With 350 days of sunshine per year, it’s easy to forget that the temperature in Tucson can sometimes dip below freezing. Though Tucson temperatures reach freezing only a dozen or so times each year, it’s still worth protecting your landscaping by making the appropriate preparations. Below we’ll explain how covering your irrigation pipes in winter can help you avoid damage to your yard.

Frozen Pipe Dangers

Water expands when it freezes. If you let the water in your irrigation pipes freeze, the pressure inside your pipes will build until they burst, causing a considerable leak. If you fail to turn off your main water shutoff valve in time, your yard could become flooded. In a typical installation you only need to insulate the pipes above ground that are exposed to the cold weather. Also, a burst pipe will lead to a higher-than-average water bill.     

Frost Blanket Installation

To prevent your irrigation pipes from freezing and bursting, you should place frost blankets on any water pipes that are above ground. Frost blankets come in many forms for insulating pipes. You can use a true frost blanket that is made of a heavy fabric, or you can use insulated tape that you wrap on the pipe. Foam insulation and fiberglass insulation that you wrap around the pipe works well also. 

Insulation Benefits

If you’ve ever had to repair your irrigation pipe, then you know how costly and stressful it can be. Watching the weather reports and installing frost blankets at the right time can help you avoid the expense and hassle of repairing broken pipes.

To learn more about keeping your irrigation system and landscaping in good shape, call Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. We provide a number of landscape maintenance services for home and business owners throughout Tucson. Visit our website to learn how we can improve your Tucson-area landscape.

No longer satisfied with simple concrete or red brick, many Tucson homeowners pave their patios and other outdoor spaces with natural stone tiles that blend in with their custom landscaping and complement the exterior of their homes. Travertine is a popular choice because of its neutral color, durability, and affordability. Learn more here:

What Is Travertine?

Travertine is a type of limestone, and it is formed from deposits of carbonate minerals left behind by hot springs. Large travertine formations can be found in Italy, Turkey, and right here in the U.S. at Yellowstone Park.

Why Use Travertine Tile?

Since ancient times, builders and architects have used high quality travertine because it is a durable, natural stone that can withstand weather extremes. Though it can be polished to a high-gloss shine like marble, many homeowners enjoy how the rustic, natural look of unpolished travertine tile complements their outdoor space.

How Is the Tile Installed?

You should have a professional install your travertine patio tiles. Because natural variations in the stone can result in drastically different colors in different travertine deposits, it is important to use tiles from different pallets to create an overall even look to the floor. Also, travertine tiles need to be leveled and “keyed” to prevent cracking or breaking over the life of the patio.

How Do You Care for a Travertine Floor?

After the initial installing and cleaning, travertine care is very easy. Clean up desert sand and grit with a dust mop, and periodically wipe the patio down with a damp cloth. Much like leather, travertine acquires a natural patina with age, and to allow your patio tiles to develop this natural finish you should avoid using harsh chemical solvents to clean them.

If you would like to pave your patio or other outdoor space in travertine tile, call Santa Rita Landscaping today at 520-623-0421. We specialize in landscaping and construction for custom outdoor residential spaces, and we have installed patios, seat walls, fire pits, and many other features for homeowners all across Tucson.

Although Tucson has warm weather most of the year, especially compared with cities in the Midwest or on the East Coast, there are still some landscape maintenance tasks you must perform each season if you want your lawn to stay bright green all year round. The basic grass that most homeowners have on their lawns in Tucson is hardy warm-weather Bermuda grass, but in the fall you should overseed with ryegrass in order to maintain a healthy look all winter long.

What Is Ryegrass?

Despite its name, ryegrass is not related to the grain crop rye, which is used to make bread and whiskey. Unlike more fragile Bermuda grass, which needs warm temperatures to thrive, ryegrass is a heartier strain that can withstand cooler temperatures. Landscapers can overseed with either inexpensive annual ryegrass or premium perennial ryegrass, depending on the customer’s needs and the square footage of lawn on the property.

Why Should You Overseed with Ryegrass?

Once temperatures start to cool down and monsoon season ends, the bermudagrass in your law will begin to turn brown. You can avoid the unsightly appearance of a brown lawn by having a professional landscaper overseed with ryegrass. Rye will sprout and grow easily throughout the mild Tucson winter, keeping your lawn green and gorgeous.

The first of October is generally a great time to plant the rye. Make sure to mow the bermudagrass as low as possible and dethatch the old matted lower layer of grass. Spread the rye seed per manufacturer’s instructions. You will need to adjust your irrigation controller. Generally, the Rye will need water 3 times per day for a couple of weeks to germinate.

What Maintenance Does Ryegrass Require?

As with any lawn, ryegrass is not maintenance-free. You must mow it down to about one or two inches in height with a sharp lawnmower, and you should fertilize it according to a schedule recommended by your lawn maintenance professional. It is important to manage the rye and Bermuda properly in the springtime, as they can compete for nutrients. You should not plant ryegrass as your permanent lawn because in the hot summer season it will burn up.

Santa Rita Landscaping can help you keep the lawn on your Tucson home or commercial property look vibrant all year round. For more information on our landscaping services, call us at 520-623-0421 or visit our website today.

If you want to add visual interest to your yard, create separate “zones” within your landscaped outdoor space, or provide more outdoor seating for friends and guests, you can have a custom-built seat walls installation. These features can serve both practical and aesthetic purposes in almost any yard. Below you will find a brief guide to some options that can help you personalize your seat wall.

Material Choices for Seat Walls Installation

A seat wall can be built from a standard block and covered with stucco or veneer, brick, or constructed entirely from natural stone. The veneer you choose for a block seat wall can also be made from natural stone, or from a more affordable artificial material. You should choose a material for your seat wall that won’t clash with your home’s exterior or other landscape features, and that will resist the summer sun and monsoon rains of Tucson.

The shape of Seat walls

You don’t have to put in a long, straight seat wall if it doesn’t fit with your yard. A semicircular seat wall can be a very eye-catching feature, especially if you set it up around a pre-existing feature such as a koi pond or a fire pit. A semicircular configuration will also allow you to create a more welcoming conversational environment where guests seated at the wall can easily look at each other and converse.

Extra Features  for your outdoor living space

A seat wall doesn’t have to be plain and bare—you can decorate it with plant shelves to hold pots. You also have boulders cut in, or even use a seat wall as the base for a pergola or gazebo. Various custom colored tile veneers can be applied to create an individual look. When you have completely custom seat walls installation job done, the only limits are your imagination and personal taste.

At Santa Rita Landscaping, we help Tucson homeowners create the beautiful outdoor spaces they have always wanted in their homes. Whether you want to add a seat wall, install a water feature, or build an outdoor kitchen, we can do the work for you. Call us today at 520-623-0421 to learn more before getting your seat walls installation job done.

One of the perks to living in Tucson is the fantastic weather year-round. In other climates, homeowners only have a few short months (or even just a few weeks!) of warm weather to enjoy outdoor activities like grilling and dining. But here in Southern Arizona, you can treat your landscaped outdoor space like another room. One of the best ways to take advantage of the climate is to install an outdoor kitchen. Read on to learn more about the custom options available.

Selecting a Grill

The centerpiece of any outdoor kitchen is the grill. Much like the stove in your indoor kitchen, the grill will be the focal point and main appliance in your outdoor kitchen. You can choose between a gas, propane and charcoal grill, depending on your preferences. Gas grills offer convenience and easy clean up, but some barbeque and grilling enthusiasts prefer the unique flavor that charcoal imparts.

Choosing a Countertop

When you choose a countertop material for your outdoor kitchen, there are three factors you need to consider: durability, clean-up and aesthetics. Your countertop material should be able to withstand the bright, hot Tucson sun and also match the landscaping and décor of the rest of your home’s outdoor space. Some options are granite, flagstone, tite, travertine and concrete. Working with a custom landscaping professional can make the selection process much easier.

Adding on Extras

If you want your grill to truly become an outdoor kitchen and family gathering spot, you need more than just a few feet of space on either side to set your plates. A bar with stools will allow your friends and family to come together outside while you are cooking, and a sink with running water can make clean-up and preparations much simpler, since you can avoid running back and forth between the indoor kitchen and the grill. An outdoor fridge will keep drinks cold and easy accessible, and don’t forget the convenient sideburner. With all these features there is no reason to go inside, keeping all the heat outside.

At Santa Rita Landscaping, we can create a custom outdoor kitchen to fit with your home’s exterior landscaping. If you would like to schedule an in-home consultation today, call us at 520-623-0421.