Landscaping Tips

We are very happy to be working with you and we hope this information will help answer your questions concerning your landscaping.

Your automatic irrigation system should help keep maintenance to a minimum and plant health to a maximum. Please read the irrigation, fertilization, and weed control instructions carefully. Should anything arise that would require our advice or help, feel free to call our office at (623) 780-8900.

Thank you, and we wish you many happy and comfortable years in your home.

Jesse Inzunza
(Owner)

IRRIGATION:

Your automatic irrigation system is a low maintenance, economical way to keep your plants irrigated efficiently.

WATERING GUIDE FOR NEWLY INSTALLED PLANTS:

During hot periods: 60 minutes every day for the first 2 weeks then follow watering guide below.

During cool periods: 60 minutes every day for one week then follow watering guide below.
 
The column of “Days” tells you how often to water, for example, every 2 days or every 3 days. The “Time” column tells you how long to allow the system to water each time. Don’t forget, early morning is the best time to water!

Note: Homeowners are responsible for adjusting watering times, unless Desert Crest Landscaping is on contract to maintain your yard.

ADJUST FOR RAINS: Turn off your automatic controller during rainy weather. You don’t want to over water your plants or waste water. Be sure and turn the system back on when you think it has dried enough.

If it gets too cold, we recommend to water daily during freeze warnings.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Can the water to the irrigation system be shut off without shutting off the water to the house? Yes, in front by your hose bib we have installed a vacuum breaker. On it are two shutoff levers, and either one will shut off the water to the irrigation system.

2. Does each zone need a start time? No, start times only start programs. Every zone that has minutes set will run one after another with only one start time. For example, if the “start time” for program A is 6:00 a.m. and Zone 1 is set for 60 minutes and Zone 2 is set for 30 minutes, then program A Zone 1 will start at 6:00 a.m. and program A Zone 2 will start at 7:00 a.m.

3. There is a leak in my valve box, what should I do? Leaks are usually caused by one of two things: a loose cap or a loose screw. To fix them, remove the filter cap and reset or try tightening the screws on top of the valve.

4. I don’t see any emitters. Do I have them on my drip system? Yes, you do. The emitters we like to use are on the end of the tubing. They rarely clog and are very reliable. They are called MF emitters. It is common for the drip line to be under the granite. After the drip system has run you should be able to see a damp area around the plant

5. Do all my plants get the same amount of water? No, we use three different size emitters, 1/2 gallon, 1 gallon, and 2 to 10 gallon sizes per hour, depending on the plant requirement.

6. Why are there so many little pieces in my granite? There are three grades of granite:Minus = 70% minus & 30% largerScreened = 30% minus & 70% largerSized 10% minus & 90% largerThe fine product in granite is not bad to have. The fine granite will settle down after you water it and it will act as a natural binder. The larger granite will form a nice crust over the surface. It is then easier to maintain and to walk on.

7. My clock is blank and nothing is working on it. What should I do? Check these two items on your timer: the batteries and the power. If the battery fails during a power interruption, your program will be lost. When power is restored, the rain dial controller automatically defaults to its fail-safe mode. See your programming guide page 13 for more details. We recommend changing batteries at least once a year. (9 volts)

8. Will the batteries run my irrigation system? No, the batteries only keep the controller from losing the programs if the power goes out.

9. How long will the batteries last? About 1 year.

10. Why don’t you lay plastic under the granite? There was a time when many landscapers used the black plastic to prevent weeds from coming up through the granite. The problem with the plastic was that it eventually ripped and weeds came up anyway, and the plastic looked bad when shreds of the torn plastic showed through the granite. Now we have determined that pre-emergent herbicides work best at preventing weeds.

11. When is the landscape considered mature? 3 years after being planted

12. How long should a tree be staked? It depends on the maintenance of the tree itself. To encourage a deep root system you need to deep water your trees to promote rapid expansion of root growth. You will also need to trim the tree to prevent it from becoming top heavy. If these are done correctly the stakes will need to be there for two years.

13. Why is my ocotillo dead? Ocotillos frequently look dead because they drop their leaves to conserve water when there is no rain. This is how they have learned to survive the desert conditions. They also can take up to two years from the time of transplant to bloom. In the summer you can try misting the branches to encourage leaves, but don’t worry when the leaves drop again. Please be patient and your ocotillos will surprise you when you least expect it!

14. Why is my grass turning brown? You need to make sure that you are watering your new lawn enough – about three times a day for the first 10 days or so. The soil beneath the new sod should remain “squishy wet”. Keep pet and foot traffic off the new lawn for at least 10 days. Do not mow the grass until at least 10 days after it was installed. After 30 days you may fertilize. If water is standing for longer than 48 hours, give us a call. Refer to the feeding and watering schedule in this packet as well.

15. Why is there standing water in my yard? In some areas, the soil is less porous than others. If water continues to stand for longer than 48 hours, give us a call. However, after rain, water can take 72 hours to dissipate.

16. Why are the grout around my flagstone and the surface of my stucco bench cracked? Cracks appear in hardscape features because of the movement of the earth and changes in temperature. Your hardscape is under warranty for 1 year. We advise waiting until the 11th month so that we can come and address all of the cracking issues at once.

17. Why does my flagstone have black spots in it? All stone is a natural part of the earth and it behaves like a part of nature. It moves, it chips, and it gets weathered with age. No two pieces are alike. The black spots in your flagstone are naturally occurring fossils.

18. Why are my BBQ walls cracking? Cracks may appear in any masonry walls due to settling in the ground. As with flagstone, we recommend waiting for repair until the 11th month, as most settling has occurred by this time.

19. If you have any more questions concerning watering system…Please see your programming guide provided by Desert Crest, LLC.