arcs throughout your yard.Drip irrigation systems are relatively forgiving of errors in design and installation and can be relatively inexpensive to incorporate into your yard.  While it’s true that more thought is required up front to match a drip irrigation system to the needs of specific plantings, there are tradeoffs in lower installation and materials costs.  One of the keys to an effective drip irrigation system design is a working knowledge of the different types of emission products available which enable the designer to meet the needs of different plant material within the same area.  Drip emitters are the devices that regulate the water flow from the tubing at a designated rate. There are hundreds of types of drippers used in drip irrigation, but only a few that work reliably, year-after-year.   Choosing the appropriate emission device for your system is often the most confusing choice in drip irrigation because the emitters come in many different flow rates and styles. Some are designed specifically for dense plantings, while others are better suited for sparse plantings.  The plant type, soil and type of installation will determine which emitters to use in your drip irrigation system to meet different water intake requirements in the same irrigation zone, using the same run time. A trained landscape professional can guide you in selecting the correct emitters for your drip irrigation system.   Particularly effective when watering your shrubs, drip irrigation has also been credited with reducing disease problems sometimes created by high levels of moisture on some plants.  By watering only the plant’s roots zone, drip irrigation systems cut down on water-borne pests and fungal diseases that are spread by water movement, as well as the germination of weeds in the area between your plants.   Consult a local landscape professional for more information regarding drip irrigation systems and how they can benefit you. 

Irrigation has been around for as long as humans have been cultivating plants. But gone are the days of having to haul buckets full of water to provide proper irrigation. Pouring water on fields is still a common irrigation method today — but other, more efficient and mechanized methods are also used.   Some homeowners think that irrigation systems are wasteful…quite the contrary.  Automatic irrigation systems are convenient, especially for those who travel. If installed and programmed properly, automatic irrigation systems can even save you money and help in water conservation. Lawn grass and plants that need to be replaced due to a lack of irrigation can be expensive. But the savings from automatic irrigation systems can go far beyond that.

Watering with a hose or an oscillator actually wastes water. Neither method targets plant roots with any significant degree of precision. Automatic irrigation systems can be programmed to more precisely discharge the proper amounts of water in a targeted area, which promotes water conservation. To protect your landscaping investment, it is always best to hire a professional to design and install your irrigation system. Determining the frequency and correct amounts of water that your lawn, plants and trees need is not a decision you should make without being fully aware of the consequences.  A good landscape designer/contractor can calculate what type and number of sprinkler heads you’ll need and determine the best placement of them to provide the best irrigation for your Orlando home.  Many homeowners do not realize the complexity or importance of a properly installed irrigation system and underestimate what they need. This can cost you more in the long run by having to do rework to your irrigation when the results are not what you had anticipated.  Your landscape contractor has access to all the latest technology and wide assortment of sprinkler head solutions for any type of landscape.  The first step will be to divide your landscape into “zones”.  The premise behind the design concept of “irrigation zones” is simple enough. Before you install your system, you need to decide that area A of your land should get X amount of water, while area B should receive Y amount, etc. Once you have irrigation zones established, you can then program your system accordingly. This is one of the virtues of automatic irrigation systems: you can target water distribution more precisely than by manual watering or by using oscillators.

When designing your landscape, you should provide separate beds for your plants according to how much water they need. If plants with similar watering needs are planted together, you’ll conserve water. You’ll also promote plant health by insuring that one plant isn’t over-watered because of the needs of the ones next to it. This planting strategy is sometimes referred to as “xeriscaping.” Drought-tolerant shrubs will inhabit one landscape irrigation zone, drought-intolerant annuals another, and so on. The lawn is a landscape irrigation zone all by itself. And keep in mind that an area with southern exposure requires more watering than one with northern exposure.

Most homeowners – in Orlando and elsewhere – would rather trust decisions concerning their sprinkler system and sprinkler heads to a landscape professional.  Good idea.  But it’s also a good idea for you – as a home or business owner to know what type of sprinkler heads are available when planning the sprinkler system for your landscape.  Let’s discuss the two most common types of sprinkler heads…spray and rotor.   Some spray lawn sprinkler heads are designed to pop up out of the ground when the sprinkler system is activated, while others rest on pipes that remain aboveground at all times. Spray lawn sprinkler heads discharge a large volume of water in a relatively short amount of time, giving them a “high application rate.”   For this reason, sprinkler systems with spray lawn sprinkler heads are most suitable for even surfaces, not slopes. If you do have to use a spray head on a slope, you will need to program your sprinkler system so that water is discharged over several shorter periods of time to avoid wasteful run-off.

By contrast, rotor lawn sprinkler heads have a lower application rate, so they’re more effective on slopes. Rotor lawn sprinkler heads also apply water more uniformly than spray lawn sprinkler heads, making them more suitable for watering larger areas. For Orlando homeowners who have larger yards, irrigation systems with rotor lawn sprinkler heads would be a logical choice. Whether you use spray-head sprinklers or rotor-head sprinklers for a particular area in your lawn, irrigation does matter, mainly because of the difference in application rates.  Above all, be consistent in the types of sprinkler heads you use (i.e., spray-head or rotor-head) within specific areas. Mixing sprinkler head-types within the same area leads to over-irrigation of some parts of your lawn while only adequately watering other areas. The goal of lawn irrigation is to target water distribution as precisely as the sprinkler system allows.   The right sprinkler heads play a big role in this.  Your landscape designer/contractor will help you to divide your yard into “zones” prior to deciding which sprinkler heads are best for your Orlando yard.  When a zone comes “on”, the water flows through the lateral lines and ultimately ends up at the irrigation sprinkler heads. Most sprinklers have pipe thread inlets on the bottom of them which allows a fitting and the pipe to be attached to them. The sprinklers are usually installed with the top of the sprinkler head flush with the ground surface. When the water is pressurized, the head will pop up out of the ground and water the desired area until the valve closes and shuts off that zone. Once there is no more water pressure in the lateral line, the sprinkler head will retract back into the ground.Selecting sprinkler heads for a system will require investigating various sprinkler models to find one with the characteristics best suited for your yard and watering needs. The important information for making the right decision regarding your sprinkler heads includes the operating pressure, flow range, precipitation rate, and the radius and arc of coverage. This information is usually found in the product catalogs provided by the sprinkler head manufacturer. In addition, many sprinklers have special features (such as angles of trajectory and nozzle options), which may be important in the selection process. While no single sprinkler head will work best in all applications, your local Orlando landscape contractor can help you select a sprinkler head that will provide proper the application for your lawn.

We all know that sprinkler systems free up our time…but did you know that it can free up your money as well?  You may think that by hand-watering your lawn, you are conserving water…but if your sprinkler systems is correctly designed, it will reduce your water bill, improve the appearance of your home and - depending on the size of your lawn - free up a lot of your precious time.  One of the few home improvement projects you can do that actually makes your life easier is installing a sprinkler system in your yard. No one likes hand watering gardens, flower beds, or lawns or moving a lawn sprinkler attached to a hose every 20 minutes.  Installing a sprinkler system will automate the entire process and lets you forget about whether your yard is getting the water it needs. Of course, it is easiest to install an automatic sprinkler system when first building your home or designing your landscaping, but it is also easy for a landscape designer to add irrigation to your yard after the fact. The efficiency of automatic sprinkler systems depends on three primary components: 1) design, 2) installation and maintenance, and 3) management.  A properly-designed and maintained system can be highly inefficient if mismanaged, but proper management is difficult if a system is not designed properly…it can be a vicious circle.   Recently in Orlando (and the rest of our country), the need for water conservation and more-efficient irrigation has pushed for the development of better sprinkler systems. All of these systems have one thing in common:  they move water to where it is wanted and then disperse it as needed. Over time, the sprinklers systems have become very sophisticated and high-tech in their system controls. Their operation can now be computer-controlled to respond to the time of day, volume of water present and the temperature outside. The systems can be stationary or moveableBasically, sprinkler systems consist of a network of buried pipes interspersed with sprinkler heads that spray water aboveground over lawns, plants, trees, and shrubs. There are a number of different sprinkler heads that enable you to spray water over the desired area. Some examples are impact, surface, pop-up head, bubbler head, and many more that can be selected, depending on the needs of your lawn and the climate in your area.You (or your landscape contractor) should create a drawing of your property indicating the location of your water meter and main line and identifying slopes, trees, shrub, sidewalks, driveways, your home, or any other objects in the yard. Try to include information such as sun exposure and ground cover material, including grass and shrubs. Next, measure your water pressure, using a water pressure gauge. It’s important to have an accurate reading to prevent costly damage to your sprinkler system.  You’re now ready to consult a landscape professional to determine where your sprinkler heads should be placed.  With a proper plan in place, you can be sure that your sprinkler system will work efficiently for many years to come…while saving you precious time and money.

Did you know that professionally-installed lawn sprinklers are one of the best investments you can make in your home?   There is no easier or more cost-effective way to beautify your home, increase its value, and save yourself a lot of time and money, not to mention water.  If you are contemplating an investment in automatic lawn sprinklers, this decision can ultimately be of great benefit to you, your neighborhood, and the environment, in more ways than you might imagine.  Automatic lawn sprinklers can benefit any Orlando homeowner by making the tedious job of watering your lawn a lot less time-consuming than it used to be, as well as adding to the value of your property. Your neighbors will enjoy the benefits as well, because a well-manicured, healthy lawn increases the curb appeal of your home and adds great beauty to any neighborhood.One of the more important reasons that Orlando homeowners should consider investing in automatic lawn sprinklers is the peace of mind enjoyed by knowing that you’re benefiting the environment by conserving large amounts of water. Your lawn sprinklers will place exactly the right amount of water on specific lawn and garden areas, while decreasing the amount of water used.   Lawn sprinklers are now available with moisture-sensing devices on the controllers that can automatically turn your system off when it rains.System design and installation of your lawn sprinklers are critical factors that will affect your system’s performance and longevity. This is why it is important to have a landscape professional design and install the right system for your home. You can count on a professional to do the job right the first time.Why do most homeowners face challenges with their watering habits?  Because it is so easy!   How many times have you turned on the sprinkler with the firm intention of being back in fifteen minutes to turn it off, but forgot about it until an hour later?  Or, maybe you forgot which part of the lawn you watered and which one you didn’t…was it Tuesday or Thursday when you last watered the garden?  It may seem silly, but these basic mistakes happen easily and can ultimately damage your lawn. Another benefit of having lawn sprinklers is that they do not water as “heavily” as hand watering. Lawn sprinklers offer a lighter spray of water, allowing your lawn and yard to soak up water better, leading to healthier plants. This can also lead to less runoff, saving you money, while conserving water.Automatic lawn sprinklers may be expensive, but isn’t it worth the investment to completely erase all of your watering worries?   Think about it…by adding automatic lawn sprinklers:§                 YOU’LL SAVE TIME: Your lawn sprinklers will do all the watering for you. §                 YOU’LL SAVE WATER: Lawn sprinklers use less water than watering by hand. §                 YOU’LL SAVE MONEY: Your water bills will be lower and your plants will live longer. §                 YOU’LL REST EASY: Knowing your lawn is getting exactly what it needs.