The ground is starting to thaw out and we are hopefully moving in to what is the start of spring here in Calgary. There is still a fair amount of snow to melt – especially on north-facing properties, but we believe that soon enough the white stuff will be gone and we will be able to start tending to our residential and commercial properties’ needs.
Spring can be a sloppy, wet, dirty, and often smelly season in Calgary, but it is also a season of opportunities. There’s a bit of time before the heavy-duty work of aerating, fertilizing, pruning, and planting begins, which happens to be ideal for planning out an underground irrigation installation.
As a year-round Calgary landscaping company that provides both landscape maintenance and landscape construction services, we at Mirage also specialize in underground irrigation installation. This part of our business has developed and grown over our three generations in service to our customers, and we are proud to say that underground irrigation is one of our specialties. We are different from many other companies in that we can be there for you from start to finish of your underground irrigation installation project. Many other companies sub-contract, and then sub-contract from there, leaving you to deal with a confusing group of individuals, each of whom does not have all the answers to your questions.
When it comes to your underground irrigation installation by Mirage, you will have a dedicated person leading your project who you can rely on. We will ensure that you know exactly what is happening at every stage, and also that you feel comfortable with your system. Best of all, if you have any issues, you can call us at any time.
Mapping out your zones
Mapping out your zones properly is extremely important when it comes to an underground irrigation installation, and it requires the skills of a trained expert in the field. Mirage Landscaping will map out your property and identify the correct number (and type) of zones required for full coverage and even water application for your lawn and garden beds. We will also identify where the best places for your irrigation boxes are so that they are both unobtrusive and convenient.
If you have a garden area that is mainly planted with shrubs, perennials, and annuals, it will require a different type of sprinkler than your lawn area. Taller sprinklers that are able to reach over the tops of your plants are required. Lawns that are flat expanses can use shorter sprinklers that don’t spray as high, but may need to be set at 360-degrees in order to cover all areas. Greenery placed right up against foundations should use more of a mister-type sprinkler that can be easily moved if necessary and also placed so they will not ever touch your home.
Sprinklers also need to be put the proper distance apart. Too close together means you will oversaturate a certain area and waste water. Too far apart will lead to brown and dead spots that you may have to water by hand. Since sprinklers are fully settable, you won’t ever be wasteful by accidentally spraying the sidewalk for hours on end.
Dragging the pipe
Over the years, underground irrigation technology has improved substantially. For a very long time, only rigid and hard pipes were available that were very difficult to lay down, required a lot of digging and ground disturbance, and did not allow for a lot of design imagination. Now, flexible pipes are easy to drag underground using special machines that minimize ground disturbance, so much so that once we are finished the job you will hardly notice we were there.
Setting your system
Once your system is mapped and installed, we will take the time to ensure you fully understand how your irrigation system works for optimal performance. Systems can be set in several ways – you can water daily, every other day, weekly, whatever your property requires. You can turn off zones in shady areas when they don’t need extra water, and add an extra few minutes to your cycle for those that do. All of this leads to the most minimal use of water necessary to keep your property green, blooming, and healthy, saving a lot of money in the long run.
In addition, underground irrigation systems can come equipped with rain sensors that will detect if enough moisture has fallen to turn off your system. The sensors will do this for you … you don’t even have to think about it. When the ground has dried out a bit, the system will turn itself back on.
Rather than dragging hoses around for hours on end on your weekend, think about how nice it will be to simply go to your control panel, change a few settings, and then forget about watering for awhile.
We will always be there for you
If you ever have any issues with your underground irrigation, we at Mirage will be there for you immediately. Even better, you can rely on us to perform your annual fall blow-out, which is essential for ensuring your system is not damaged during the cold winter months. Failing to perform this yearly maintenance can lead to big problems in the spring.
If you have been convinced of the benefits of an underground irrigation installation, which saves time, money, and improves the health of lawns and gardens, Mirage Landscaping has the expertise to install your system and the equipment to get the job done right. Nothing guarantees the healthy future of your property quite like an underground sprinkler system that delivers consistent, accurate watering. Contact us for a quick and easy quote.