Memphis Landscaper Archives - Pugh's Earthworks

Protect Your Irrigation System From Freezing This Winter

With winter just around the corner and temperatures already starting to drop, it's important to consider how this change in the weather can impact your irrigation system. What can easily happen is that your irrigation system freezes. This can cause pipes to burst and create a lot of problems. To prevent this from happening, there are some steps you can take to prepare your irrigation system and commercial landscape for the freezing weather: 1. Insulate The first step is to shut off the water supply to the irrigation system. The main shut-off valve for your irrigation system needs to be protected against freezing by wrapping it in insulation. The best way to insulate this shut-off valve is with foam insulation tape and a plastic bag. If you don't have one of these valves, this is the time to consider having one. Also, insulate any above-ground irrigation pipes you may have has part of your system. You can use self-sticking foam-insulating tape or foam insulating tubes for these above-ground pipes. 2. Go with Manual If you have an automatic irrigation system, this when you need to turn off the timer and handle it manually. Most controllers have what's called a "rain-mode" that shuts off the signals to the valves. Everything else will work. The only change is the valves will not activate. 3. Drain the Pipes The next step is to drain the pipes that are part of the irrigation system. Any water that remains in the pipes during winter can freeze and expand until it breaks the pipes. There are several ways to drain pipes. You can use a manual drain valve, an automatic drain valve, or the compressed air blow-out method. When it comes to draining your pipes, the best option is to turn to a local irrigation specialist due to the risks involved. We do offer sprinkler winterization services during this time of the year. 4. Protect Valves and Backflow Preventers Finally, you will need to return to some insulation work, including insulating the backflow preventers and valves if they are located above ground. Insulation tape also works well for this task. Just be careful to not block the air vents and drain outlets on the backflow preventers. If it all sounds like a lot of work, then consider letting us handle all of this winterization process for you. Contact us now to learn more about all of our winterization services, including snow and ice treatment.

Pugh’s Earthworks Preparing For A Great 2015

It’s that time of the year again where we all sit around and wonder where 2014 went. Soon our friends and family will visit and enjoy the holiday season with loved ones, but that’s a completely different story. I wanted to share with you my top five tips to tie a ribbon on this year and prepare for an even more successful 2015. Reflect on this year What went well? What did you do to prepare yourself for that success? Can it be replicated as you think about next year? What didn’t work? Why didn’t it work? What would you do differently if you had a chance? Clean out your email inbox How many emails are in your inbox, just sitting there, staring you in the face for days on end? Take the time to weed through those emails and don’t be afraid to discard them if they are no longer important. If they were vital to your success, most likely they would have been done by now or brought up again by the colleague that sent them to you. Set a personal goal for 2015 Is it to lose weight? Save money for a house? Get a puppy? Visit your best friend? Take a trip to the place you have always wanted to go? Go to Space Camp? Hire a new commercial landscaper? Doesn’t matter what it is, but if you want to achieve it you need to commit to it and set a path of progress to get there. Set a work goal for 2015 Open in a new market? Take on a large rebranding campaign? Or perhaps your goals are more career oriented, perhaps to get that next promotion? If so, you want to pay attention to these great tips and avoid these common mistakes. Reestablish Connections Reach out to someone in your business network that you haven’t spoken to in a long time, someone who has done something special for you over this past year or an old friend from your former job. Drop a line to a friend that overcame a personal challenge this year, somebody who left you a message a while ago that you just never got around to returning or just for no reason at all! It may seem like a lot to squeeze in at this busy time of the year, but I can guarantee you that it can be done with just a little conscious direction. Think of it as the gift that you can give yourself. Take the necessary couple of hours over the next couple of weeks to practice some of these tips. The gift of clear focus, direction and alignment will be one you can appreciate all through next year. Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year Everyone!