Landscaping, Irrigation, and More

Doesn’t sound like a company you want to hire right off the bat does it? It’s a genuine proposal though. If you have bought a Cape Coral foreclosure or an old Fort Myers house and the property had been badly neglected for a long period of time then you may need to do an overhaul on the yard. In a lot of instances you can fertilize and irrigate the grass along with some tough weed control and get it to come back to a normal yard. However, in extreme cases you need to just start over.

We usually don’t recommend sodding over sod unless you are just making a patch. If the Cape Coral or Fort Myers yard is in that bad of shape you don’t want to take the chance of the weed and pest problems of the old yard overtaking the new sod. That would be a horrible waste of your money.

We approach a sod replacement with a four step process:

1. Chemically kill the old yard using a professionally licensed pest control company.
2. Scrape out and properly dispose of the dead materials.
3. Re-grade the property so the new yard will be even and free of holes or lumps.
4. Install new sod.

Incidentally, if you don’t already have an automatic sprinkler system the best time to install it would be between steps 3 and 4. It’s always better to put a new irrigation system in during a construction process rather than disrupting the rooting of the new sod at a later date. If you are really dedicated to the restoration and rejuvenation of your Cape Coral or Fort Myers Home then you should ask us about our landscaping services as well.

Happy sod killing!

In Florida a lot of the homes were built with a pretty little knee wall along the front of the house. Whoever thought of this concept had a great architectural mind but had no idea what a pain in the rear it would be to maintain landscaping behind that wall. It’s such an awkward space. To small to get the lawnmower in but too big to have to weed eat the entire area.

How do you maintain that awkward little area at the front of your Florida Home? We recommend you renovate it. Kill the sod (which by now is mostly weeds). Scrape the contents out so you can have a clean slate. Do not re-install grass, instead consider a rock bed or a mulch bed with some easy to maintain shrubs.

If you have your rock properly installed by a professional landscaping company they should lay a weed barrier down first which will help (not eliminate) the growth of weeds up through the rocks. Pick a rock that will compliment your home. Have the landscape estimator help you choose some plants that will be well suited to that area of the property. When choosing plants consider a plant that can tolerate shade and is low maintenance like cocoplums or podocarpus. Even consider a few hibiscus plants to add color to the front of your home.

Be sure to ask your landscaper about the necessary irrigation the plants will need. You may need to make a renovation to your sprinkler system to accommodate the new landscaping. It’s always better to have this done prior to the landscape addition and to have the landscaper and the irrigation company communicate the details of the project before anyone begins work. Your landscaper cannot perform irrigation services unless they have a specialty licensed to perform irrigation services.

You have just taken your out of control entrance of your Florida home from a pain in the rear to maintain issue to an eye appealing addition. R&R Sprinkler and Landscape is able to help you with a project like this from the sod kill all the way to the final landscape installation and sprinkler repair and all the steps in between. Call us today.

We all love fido. He’s our best friend. He provides unconditional love. He’s a member of our family. He also can destroy our yard!

There are two main ways we can identify with as areas that your dog can damage or destroy your Fort Myers yard.

1. Digging
2. Urinating

DIGGING
A digging dog may be bored. Perhaps they need more attention from you. A good walk or some back yard play time may be good for both of you.

A digging dog can also be hiding his valued treasures such as toys or bones in which case we would recommend you not let him take these items into the yard. Perhaps they will be content to just hide them in the couch instead.

A digging dog may also be a phase of their life because they are young. Obedience training and lots of patience will help Fido get past these days. Usually a dog will out grow this by the age of 3 (you hope!).

URINATING
Some dogs are such creatures of habit that they will urinate in the same spot over and over and over again. Moderate urination will actually help the grass by fertilizing it. Over urination in one spot will damage the grass due to the high concentrations of nitrogen.

If your dog has the habit of using the potty in the same spot perhaps you’ll need to follow closely behind them to shuffle them to a different area of your Fort Myers yard. Encourage them to use the whole yard instead of a few choice spots. There are even some over the counter sprays at local pet stores that will help discourage them from using a certain area.

If they just refuse to use another area of your Fort Myers yard then pull the garden hose out and water the area down frequently to dilute the effects of the urine.

If you need us to renovate your landscaping or replace some sod let us know. Just remember, Fido loves you. Don’t let a few holes or yellowed spots in your yard alter your affection for him.

Can you believe it’s already been a month since we felt the impact of tropical storm Debbie? We’ve been flooded with calls about dying grass. We are not surprised to find that most of the complaints are from customers that live along the salt water.

Not only did we see the levels of our canals rise over the sea walls and saturate our lawns but Tropical Storm Debbie was also accompanied by high winds. High winds tossed all of that salt water over our houses, landscaping and yards. The areas that got misted with the salt water will most likely recover quickly with the natural drying out process and fresh water rains our Southwest Florida climate affords to us in the summertime.

The areas along the sea walls and near the water’s edge may or may not be as lucky. Too much water on a yard is as dangerous as too little. Too much salty water on a lawn is disasterous. The salt burns the grass. If you notice you have brown spots or your grass is dying where you know there was storm surge, flooding or water sitting that was salty your best course of action is to soak it with fresh water. Fortunatley for Southwest Florida we have had a lot of afternoon storms to help wash away the saltiness that Tropical Storm Debbie brought us.

If this doesn’t appear to be working you may consider adding a little bit of fresh water garden hose time to the area, you may need to fertilize the area (moderately), you may need to re-seed the area or you may even need to consider re-sodding the area. If you live in an area prone to surges of salt water you may want to consider adding a rock bed, mulch bed, an area of pavers or maybe even a retention wall in lieu of replacing sod. R & R Sprinkler and Landscape can send our experienced staff to advise you of your best course of action.

Above all else remember, lawn technicians, landscapers and sprinkler system companies have no control over the weather. If you were the unfortunate one that sodded a yard or planted new landscaping along an area adjacent to salt water just before Tropical Storm Debbie – be kind. Any good business owner will help you the best they can but they cannot warranty items caused by Mother Nature flexing her muscles.

RETAINING WALLS

R & R Sprinkler and Landscape has the ability to create engineered retaining walls that are beautiful and functional. We proudly use Anchor Wall Systems. They are free standing, decorative and durable, capable of handling heavy loads. We use the Anchor Wall System retaining wall materials because they do not require the use of mortar. This means there is no permit required. There is no need to get an architect or an engineer involved in the project because the company has spent years of research and development to have their products pre-engineered. That means lower project costs for you.

Retaining walls have the benefit of:

Stabilizing the ground and stopping soil erosion
Adding beauty and value to your property
Increases the size of your outdoor living space
Will protect landscaping in a raised island
Materials for a retaining wall purchased from a typical supplier have height restrictions of 2′. We can construct our retaining walls to any height you need. We create large and small concepts for retaining wall additions. Consider adding a small raised landscape island surrounded by a decorative retaining wall as a focal point in your outdoor environment or something as large as a complete outdoor living area extended off your pool deck.

We use a computer aided drafting system so that you will be able to visualize what your new addition will look like before construction begins. Contact our knowledgeable staff today for more information on how a retaining wall can add beauty, value, style and function to your property today.

As of July 10th the Bonita Springs irrigation watering restrictions are as follows:

As of January 15 water restrictions are in place. Bonita Springs and Estero residents will be allowed to water only one day a week. Set your landscape sprinklers according to the schedule below

For properties smaller than 5 acres, if your address ends in:
1 or 2, water on Mondays from 4 to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 8 p.m.
3 or 4, water on Wednesdays from 4 to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 8 p.m.
5 or 6, or if the irrigation system waters multiple addresses, water on Thursdays from 4 to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 8 p.m.
7 or 8, water on Saturdays from 4 to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 8 p.m.
9 or 0, water on Sundays from 4 to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 8 p.m.

For properties more than five acres, if your address ends in:
1 or 2, water on Mondays from midnight to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 11:59 p.m.
3 or 4, water on Wednesdays from midnight to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 11:59 p.m.
5 or 6, without a numbered street address, or if the irrigation system waters multiple addresses, water on Thursdays from 12 to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 11:59 p.m.
7 or 8, water on Saturdays from midnight to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 11:59 p.m.
9 or 0, water on Sundays from midnight to 8 a.m. OR from 4 to 11:59 p.m.

Penalties
In unincorporated Lee County: $25 for a first offense, $100 for a second, and up to $500 and/or 60 days in jail for a third or more.

REPORT VIOLATIONS
If you suspect a watering violation call:
Unincorporated Lee County: 274-2547
Bonita Springs: 477-1234

For more information follow this link:

http://lifeinbonitasprings.com/bonita-springs-water-restriction-schedule/

A garden focal point is a unique visual element that draws attention to the eye. The combination of garden focal points and accessories create an outdoor area that is pleasant and invites people to spend time there. A small garden should only have 1 main focal point with 2-3 accessories while a larger garden can handle more.

Garden focal points include but are not limited to the following:
1. Fire pits, fire places and outdoor cooking areas
2. Water features, water falls and ponds
3. Statues and sculptures
4. Bird houses and bird baths
5. Outdoor benches or an outdoor seating area
6. A structure like a gazebo, shed, pergola or trellis
7. Outdoor wall art
8. A large hanging pot or collection of hanging pots
9. A tree or group of foliage this is a contrasting color from the rest of the environment
10. Garden gates

There no hard rule for creating garden focal points. Be creative but don’t be over bearing. You want to create a place of serenity, not confusion. R & R Sprinkler and Landscape will be happy to help you design an outdoor area you long to spend time in. With our free design services you will be able to visualize what your outdoor space will look like before it’s constructed.

This is the ninth installment of 11 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Landscaping Company which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

You’re finally there! You’ve hired a professional landscaper, researched their credentials and portfolio, asked lots of questions and chosen your final landscaping plan. After the final review of bids and warranties, you’re confident about moving forward with your chosen provider. It’s time for the Fort Myers landscape installation process to begin.

This is the fun part! Your landscaper, knowing both your personal preferences and optimal growing conditions of your area, will begin to transform your yard. Depending on the Fort Myers landscape you’ve chosen, the installation process and timeline will vary. However, in general, the process will be as follows:

Read the rest of this entry »

This is the eighth installment of 11 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Landscaping Company which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

A couple months ago, your landscaper planted a lush ficus hedge along the side of your yard. It looked great for a week or so. Now it’s brittle and dry. Who’s to blame?

Read the rest of this entry »

This is the seventh installment of 11 Things You Need to Know Before Hiring a Landscaping Company which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

Always have your Cape Coral landscaper make a personal visit to your property for a visual inspection. Walk through the yard with them, and point out areas that concern you. This is the perfect time to repeat your needs and wish list. Make sure that you’re both on the same page. This helps your landscaper give you the most accurate bid. If you’re interviewing multiple landscapers and aren’t specific enough during this walk through, you won’t be comparing apples to apples. What else should you expect?

Read the rest of this entry »