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Every so often a zone will stay on long past its time to have shut down. Many times this is due to the solenoid valve or zone valve being stuck in the "open" position. You try to stop the zone from being "on" by turning the controller to "off" and the zone stays "on". Next, you remove the plug from the controller thinking that it can't get any power and yet the zone stays "on". The problem is hydraulic not electrical. Typically it is because there is dirt and debris in the zone valve preventing it from closing even though the controller has ceased sending a signal for the valve to be "open" or "on" the valve can't physically close. The only way to close down the zone is to shut off the sprinkler main valve.

We have turned the corner on spring and heading into summer, trees and shrubs are in their annual growth spurt. It is one of my favorite times of year when all the plants leaf out, the lawn is green, and almost every plant is flowering. As the weather turns significantly warmer the sprinklers should be operating on a frequent schedule - not like July but at about 70% of what would be normal summer watering. One of the more numerous service requests we hear is when a zone or section of sprinklers is not operating as it should.

If you have been dreaming of enhancing your property with automatic lawn sprinklers, lighting or any of Rain Rich services, flexible financing is now available.

Rain Rich has teamed up with John Deere Credit to offer our customers affordable financing. John Deere offers two different financing options and we are sure either one will work for you.

This weekend marks a very special holiday, Mother's Day.

In celebration of this holiday most will buy flowers, plants or cards but we thought why not buy her something different, something she would love and last for a long time.

Forty years ago, Americans across the nation took a promise for cleaner air, safer water and to preserve our planets natural resources. Tomorrow over 200 million Americans and over 140 nations will come together to celebrate Earth Day.

Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22, 1970. In the early 60's he began to worry that the world was dirty and many of our plants and animals were dying. He wondered why people weren't trying to solve these problems so he began to write letters and travel around the country to express his concerns. Then he came up with the idea to dedicate one special day, environmental teach-in day, to educate everyone about the things that needed changing in our environment.

Each year I visit several hundred homes and businesses to estimate installing or replacing a lawn sprinkler system. Ultimately, the goal is to have a thick, green, lush lawn and a beautiful garden all season long, and the sprinkler system is an integral part in achieving this goal. A sprinkler system can be much more complicated then you might think and the cost often reflects the sophistication and complexity.

When I meet with the property owner, many are obtaining several estimates and comparing companies. They all have one general basis for getting quotes and this would be "price". It is difficult to compare products and design although that is the "key" to making a wise purchase.

This past week we enjoyed great weather for this time of year and on St. Patrick's Day we even set some warm weather records and green everything up in a hurry. We might experience some cold days here and there and maybe even an occasional snow but I feel we turned a corner and spring is here to stay. I can almost see the lawn turning greener each day and the hydrangeas leaf out. The forsysthia are beginning to show their beautiful yellow flowers and this is the sign that it is now time to activate your sprinkler system.

Even though the past several days have been great and it feels like spring weather, we still have about 10 days till the official start. Here are some ideas to help you focus your efforts in both your home and around your yard to help you enjoy the season:

1. Lawn sprinkler system turn on! Call and arrange now with Joanne and Sue. Don't wait! With all the work you will be doing and all the contractors you will be working with it is best to get this valuable service completed early in the spring. Spring turn on officially start on Monday March 15th, 2010.

This week marks the beginning of the fall season. It is a great time with the start of a new school year, the football season, baseball playoffs, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. It is also the end of summer, heat, humidity, and time to begin to think about winterizing your sprinkler system.

Core aeration is one of the best turf practices you can apply to maintaining a healthy lawn. Core aeration is a process of mechanically removing plugs of thatch and soil from the lawn. Lawns need air, water, and nutrients and core aeration opens up the soil to receive these vital elements.