Berardi Irrigation

Small and Large Irrigation Systems

Choosing an Irrigation System

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For the average person, about 30% of their water bill is from outdoor use. This should be a good reason to add some water-saving tactics to your landscape regime. Planting native plants as well as ones that can tolerate drought is a good way to reduce your need for supplemental irrigation. You’ll still need an efficient way to irrigate when you need to, especially for veggie gardens. Luckily, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to irrigation systems nowadays. It all depends on how much you’re willing to budget and what you think is needed for your lawn or yard.

In-Ground Sprinklers

If you are planning on adding in-ground irrigation, wait until your plants are in the ground already to make sure that the head delivers the right amount of water needed. Also make sure to separate plants by how much water they need. Lawn sprinklers should be in a separate area than perennials and shrubs because they don’t have high water needs.

Rain Harvesting

Putting rain barrels or cisterns to collect rain water can reduce your water bill and is better for the environment by bringing down the amount of runoff storm water. Rain barrels are a cheap option and easy to add to a landscape. Cisterns, which go under decks or patios, need excavation and an electrical hookup to use the pump. That needs to incorporated into the design from the start.

Above-Ground Sprinklers

Above-ground sprinklers are one of the most popular methods for irrigating big, open areas such as lawns. This is a cheap option to irrigate your lawn, and they come in stationary, rotating, and oscillating models.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation gives plants small amounts of water over a period of time. This slower process allows water to get deeper into the soil to get to the roots of the plants. This is an efficient way to water shrubs and perennials. Drip irrigation work to irrigate specific plants and reduce water waste.

Soaker Hose

A soaker hose, like drip irrigation, lets water seep slowly into soil over a long period of time. There are small holes inserted throughout the hose while lets smaller amounts of water to trickle out as needed. Soaker hoses come in different lengths which allows you to water at long distances. These hoses are great because they can be hidden under soil, or set above ground.

Contact Berardi Irrigation

Berardi Irrigation provides irrigation systems, landscape lighting, and more. We want you to be able to maintain the best lawn in your neighborhood! Give us a call at 781-828-2029 or fill out our contact form. We look forward to working with you on installing the perfect irrigation system to fit your needs.

How Landscape Lighting Effects Lawn Care

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If you own a home, you will benefit from landscape lighting. Some homeowners worry that the process of installing landscape lighting will damage their lawn and cause issues. It doesn’t matter if you use an installation service because professionals know what they’re doing and how to properly install the outdoor electricity.

Burying the Wires

One of the first steps in having landscape lighting that doesn’t destroy your lawn is burying the wires. Professionals who will be installing the wires will know how to properly do it without ruining the grass. They will bury the wires and know where to find the right place to dig and place them so that there will not be any future issues, and be able to find them if there is anything wrong. Lighting professionals know how deep to dig in order to bury the wiring and the best way to get the wire from the lighting to a transformer nearby.

Quality of the Lights

There are many varieties of lights that you can have installed for your lawn. There are well lights, which lay flat on the ground. You might think you can’t mow over them with a lawnmower, but it’s actually safe to do so. Routine lawn maintenance in general don’t do anything to them. These types of lights are usually used for lighting trees or columns in commercial settings.

Another type of light is path lights. These are usually placed on the edge of lawns, leading the pathway. This makes it easy to avoid when mowing the lawn or doing any other type of yard work.

Spotlights are also another option. These are usually pointed at something in your yard that you want to focus on. Sometimes it’s a tree, or even a wreath on your house around the holidays. Spotlights are probably the type of lighting you need to worry about the most. Usually, these are placed in the middle of the lawn.

Placement of the Lighting and Telling Your Lawn Care Provider

If you recently have had landscape lighting installed at your home and use a lawn care service, let them know before the start working on your yard. You don’t want them running over light fixtures that weren’t there the last time they worked on your lawn. They will appreciate the heads up, and it will save you from having broken lights.

Landscape lighting won’t negatively affect your lawn as long as you cautious with the way they are installed. There are ways to do it yourself, but this is something to leave up to the professionals if you want them coming out looking and working their best!

Contact Us

Berardi Irrigation can provide you and your home with amazing landscape lighting to enhance your yard’s features. Contact us today either by phone or filling out our contact page. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

 

Winterizing Your Irrigation System

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To keep your irrigation system safe during a long and cold winter, you must take the proper steps. The main part of winterizing is removing all water from the irrigation system. Pipes can burst if water is left to freeze and expand, so in order to make sure it’ll work in the spring, you have to take precautions.

Water Supply

The main valve to your irrigation system needs to be switched off to avoid freezing, and wrapped as well. You can use insulation to protect the valve, just use a plastic bag and tape to go around it. If you don’t have a main shut off valve, you can always install one as a preventative measure. You also have to insulate any above-ground piping. For this, you can use foam insulating tubes or insulation tape found at home supply stores.

Automatic Systems

If you have an automatic system, you need to make sure you turn the controller (timer) off for the winter. Many controllers have a rain mode which simply shuts off the signals to the valves. The controller continues to keep time and programming information is still there. The only thing it does is that the valves won’t activate. If your controller activates a pump, you should remove the wires that are connected to the master valve, as a precaution.

Draining the Pipes

Once everything is shut off, water needs to be removed from the pipes and sprinklers so that it won’t freeze in the cold weather and break your pipes. There are a couple ways to do this such as a manual drain valve, automatic drain valve, or the compressed air blow-out method. This part should be left to a professional because of the safety risks.

Protect Valves

Make sure to insulate preventers and valves if they are above ground so they don’t freeze. You can use insulation tape for this, and be sure not to block the drain outlets or air vents on backflow preventers.

Winterizing your irrigation system can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. You don’t want to go to turn it back on in the spring and have it not work. Take the steps to make sure it is safe all winter long!R

Contact Us

Berardi Irrigation wants to make sure your irrigation system is safe this winter. Give us a call at (781) 828-2029 or send us a message on our contact page. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Why You Should Fertilize Your Lawn in the Fall

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Have you ever wondered how amazing looking lawns get its luscious look? We know the secret, and it’s fertilizing your lawn in the fall. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s necessary to fertilize your lawn in the fall. When you feed your lawn in the fall, it contributes to the looks and health of the lawn. Also, fall is a time for storing nutrients and growth for healthy roots, lasting until next spring.  We’ll give you reasons why you should fertilize your lawn in the fall, informing you of the benefits you’re missing out!

Repair and Rejuvenate

Our lawns take a beating, whether it’s from the summer heat, foot traffic, or drought, your lawn needs some attention. That’s why it’s essential to replenish tiresome grass, for a quick recovery process and better looks. The repair and rejuvenate process is to prepare for the upcoming seasons: winter and spring.

Nutrient Boost Before Winter

As the end of the growing season nears, lawns need to need nutrients. It’s imperative to feed your lawn before winter, as the frozen soil and cold weather can hinder the roots. If you want strong roots before winter, apply fertilizer in the fall. Depending on where you are, winter can be brutal. Feeding your lawn before it goes through the harshness of winter will save you some trouble. Also, you are preparing your lawn to emerge better than ever for spring. 

Greener Lawn for Spring

Your lawn’s growth and energy will come to a near standstill during the dormant season. Feeding in the fall boosts your lawn with essential nutrients to store for the spring growing season. Your lawn will thank you, leading to a more greener landscape, thicker and vibrant lawn.  In all, fertilizing in the fall will give your lawn stamina and durability for the upcoming winter season. Then, it will emerge in the early spring, looking incredibly green and lush. 

Conclusion

Always choose a fertilizer that’s easy to apply and nutrient-rich. This allows the lawn to recover from fall and build strong roots. A fertilizer that increases its ability to absorb water and nutrients is good too. Your lawn goes through several seasons, but the most critical rejuvenation period is fall. In short, you repair your lawn after summer, revitalize it during the fall in preparation for winter, ready for its emergence in spring. If you aren’t sure which fertilizer to apply or how to apply fertilizer for fall in general, consult with a professional today. Fill out an online form or give us a call at 781-828-2029. 

4 Tips for Taking Care of Your Lawn This Fall

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After a long summer of watering your lawn, keeping up with cutting it regularly, and doing all it takes to keep it green, by the time fall comes, you may be ready to take a rest as far as lawn care goes. However, this is a crucial time for your lawn. Taking care of your grass now will ensure it’s ready for next year. Check out our tips to learn what you can do now to prepare for next spring already! 

Get Rid of Leaves

While the colorful fallen leaves on your lawn might add to your autumn aesthetic, they’re not good for your grass. When leaves pile up on your grass, they block sunlight from getting in and trap moisture underneath. This is a recipe for disaster for your lawn! As the leaves fall, regularly rake or blow them as necessary. If you leave them for the winter, they’ll get packed down by snow, and leave you with a dead mat of a lawn in the spring. 

Keep Mowing

It’s important to keep cutting your grass in the fall, too. Grass will continue to grow up until the first frost, so don’t put the mower away just yet! Keep it at a healthy 2 ½ – 3-inch height. If it gets too long, it’ll mat and be more likely to grow fungi such as snow mold. Cutting it too short can be just as bad, causing the root system to curtail. Mowing frequently will also get rid of leaves. 

Loosen Soil

Aerating your lawn every few years helps to prevent soil from becoming compacted or covered with a thatch, which is a thick layer of debris that blocks water. An aerator can fix this problem, by piercing holes through the thatch and pulling up pieces of soil. Doing this in the fall before fertilizing is highly beneficial, as it’ll allow the nutrients to reach the roots. 

Fertilize

Once you’ve aerated your lawn (if necessary), fertilizing is the final step to protect the roots from freezing, and giving it the nutrients it needs to bounce back next spring. Fertilizing allows your grass the chance to build up stamina before the long, harsh winter. Doing it on a fall morning helps the turf to absorb the nutrients, because of the excess moisture from the dew. 

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1049 Turnpike Street, Canton, MA 02021
781-828-2029

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