Hiring advice
What's in a landscape lighting quote, and what cheap quotes leave out
A real landscape lighting quote names fixtures, trenching, restoration and the controller. Ours start at $195 per fixture.
Yard guideWhat we would tell
What we would tell
you at the gate.
Plain answers about irrigation, lighting, audio and drainage in metro Atlanta. Written so that somebody who reads one and then fixes it themselves has been well served — that is the test we hold these to.
Licensed & insured Our own crew, never subcontracted Often same day in the heat
Everything so far
2 guides.
Owner's take
Why fall and winter are the best time to fix yard drainage in Atlanta
Fall and winter are good drainage months: lawns are dormant, soil shows where water goes, and the yard is ready by spring.
How-to
Catch basin, French drain or buried downspout? How to tell which one your yard needs
Match the fix to where the water comes from: a buried downspout for roof water, a catch basin for a low spot, a French drain for water crossing the yard.
Costs
Backflow preventer cracked after a freeze? What to look for, and what replacement costs
Backflow preventer repair or installation starts at $800 on our price list. Here is how to spot freeze damage and what to do about it.
How-to
What a proper winterization visit includes: a checklist to check any company's work
A proper winterization drains every zone, protects the backflow preventer and ends with a controller set to off. Here is how to check the work.
Costs
French drain cost in Atlanta (2026): price per foot, real job totals, and what drives the number
French drains on our price list start at $65 per linear foot, installed. Length and where the water can exit set the total.
Costs
Sprinkler zone not working? 6 checks to do first, and what repairs really cost in Atlanta
Sprinkler repairs in Atlanta start at $95, and valve replacement runs $275 to $1,200 by type and size. Six checks to do first.
Seasonal
When should you winterize your sprinklers in Atlanta? The freeze dates, and what it costs
Shut down and drain your sprinkler system before early November. Winterization is $95 to $120 on our price list.
Winter guide
Short winter days: landscape lighting that earns its keep
When darkness comes early, landscape lighting does real work: safer steps, a lit entry, a yard worth looking at. Installs start at $195 per fixture.
Winter guide
Why winter is the time to plan a new sprinkler system
Planning a sprinkler system in the cold season means a design done carefully and a start before spring rush. A full system starts at $3,500.
Winter guide
Ice on the sidewalk from your sprinklers: why it happens and how to stop it
Sprinklers running on a freezing night coat walks and drives in ice. Why it happens, how to stop it and what a controller change costs.
Summer guide
Going on vacation: setting your sprinkler controller before you leave
Check zones, set a sensible schedule and confirm the backup before you go. A short checklist to leave your sprinkler system safe for the trip.
Summer guide
Summer thunderstorms and your controller: rain sensor or smart skip?
A rain sensor reacts to rain at your yard; a smart controller uses forecasts and weather data. Rain sensors install from $425, smart Wi-Fi controllers from $575.
Summer guide
Standing water and mosquitoes: drainage fixes that help
Standing water gives mosquitoes a place to breed. Fixing the low spots, downspouts and clogged drains helps. French drains start at $65 per linear foot.
Summer guide
Signs you are overwatering in an Atlanta summer
Mushrooms, spongy ground, yellow grass and a high water bill are signs of too much water. Here is how to check and what to change.
Summer guide
Pool decks: sprinkler overspray and where the water goes
Sprinklers spraying a pool deck waste water and stain concrete, and runoff has to go somewhere. How to aim, adjust and drain it. Repairs from $95.
Summer guide
Summer evenings outside: lighting the patio and paths
Warm, low-glare light along paths and around the patio makes summer evenings usable. Landscape lighting starts at $195 per fixture, quoted after a dusk demo.
Summer guide
Outdoor audio for summer gatherings: planning zones and volume
Plan outdoor speakers by zone so the music fits the party and not the neighbors. Hidden, app-controlled audio is quoted on estimate.
Summer guide
Brown spots in July: dry spot, lawn disease or a broken head?
Shape, pattern and location tell you if a brown spot is a dry spot, a broken head or a lawn disease. A repair call starts at $95.
Spring guide
A zone-by-zone spring tune-up you can do in an afternoon
Walk each sprinkler zone with a notepad, fix the easy things and flag the rest. Repairs start at $95; a full start-up is $175 to $225.
Spring guide
When should you turn your sprinklers back on in spring in Atlanta?
Turn sprinklers back on after the last hard freeze has passed and the lawn is growing again. A start-up visit runs $175 to $225.
Spring guide
Spring rains: early signs your yard has a drainage problem
Standing water, soft ground, washed-out mulch and stained foundations are early drainage signs. French drains start at $65 per linear foot.
Spring guide
Seeding a lawn with an irrigation system: how to water new seed
New seed needs light, frequent watering that keeps the top layer damp. Here is how to program an irrigation system for it, and when to taper off.
Spring guide
After a cold winter: checking your backflow preventer before the first watering
Look for cracks, leaks and a wet base before the first watering. Backflow repair and installation starts at $800 on our price list.
Fall guide
Fall leaves and your drains: keeping catch basins and pop-ups clear
Leaves clog catch basins, grates and downspout pop-ups, and clogged drains hold water. How to keep them clear, and when to call.
Fall guide
Fall fescue seeding in Atlanta: how to water it in
Fescue seed needs the top layer of soil kept damp until it sprouts and roots. How to set the sprinklers for it, and when to taper.
Year-round guide
Water bill spiked? How to tell if the sprinkler system is the cause
A water bill jump can come from a leak, a stuck valve or a changed schedule. Here is how to check the sprinklers. Repairs start at $95.
Year-round guide
Selling your home: irrigation and lighting questions buyers ask
Buyers ask whether the sprinklers work and whether the lights come on. Get the answers ready before you list. Repairs start at $95.
Year-round guide
Putting in new landscaping? What to settle about irrigation first
Settle irrigation, drainage and wire routes before beds, sod and hardscape go in. It is far cheaper than cutting through finished work.
Year-round guide
Landscape lighting for safety and for looks: getting both
Good landscape lighting makes a property safer and better looking, if it is shielded and placed with care. Installs start at $195 per fixture.
Year-round guide
How long sprinkler heads, valves and controllers last, and what wears them out
No honest single number fits every part. What wears out heads, valves, controllers and backflow devices in Georgia, and how to make them last.
Year-round guide
Adding a patio or walkway? Plan the drainage at the same time
A patio or walkway sheds water it used to absorb. Plan where it goes before you pour or lay pavers. French drains start at $65 per linear foot.
Year-round guide
Buying a home with a sprinkler system: what to check before closing
A sprinkler system can be an asset or a hidden repair bill. What to ask, check and test before you close. Repairs start at $95.
Watering
Bermuda, zoysia or fescue: your grass sets the schedule, not the calendar
Most over-watering in metro Atlanta comes from running a schedule built for a different species of grass. Work out which one you have and half the argument disappears.
Design
Why mixing rotors and spray heads in one zone wastes water
It is the most common design fault we find, it is invisible while the system runs, and no amount of adjusting the controller will fix it.
Rather just ask somebody?
Call and you will get a person who does this work, not a call centre.