Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85697
fi eld report READER TIP OF THE MONTH I Say goodbye to washed-out beds n their 91 years of business, Palazzi Landscape Gardening has encountered numerous instances of downspout rainwater washing out plant beds. "The solution has always been to direct the water by an underground pipe to a drainage area," Lou Palazzi Jr. says. "However, there have been many times when this is not practical due to an urban environment or not having a place to dispose of the water." Here's how to develop Palazzi's French drain system as an alternative to directing water underground. • Place a wire strainer at the top of the downspout to keep out leaves and debris. • Excavate (by hand) a 10- to 12-foot-long 8-inch-wide trench starting at a 2-inch depth. Expand the depth to 36 inches over the length into a pit. If you have a heavy clay-type soil, make the pit larger for better drainage. TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE • Install a 4-inch, solid corrugated pipe and line it on each side with 2B clean gravel, in case of excess spillover in a heavy storm. Fill the pit with the same gravel up to 4 inches below the surface level. • Cover the pit with landscape fabric to keep out dirt. Fill the pit and cover the length of the pipe to the surface level with top soil. Have a landscaping tip to share with others? Send your tip to LaurenHeartsill@ randallreilly.com. If published, you will win Shindaiwa's EB854RT backpack blower, which has air speeds of 213 mph. Compact and seed. TRIM:...................................... 7˝ X 2.75˝ NOTE: If you encounter a solid rock situation, make the trench 2 feet longer and a little wider, instead of creating a pit. Use a perforated corrugated 4-inch pipe lined on the sides and top with clean gravel. Cover, compact and seed the soil, like above. READER TIP OF THE MONTH REWARD Helping Landscapers save money, no matter what they drive. No matter what kind of vehicle you use for your business, you could save with Progressive Insurance. To learn more about Progressive, and see why we are the #1 Truck Insurer in America, please visit ProgressiveCommercial.com. Call for a Free Quote 1-888-375-7908 Find an Agent ProgressiveCommercial.com United Financial Casualty Company and its affiliates, Mayfield Village, Ohio. Available in most states. No. 1 truck from Highline Data's 2007 written premium data. 09P00560.BA (12/09) Progressive_TLC0510_PG.indd 1 March 2012 / TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE 13 4/13/10 4:41 PM M Write 365 on Reader Service Card or visit TotalLandscapeCare.net/info TRIM M TRIM