What do you do when you’re trying to keep your commercial lawn flawless but there are many obstacles in the way? Corpus Christi has been under a water boil advisory lately and sprinkler irrigation is limited to before 10:00 AM and after 6:00 PM. Water treatment facilities are currently changing chemical treatments to get drinking water back to optimum levels. With these many problems for city drinking water, your lawn may definitely experience a backlash.
Multiple Water Boil Advisories
The caution levied by Corpus Christi originally came from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. This is the third water boil advisory for the city in the last 10 months. The Texas agency released a statement saying that the water boil advisory was ”needed based on the results of disinfection residual samples collected from the distribution system.” Previous statements from the agency said water boil advisories are triggered when conditions cause officials to believe quality may be compromised.
Taking Action
Corpus Christi has currently switched from treating its water with chloramine to free chlorine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chloramine is a group of compounds made up of chlorine and ammonia that are added to drinking water for disinfection.
Free chlorine is an upgrade for treating drinking water. Both forms are safe for plants and your lawn and are also an upgrade from having to boil water. Don’t forget: it is safe to handle water straight from the tap, but DO NOT expose it to your eyes, nose or mouth. Consider using bottled water if you have a compromised immune system, chronic illness or recent surgical wounds.
Advice from the Experts
Our own Roy De Leon says many customers are turning to hardscaping or even xeriscaping. “People are tired of having to get their commercial lawns watered, so they have the grass replaced with rocks. This deals with droughts easier when weather conditions are similar to Arizona or any other place that receives little to no rain.” Roy also talked about other alternatives when dealing with water restrictions. “Decomposed granite has also become very popular with business owners. The low maintenance is ideal for companies who prefer it for their business’ exteriors.”
Just because water is limited does not mean your lawn has to suffer. TLC Lawn Care knows your business’ exterior is meaningful to you. For this reason, we have several options to keep your lawn looking great when watering is a problem.
What is Hardscaping?
Hardscaping is decorating a lawn without using plants, which can help cut down on water usage during times of restrictions. Generally, this involves using stone paths, sidewalks, statues and other decorations that do not require water. Hardscaping can really give your commercial lawn a splash of style that makes it stand out from other businesses.
Hardscaping can become a preferred option during dry conditions to cut back on water, and in Corpus Christi’s case, it has become a necessity for business owners concerned about their company’s exterior. Fortunately, it’s not their only option and TLC Lawn Care can help.
Xeriscaping Can Help
Xeriscaping is landscaping designed specifically for areas susceptible to droughts or where water conservation is practiced. Derived from the Greek word xeros meaning “dry”, the term literally means “dry landscape”. Replacing grassy turfs with pebbles or large boulders are examples of keeping irrigation to a minimum. Cacti, agaves and junipers are all plants that thrive under these circumstances.
Decomposed Granite
Decomposed granite has mostly been used for trails and pathways. These days, it is popular as a landscape bed. The material is more sustainable than mulch and can provide good drainage. Hard rains can wash away decomposed granite, but living in an area where droughts are a problem shouldn’t be a problem.
Mulch
Wood mulch is probably the most common material second only to grass in commercial lawns. It is fairly inexpensive and will work well with most designs. Mulch can come in a variety of colors and keeps weeds from sprouting underneath. Mulch is also used a lot as it holds moisture, which is especially helpful during dry periods.
We Can Help
If you live in Corpus Christi or any other part of South Texas and need your commercial lawn maintained, call TLC Total Lawn Care. We have almost 20 years of experience in South Texas landscaping and know what to do when water usage is troublesome.
