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Artificial grass has rapidly been gaining in popularity over the last few years. And it’s leaving many homeowners wondering if it’s time to ditch their Denver sprinkler system in favor of installing artificial turf in their front and back yards. After all, it could save you on your water bill and spare you the frustration of having to mow the lawn several times a month. Before you make the switch to artificial turf, you need to think long and hard about the benefits your real grass lawn offers your property. Here are a few reasons why real grass is always best. 

1. It Adds Appeal to Your Home

Your lawn is one of the first things people notice about your landscaping. When it looks great, the rest of your property looks great. This is why so many homeowners immediately assume that artificial turf is better. But artificial grass can look too artificial. It’s overly green year-round and, unless you pay top-dollar for the best turf on the market, it won’t ever be able to mimic the look of natural grass. 

That fake appearance doesn’t just not add value to your property. It also can hurt your curb appeal. This will make it harder to sell your home in the long run and could leave you struggling to find qualified and interested buyers should you need to put your house on the market.

Real grass adds value and increases the curb appeal year-round. Even when it’s not bright green and growing, it’s clear when your lawn is healthy. People won’t have trouble imagining what your landscaping looks like during the growing season when they drive by during the middle of the winter.

2. Real Grass Is Good for the Environment

Believe it or not, grass does far more for the environment than it takes from it. The soil supporting the beautiful green blades you love helps prevent erosion and traps moisture for trees and shrubs to grow and thrive. Beneficial insects make their homes inside the turf and generate nutrients in the soil that further help the rest of your landscaping to thrive. Even better, it’s completely natural and as long as you avoid using harsh chemical insecticides and weedkillers, it’s safe for the surrounding environment.

Artificial grass is not conducive to holding moisture in the soil for the rest of your landscaping, nor does it create a welcoming habitat for creatures like earthworms, beetles, and other insects. It just takes up space and makes your yard less appealing for those creatures. Worse, it’s made of plastic. The production of that plastic involves chemicals and heavy equipment that contributes to environmental pollution. 

3. The Blades and Soil Help Keep Your Yard Cool

If you’ve ever walked outside barefoot on the hottest afternoon of the summer and stepped onto your lush, green lawn, you know that the ground is often significantly cooler than the ambient air temperature. This is because the grass itself shields the soil beneath it, helping to keep the ground cooler. That cooler temperature makes your yard more comfortable to use during the heat of the summer.

Artificial grass doesn’t help to disperse heat. Instead, it absorbs it. The turf will be warm to the touch and worse, will make the yard warmer, too. If you have pets, the artificial grass may get too hot for them to safely enjoy using the yard during the warmer months.

4. Real Grass Is Cheaper

If you’ve ever had to re-seed your lawn, you know just how cheap grass seed really is. You’re able to buy a large bag of seed mix for just a few dollars and spread it around to fill in holes. If you need to go all out, you may also spend a few dollars on fertilizer to help your lawn rebound. 

Even when you factor in the cost of your regular watering schedule, grass is still one of the most affordable additions you can make to your landscaping. And it doesn’t cost much to maintain over the years.

Artificial turf, though it saves you on your water bill, costs significantly more to install and maintain over the years. If a patch is damaged, you can’t just spread seed. You have to install a new section and hire an experienced contractor to make sure it blends in with the rest of the yard. That’s on top of paying the high initial cost for installation when you make the switch. 

And if you think that artificial turf doesn’t need water at all, you’re wrong. If you want to keep the blades cool to the touch during the summer, you’ll need water lines beneath the artificial turf to cool the surface. Further, you’ll need to spray the turf down at least a few times a week to flush any dirt, grime, and pet waste away since it can’t get absorbed by the soil.

5. It’s Safer for Your Family

Real grass is like a soft carpet that everyone can enjoy playing on outside. It’s cushioned by the soil and absorbs impacts without passing the shock back up into your foot as you walk or run. And if the kids fall while playing on the grass, they might skin their knees, but they won’t likely hurt themselves severely.

Artificial turf, on the other hand, lacks many of the comforts of natural grass. The plastic blades are more likely to cause skin irritation if kids fall on the lawn while playing. Further, the turf doesn’t have that added cushion of the soil and roots beneath it. This means the lawn won’t be as springy and comfortable underfoot.

This increases your family’s risk of impact injuries during the summer months. Those same injuries are minimized or even eliminated by sticking with real grass in your yard.

Stick to Real Grass

If you’ve been thinking of making the switch from a real grass lawn to an artificial version, spare yourself the frustration. Stick to real grass and your home, your kids, and your neighbors will thank you for it. Just make sure to get your sprinkler system serviced before the weather warms up so you’ll be able to get your lawn growing well early on. 

One of the biggest benefits of a beautiful landscape design is that it adds value to your home and your property. If you ever decide to sell your house, your landscaping will make it easier to find a qualified buyer and can even help you get a better selling price for your home. If your current landscaping efforts are lacking or you’re just not happy with the way things look, adding new elements to your landscaping is a wonderful way to breathe new life into your yard. Here are a few great low-maintenance options to incorporate into your landscaping this spring that won’t depend on your Denver sprinkler system to grow and thrive.

Put in Some Decorative Seating Areas

What’s the point of taking the time to plant beautiful flowers, shrubs, and trees if you don’t get to spend time outside and enjoy them? If your landscaping is like most homeowners’ in the Denver area, it likely lacks comfortable seating areas where you can enjoy nature on those pleasant spring and summer days. Change things up and add some decorative seating options to your landscaping. If you have a shaded alcove, a decorative wrought-iron bench can add a touch of whimsy and class. If you have a little-used patio in place, adding comfortable outdoor loungers and chairs can make the space feel more inviting. Just make sure to choose furniture that’s sealed against the weather. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend time cleaning and maintaining it over the years.

Plant Perennials

If you love the look of flowers but hate having to plant new ones every spring, you don’t have to give up your desire for bright colors in your landscaping. You just need to switch from planting annual flowers to planting perennials. Perennials bloom throughout the growing season but rather than dying at the end of that growing season, perennials simply hibernate. They come back once the spring weather signals to the plant that the growing season is about to begin. As long as you stay on top of weeding and take care to adequately water the garden beds where the perennials are planted, you’ll be able to enjoy their flowers for years. 

Install Ornamental Grasses

If you don’t care about brilliant colors and instead prefer different textures in your landscaping, consider adding ornamental grasses to some of your garden beds. These grasses require minimal upkeep and trimming throughout the year. Even better, they look great even in the winter, making your landscaping look more dynamic and interesting when others in your area are drab and boring. Like perennials, ornamental grasses are hardy and can withstand changing weather conditions without suffering long-term damage. Just make sure to choose grasses that are well-suited to the Denver climate.

Embrace Native Plants

The Front Range has tons of beautiful native plants that thrive with minimal water and require almost no upkeep. Unfortunately, those plants aren’t usually found in most modern landscapes. Why not add them to your own and enjoy the colors native to Colorado? Colorado wildflowers bloom for longer periods of time and can add beautiful colors and textures to otherwise boring flower beds. Lavender plants and lamb’s ears add textural visual appeal to your landscaping while also attracting the beneficial pollinators that will only help your other plants grow more effectively. 

Add Some Evergreens

Trees add tons of value to your property and the best ones to add to your landscaping are, hands down, evergreens. Plant native pines, juniper trees, and spruce around the perimeter of your yard to add privacy to your space. These trees are easy to care for and are more resistant to pests common to the Denver metro area. 

Invest in Succulents

If you want to add pops of color to your garden but don’t want to deal with the increase in your water bill, consider adding succulents to the beds. There are hundreds of different types of succulents to choose from and many of them grow incredibly well in the Denver area. Remember, succulents aren’t cacti. They don’t all have spines and needles that put your kids and pets at risk of injury. Just look for succulents that you’ll enjoy having in your yard or ask your landscaping team for recommendations. 

Spread Different Colors of Gravel

For some homeowners, the thought of adding more plants that require even minimal additional care isn’t appealing. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t transform your landscaping and make it look completely new and dynamic. The easiest way to do that is to spread different colors and types of gravel in areas of your yard where you don’t want active plant growth. The gravel will help keep weeds from becoming a problem in those areas and requires virtually no maintenance. All you have to do is sweep it back in place once you see some of the stones leaving the confines of the gravel bed.

Create a Rock Garden

Plants aren’t the only things you can add to a garden. In fact, many homeowners have successfully incorporated rock gardens into their landscape designs. All you need are a few interestingly shaped or colorful boulders arranged in a strategic manner and you’ll have an eye-catching centerpiece for your home’s landscaping. Even better, they’re virtually maintenance free and, as long as the boulders are set firmly in place by your landscaping expert, you won’t have to worry about them becoming dislodged over time.

Adding Depth and Fun to Your Landscaping Is Simple

Making your landscaping stand out from others on the block doesn’t have to mean investing in tons of expensive, high-maintenance plants. It just means getting creative about the features you add and making sure they’re the best options for your needs and your budget. That said, the best thing you can do for your monthly budget, regardless of your landscaping design is to make sure your sprinkler system is working properly. If you can’t remember the last time you got your system tuned up, appeal and schedule an appointment as soon as you can.

Winter may be in full swing now, but that doesn’t mean it will stick around forever. Before you know it, the temperatures will warm up and the growing season will begin in earnest. If you want your lawn to look its best earlier in the season so your yard can become the envy of the neighborhood, starting sooner is always better and will reduce your risk of needing to schedule an appointment with your Denver sprinkler repair experts. Believe it or not, there are a few things you can do to prepare your lawn for the warmer months even when there’s still snow on the ground. These are the most important tasks you’ll want to take care of.

Aerate Your Lawn

Over the winter months, the weight of the snow sitting on your grass, your footfalls, and simply time, is enough to compact the soil beneath your lawn. When this happens, the roots of your grass won’t be able to spread out and get the nutrients they need to keep your lawn happy and healthy during the growing season. Luckily, there’s an easy way to reoxygenate your lawn and break up the compacted soil. You just need to aerate it with an aeration fork. This punches holes into the soil and loosens compacted dirt for the rest of the season. Try to do this at the beginning of spring once the ground thaws but before the weather warms up enough to support sustained growth. This way, your lawn’s new growth will have access to the nutrients it needs.

Figure Out a Fertilization Schedule

Even rich soils need a little help now and again. Remember, the nutrients in the dirt get used by the plants you add to your landscaping. You’ll need to replenish those nutrients throughout the course of the year. The best way to do this is to add fertilizer to your lawn and landscaping. Every lawn is different, so you’ll need to figure out the right fertilization schedule for your yard. Your local garden center or landscaping team can give you advice on when to apply fertilizer and what type to use for your yard.

Keep an Eye on Your Water Bill

When you’re not watering your lawn, you should expect your water bills to go down or at least stay consistent during the winter months. However, if you have a leak somewhere in your sprinkler system’s water line, your bill could go up. Once the ground thaws, that leak can cause serious damage to your lawn and your surrounding landscaping. If you notice inexplicable increases on your bill, contact your sprinkler repair technician and let them inspect your system. If there’s anything wrong, they’ll be able to identify the types of repairs needed and help you get the damage fixed before spring is in full swing.

Clean up the Surrounding Landscaping

It’s normal for the rest of your landscaping to look a bit unkempt at the tail end of the winter season. Instead of waiting until spring to start cleaning up, start ahead of time. Clear away any dead growth and plants that you don’t want to deal with during the warmer months. Rake any existing mulch back into place and make sure the trim around your garden beds is still in good condition. If it’s not, make a note of the spots that need attention and plan on redoing those areas as soon as the weather improves and the ground thaws enough to add new edging.

Trim Your Trees

Believe it or not, your trees impact your lawn’s health. When they’re overgrown, they produce more shade than your lawn may be equipped to handle. This results in dead areas and makes your lawn appear patchy at best. The best thing you can do is schedule an appointment with your tree care company and let them trim and prune excess growth before the trees leaf out completely. This way, your lawn will get the sun it needs to take root and recover from the cold weather as quickly as possible.

Tune up Your Tools

No matter how large or small your lawn is, you’ll have at least a few tools on hand to help you care for and maintain it. This might involve a lawn mower, hedge trimmer, edger, or weed whacker. Whatever you have on hand, give it a thorough tune-up. Sharpen dull blades, make sure the motors are in good shape, and clean the components as thoroughly as you can. This way, you’ll be ready to go once the weather warms up. If you don’t have tools but want to invest in some simple lawn care equipment, start shopping early. Compare the prices quoted by several dealers and choose the ones that work best with your budget. Keep in mind that it’s always best to invest in quality equipment even if it means paying a bit more.

Get Your Sprinkler System Inspected

Once the ground starts to thaw and you’re ready to start watering your lawn again, don’t just turn the sprinkler system on. Take the time to get the system inspected before you run your first cycle. During the inspection, your repair technician will make sure the lines, heads, and controller are still in good condition. If they find any issues, they’ll be able to fix the problems before you need to rely on your system for the warmer months. If you don’t already have a sprinkler system in place, early spring is the perfect time to install a new system. Your lawn will have plenty of time to recover after the system is in place.

Keep These Tips in Mind

Getting your lawn to look great as quickly as possible can feel like a momentous challenge if you’re not prepared. Try these simple tips on your property and you’ll be able to get your lawn ready for the growing season in no time. Just make sure to give your sprinkler system the same TLC. Contact our team to schedule an inspection before the growing season starts up.

The winter months leave most people running indoors to escape the cold but once the weather starts to change, getting outside is much easier. While it’s easy to tell when it’s time to get outside and start enjoying your favorite activities again, knowing when it’s time to start paying attention to your landscaping isn’t as simple as you might think. So, can you start thinking about your plants when there’s still snow on the ground? Yes, but you need to know what signs to watch for. Here’s how to tell it’s time to start paying attention to your lawn according to your Denver sprinkler repair experts.

The Trees Are Leafing Out
One of the easiest ways to tell if it’s time to start paying attention to your lawn and landscaping is to look at the plants growing in your yard. When the weather starts to improve, you’ll start to see signs of early life on the plants. This might look like small leaves growing on the branches or buds starting to form on flowering plants. Use this as a guide. If the trees and shrubs in your yard think it’s time to start growing, it’s time to turn your attention to your lawn. The closer you can follow the seasons and start tending your grass when the other plants are starting to bloom, the easier it will be for you to have a lush, green lawn as early as possible. 

Your Neighbors Are Starting to Garden
If you’re not comfortable trying to gauge timing by looking at the rest of your plants, use your neighbors as a guide. The chances are good that at least one of them will be more experienced in plant care and gardening than you are. If you notice several of your neighbors starting to get their hands dirty in their garden beds or making preparations for early planting, start turning your attention to your landscaping. Remember, the earlier you can start in the growing season, the more established your yard will be during the warmer months. This will make it easier for your plants to avoid shock if rain is scarce or the Denver metro area suffers from a severe heatwave for days on end. 

The Nightly Lows Are Above Freezing
Daytime temperatures tend to be significantly higher than the lows at night. Just because you’re getting warm weather during the day doesn’t mean you can start planting your garden or turn your sprinklers on to irrigate your lawn. You need to pay attention to the nightly lows. If they’re staying at or above freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and aren’t showing signs of dipping below freezing for the near future, you should be okay starting to water your lawn. If the temps are still getting cold during the nighttime hours, you’ll want to hold off. The last thing you want to do is add water to your sprinkler system’s lines only to have the system freeze up because the weather got too cold.

You’re Feeling Antsy About Your Landscaping
If you’re feeling concerned about your landscaping and feel like you’re ready to get a jumpstart on the process, go ahead and let your emotions dictate your actions. Remember, you can always start making improvements to your landscaping without planting new elements or working in the yard. Start new seedlings inside in a sunny room where you can control the temperature. Sketch out ideas for your spring garden layout and start acquiring the tools you need to bring your vision to life early. You can even schedule a sprinkler system inspection early on in the season so you’re ready to go once the weather improves. This way, you’ll beat the rush and be able to choose an appointment time that works with your schedule more easily. 

Wildlife Is More Abundant
Even in the city, wildlife can be abundant especially if you have a yard with tons of plants and growth. Rabbits, squirrels, and other critters can help you decide if it’s time to start working on your landscaping. If they feel that the weather is warm enough to be outside and away from their shelters for hours each day, you can likely start working on your garden. Remember, wildlife always operates with self-preservation in mind. If the weather is too cold, you won’t see plentiful wildlife at all. 

You Have Tons of Ideas and Inspiration
The colder months are a time to reflect on your goals for your garden and landscaping. If you find that the ideas are rolling in and you’re feeling more inspired than you have in a long time, don’t let that motivation slide. Start finding ways to get your landscaping ready for all of those ideas. This might mean building a new garden bed for your flowers once the weather improves. Or it could mean taking care of hardscaping maintenance that will impact the overall look of your yard. Whatever it is, it’s okay to get started as long as you’re keeping your plants safe and healthy.

It’s Staying Warm During the Day
Though most people are concerned about nighttime temperatures, you can also gauge your timing with the weather during the day. If the temperatures are staying warm all day long, it’s a surefire sign that spring is on the way. This is the perfect time to start paying attention to your landscaping and your lawn. You don’t even have to start watering it to make a difference. All you need to do is keep an eye out for weeds and figure out the ideal fertilizing schedule for your grass. Once the weather heats up in earnest and night temps stop going below freezing, you’ll be ready to start fertilizing and watering like normal. The sooner you can start this, the easier it will be to repair any wintertime damage to your grass. 

Get Your Sprinkler Inspection Scheduled
Spring will be here before you know it. Rather than leaving things up to chance and risking expensive water leaks during the spring, make a plan to get your sprinkler system inspected. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. 

During the warmer months of the year, you rely on your Denver sprinkler system to keep your lawn looking great and growing well. However, once the weather turns and gets cold, you won’t be able to rely on your lawn to keep your landscaping looking great at all times. You need to find other ways to make your landscaping pop. For most homeowners, the easiest way to do this is with a system of landscape lighting. These lights highlight features in your yard when the light fades early in the day. Though these lights are durable, they can get damaged and when the do, you won’t be able to rely on them during the winter months. Here are a few simple tips to help you maintain your lights until your lawn starts to grow again.

Check Your Light Bulbs
Before winter is in full swing, you’ll need to make sure your landscape lighting is working properly. Turn the system on and walk around your yard. Inspect each fixture closely. Make sure the light bulbs turn on and off when you tell them to. If you notice anything flickering or not turning on, you’ll need to replace the light bulb. If this is the case, all you need to do is remove the bulb from the fixture. Take the bulb with you to your local hardware store to make sure you choose the right replacement option from their selection. If the bulbs you use are a specialty type, you may need to call your landscaper or electrician to order the right model. 

Look for Cracks in the Housing
While you’re inspecting the light bulbs, pay attention to the housing around the bulbs. Look at it from all angles and check for cracks or other damage to the material. Though these can be cosmetic issues, they can cause major problems to the fixture itself if you let them sit over the winter months. If you notice any cracks, contact your landscaping expert immediately. They’ll need to find replacements for your yard or make the necessary repairs to keep water and ice from seeping into the fixture and electrical components.

Inspect the Wiring for Wear and Tear
Though most landscape lighting has wiring that’s enclosed in the fixture itself, some have small portions of wiring outside the fixture. Try to inspect those visible wires closely. Look at the protective rubber casing around the wires. If they’re in good shape, the casing should be whole and undamaged. If you notice any fading on the rubber or see tears and cracks in the material, call an electrician as soon as you can. These cracks mean the wires are exposed to the elements. Though it’s possible that they’ll be fine over the winter months, there’s also a chance that water and melting ice can damage the connections and leave your landscaping without lighting at all. 

Make Sure They’re Angled the Right Way
Pay attention to the way your lights are angled in your landscape design. The position of the bulbs and fixtures can make or break the impact you’re trying to achieve with the lighting system. You may need to reposition the fixtures by hand to make sure they have the impact you want. If you’re not comfortable doing this on your own or want an expert to inspect your lighting to make sure you’re highlighting the features you want to showcase, reach out to your landscaping team. They’ll be able to make sure the lights focus on the aspects of your yard that you want to highlight. Keep in mind that you’ll need to keep an eye on things throughout the winter. Stray snowballs and snow shovels can end up knocking them out of position. 

Upgrade the Bulbs With LEDs
Running your landscape lighting for more hours of the day can end up increasing your home’s energy bills. Rather than accepting that increase, consider replacing your existing bulbs with LED bulbs. These lights use only a fraction of the electricity of standard incandescent bulbs. Over the course of the winter, switching to LEDs can end up saving you hundreds on your electric bill. Just make sure you choose a bulb that offers the same brightness and wattage as your standard bulbs. Otherwise, you might notice a change in your landscape lighting’s brightness and effectiveness.

Have a Plan for Ice and Snow Buildup
Your landscape lighting is only effective if it’s able to project a steady stream of light. When it’s blocked by snow and ice, it won’t create a beautiful effect as it should. Take the time to mark out your lights’ locations in your yard and be ready to clear those areas of ice and snow during the winter. For best results, clear those areas by hand. The last thing you want to do is knock your lights out of position and change the way they perform during the winter months. 

Get Repairs Taken Care of Quickly
It’s normal for even the most well-cared-for landscape lighting to need the occasional maintenance appointment. When the system needs repair, letting those repairs slide and ignoring them for months on end is the best way to keep your landscape lighting from working properly. Instead, take the time to get repairs taken care of in a timely manner. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, spare yourself the frustration and schedule repairs with a professional as soon as you can. This way, your system will work reliably during the colder months without a problem.

Don’t Neglect Your Sprinklers
Though your landscape lighting is important, it’s only one part of your landscaping design. You still need to make sure your sprinkler system works properly come spring. The best way to do that is to schedule a sprinkler system blowout as soon as possible. Don’t leave things up to chance. Contact our team to discuss your system’s needs today and let us help you keep your lawn looking great for years to come. The sooner you schedule a blowout, the better.