Advanced Irrigation Blog Posts

5 Fall Lawn Care Tasks to Tackle Right Now

There are a few things your lawn and landscape will need before the onset of winter. As expert providers of lawn care services for Maple Grove and the surrounding areas, we know all of the essential steps toward maintaining a beautiful, lush lawn. And, the best way to ensure a thick, green, and healthy lawn in the spring is to give it some well-timed care in the fall. That’s why we would like to provide a list of essential lawn care services your lawn needs this autumn. And, if you need assistance with or don’t have time for any of these tasks, don’t hesitate to give us a call at Advanced Irrigation and we will happily take care of them for you.lawn care services

Continue Cutting…For Now

Grass continues to grown until the first hard frost and so regular cuts are still necessary to keep it at an ideal height. If it gets too long it will mat and become vulnerable to fungi like snow mold. Cutting grass too short, however, is just as bad because it curtails the root system and impedes the lawn’s ability to withstand winter cold.

Remove Leaves

Leaves may look pretty but they’re no good for grass; blocking the light and trapping moisture, becoming potentially fatal for the grass beneath. So when the leaves are falling, it is important you or your professional lawn care service blows or rakes them away as often as possible.

Water

If your lawn isn’t getting at least an inch of water a week (a rain gauge is a useful way to keep track) then keep the irrigation system running until the end of October. Then, schedule your fall blowout for your irrigation system right away. This is one of the many lawn care services we provide at Advanced Irrigation.

Fertilize

Just as grass roots need water to last the winter, they also benefit from fertilizer to help protect them winter weather.

Spread Seed

Another one of our many lawn care services we provide, spreading seed is great at protecting your turf from weeds come spring. Not only does seeding help fill in thin spots or bare patches, it allows us to introduce the latest in resilient, drought-tolerant grasses. Fall is the best time to seed because the ground is still warm, moisture is more plentiful and the sun is not as hot during the day.

And, these are just some of the essential lawn care services that should be performed this fall. Give us a call today to learn more about our services and why we are considered one of the most trusted names in lawn care services in the Maple Grove area. Call Advanced Irrigation at 612-599-8675 or you can request a Free Estimate.

Hiring Professionals for Your Sprinkler System’s Fall Blowout

Summer is coming to an end and it’s time to begin preparing your property for the cooler months ahead. One of the most important steps in this process is a fall blowout and winterization of your water sprinkler system. Why aren’t you able to merely turn off the water, leaving the system in a dormant state? It is essential to hire professionals to perform this task for many reasons. You may feel you want to take the chance. However the experts here at Advanced Irrigation strongly recommend professional maintenance of your Minnesota area water sprinkler system: Here are some reasons why and how it works:

sprinkler system installation

Water will be found at different points throughout the system that will freeze and expand as it turns into ice this winter. With expansion on these levels, the system itself will be overwhelmed. It is far too much for the water sprinkler system’s fittings, pipes, valves and other parts and they could become damaged beyond repair, calling for replacement. With this type of damage you will be left footing the bill for a replacement. However by hiring a trusted company that knows how to prep your irrigation system to withstand the annual freeze, you can help safeguard your water sprinkler system.

How does it work? The water sprinkler system will be drained using the automatic or manual drain valves to get most of the water out of the piping. Once this portion of the job is complete, compressed air in effect dries out the system, ensuring not an ounce of water is left within to freeze and damage the system. When we use compressed air, we calculate just the right amount to not damage the sprinkler system or any of their more delicate parts.

Then, we make sure the main valve is closed, keeping the water from flowing into the water sprinkler system and freezing when the temperatures get below freezing. Any timers in existence will be turned off, preventing the system from starting up at any point during the winter months.

However, if you have not had our water sprinkler services team out to handle your fall blowout or winterization, freezing or breakdown may prevent the system from turning back on come spring.

So, don’t put it off any longer! If you would like more information on lawn care services in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas, call Advanced Irrigation at 612-599-8675, or you can contact us to set up your Free Estimate.

Why is My Lawn Brown? And Other Common Lawn Problems

This time of year, when the weather is warm and with all of the rain we’ve been having, your lawn should be green and flourishing. If it’s not, you may be wondering why. As expert providers of lawn care services for Monticello and the surrounding areas, we know a thing or two about lawns. That’s why we’d like to go over a few things that could go wrong with your lawn and what you can do to fix them. And, if you encounter any of these issues, don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about our lawn care services and all we can do for you.

lawn care services

One common disease you might come across is leaf spot. This disease attacks grass in wet, hot weather, leaving behind purple or brown spots on individual blades that are scattered through green turf. Varieties most impacted by leaf spot include tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. But luckily, there are a few ways to avoid it.

For one, it is important not to add too much nitrogen. And, deep, early morning watering is another way to prevent this disease from impacting your lawn. Expert lawn care services like proper irrigation can help you avoid lawn diseases such as this.

Seeing brown? Brown patch is one of the most common lawn issues that could arise. Brown patch is more than meets the eye; it is a fungus caused by too much water in hot, humid weather, and can affect all types of grass. It usually causes 3-10 inch circles of grass blades to have brown ends and bleached spots. In some instances, the center of the circle will recover, causing the area to look like a target.

Another reason you might be seeing brown spots is with urine burns. Lawn burn is a common problem that occurs when your dog’s urine damages the grass in your lawn. When this occurs you will often need to reseed and grow new grass in spots. Our lawn care services can help you get your damaged lawn back on track if this occurs.

Another grass issue you might encounter is red thread. This causes a fungus to appear as red webs of pink or red threads spread over the turf and destroy grass blades. Fine fescues and ryegrasses are the most impacted.

However, with thorough, expert lawn care services like proper fertilization and care, you can avoid red thread as well as the other common turf diseases.

Have you been seeing red or brown in your lawn and interested in lawn care services for your Monticello home or business? Give us a call at (612) 599-8675 or Request a Free Estimate.

How to Know if a Landscape Design is Right for You

If you are considering a new landscape design for your home or business, it is important to create one that is right for your unique needs and property. From a space to entertain guests to an area for growing a garden to building a communal space for employees; there are many considerations that must be considered. Have you considered the amount of shade you would like for your landscape design? As experts in landscape design for Minnetonka and the surrounding areas, we can help you answer these very questions and then design a landscape for your unique wants and needs. But first, we have a few suggestions to help you get the wheels turning on what you might want for your new landscape. And, when you’re ready to started, contact the landscape design professionals at Advanced Irrigation! We look forward to working with you.

Landscape Design Minnetonka

First, when it comes to color, composition and design; start thinking of your landscape in terms of plants and flowers that will complement each other but don’t match exactly. Plan to have them planted in groups and not rows. Groups of flowers are easier to maintain, plus they are more interesting to look at rather than rigid straight rows. Also consider plants and flowers that are different heights. Plan to plant them together as well, and it will also make your garden and landscaping more interesting to look at.

Will you want to incorporate hardscaping into your landscape design? Retaining walls are some of the most functional types of hardscapes. They either separate garden rooms or areas, or they hold soil up across varying elevations of your home’s landscape. Patios are also great forms of hardscaping. They offer an open area for holding furniture and for relaxation. Patios are lovely hardscapes that can give you even more room to entertain guests or hold outdoor meetings. How about walkways? Our landscape design experts can help you choose where to place those as well.

Have you considered shade trees? Many lawns and landscapes are fully exposed to constant sun. If you wish to be part of and directly enjoy your property, perhaps in a hammock, sometime you just want to lay in the shade. Why not implement some shade trees into your landscape design? Advanced Irrigation can help you with all of your shade tree needs.

Do you want more information about landscape design for your Minnetonka home or business? Call Advanced Irrigation at 612-599-8675 or contact us for a Free Estimate.

Essential Chores for a Thriving Landscape this Summer

Officially, the first day of summer is June 21st. But, there are a few essential summer landscaping tasks that should already be in motion. If not, your lawn and landscaping may not survive the hottest days of summer. As a professional landscaping company for Plymouth and the surrounding areas, we not only perform these essential tasks for area home owners and businesses, but we are experts in the field. That’s why, we’d like to provide you with the list of chores that should be regularly implemented for a healthy lawn; and, if you need assistance, contact our landscaping company. We can take care of these tasks for you; expertly and professionally.

landscaping companies maple grove advanced irrigation

Watering & Irrigation

Throughout the summer, the sun will be beating down on the lawn all day long. Without proper watering it can become dry and brown. That’s why it’s important to keep your lawn hydrated with consistent watering. And, you also need to water wisely. You can’t just stand outside with a hose or set up a stationary sprinkler. The watering must reach every part of your landscaping and be evenly distributed.

It is also important water your lawn in the morning. This allows the water to seep into the roots of the grass instead evaporating in the afternoon. It is also key to keep the roots hydrated, but you don’t want to overwater and flood the grass, making it a very delicate balance.

The best way to ensure this? A smart irrigation system! At Advanced Irrigation we provide a wide variety of irrigation services for local area commercial and residential clients. A smart irrigation system can even regulate the amount of water needed based on time of day, recent rain fall and more! Smart controllers equipped with an on site weather station, can operate in an automatic adjustment mode. The weather based watering schedules are calculated for each zone using the unique characteristics of each microclimate throughout the yard.

Weeds & Fertilizing

Since your landscape takes quite a beating during summer from foot traffic, the heat and more, it’s important to fertilize your lawn. Summer is also prime weed season and the presence of weeds can take valuable nutrients away from your grass or plants. Our landscaping company is dedicated to using the finest golf course quality fertilizer along with state-of-the-art broadleaf weed controls in our commercial and residential lawn fertilizer packages. We offer lawn fertilizer packages and weed control packages to residential and commercial customers.

And, these are just a few of the chores you should be regularly performing for your landscaping. Need assistance? Contact our landscaping company and we can take care of them for you! We can even install a new, smart irrigation system if you’d like!

For more information about our landscaping company in Plymouth, call Advanced Irrigation at 612-599-8675, or you can contact us and get a Free Estimate.