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Cedar Mulch & Termites. Mulching around foundation shrubbery improves curb appeal while building the soil and helping plants grow. Homeowners might worry about feeding termites right next to their homes' foundations, and avoid using wood chip mulch. Cedar chip mulch, however, repels termites (and many other insects) and is naturally decay resistant, making it an excellent choice when applied as recommended.
Read MoreDifference Between St. Augustine & Kentucky Bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) have little in common other than being green and widely used for lawns. Their cultural requirements, uses and appearance couldn't be more divergent.
Read MoreHow to Install an Anti-Drain Check Valve for a Leaking Sprinkler. Lawn irrigation systems that have an elevation change of more than two or three feet are subject to low-head drainage. Water in the lines flows to the lowest point unless stopped, which means that the sprinkler at the low point in the zone will dribble after the valve closes. This causes puddling around the sprinkler, wastes water and introduces air into the lines, which is hard on the sprinklers when they next open. You can quickly confirm that the problem is low-head drainage by observing the other sprinklers in the zone. If they're leaking, too, it is a valve problem. If only the low head is seeping, an anti-drain check valve will solve the problem. There are two solutions.
Read MoreWhy Spray Fruit Trees With Water Before a Freeze
Read MoreHow to Repair a Sprinkler System Puncture. No one with a sprinkler system wants to see water coming out of the ground in the wrong place. It seems that anything stuck into the ground has an unusual attraction to the water pipes running under the surface. If you're the least bit handy, you don't have to call the irrigation company--and wait for them to get around to you--to repair a sprinkler system puncture.
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