Lawn Care & Irrigation FAQs
Answers to common questions about lawn care, weed control and fertilization, irrigation, seasonal services, and working with Elevate Your Landscape.
Weed Control and Fertilization
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Our weed control and fertilizing program is a custom blend created and tested in Cranbrook yards. We have been developing a program that hands down beats the competition’s. Our holistic approach creating optimum health gives us the best long term results.
Our goal was to make our customer’s lawn do our advertising for us. We want a thick healthy lawn with sustained colour all year.
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We use granular fertilizer because it provides consistent, long-lasting nutrients that are released gradually over time, ensuring your lawn gets what it needs to thrive. Unlike liquid fertilizer, which delivers a quick but short-lived nutrient boost, granular fertilizer promotes steady growth and stronger root systems. It also allows for precise application, reducing the risk of over-fertilizing, and works effectively in a variety of conditions, making it the superior choice for maintaining a healthy, lush lawn.
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Want to ELEVATE your lawn? Our Quad Plan delivers the best colour and thickest growth. If you have irrigation, we highly recommend all 4 treatments to offset nutrient loss from frequent watering.
Looking for a more maintenance-focused option? Our Triple Plan offers consistent results while saving you money by skipping the final application.
We also offer custom programs with 2, 3, or 4 treatments per year to fit your needs.
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If it rains within 4 hours of application, simply give us a call, and we’ll return to reapply to ensure maximum effectiveness. If the rain occurs after 4 hours, the treatment will have had ample time to absorb, and it will remain fully effective.
Why doesn’t it need 24 hours like irrigation, you ask?
Rainfall in Cranbrook is much less concentrated than the consistent, direct coverage from irrigation. An average 30-minute irrigation cycle delivers about 13 mm of water—more than some entire months of rainfall in Cranbrook! That’s why irrigation soaks the lawn more quickly, while rain often takes longer to have the same effect.
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Absolutely! Our treatments are pet-safe.
Pets can go on the lawn as soon as the application has dried, after that it's completely safe for them to roam freely.
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We recommend waiting 24 hours before watering again for optimal effectiveness.
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Our treatments only affect weeds that have fully leafed out at the time of application. If a weed germinates or grows new leaves after we’ve sprayed, it won’t be affected until the next visit. That’s why treatments every 4–6 weeks are key—to stop weeds before they grow more than a month old.
Weeds can grow quickly, especially in warm, well-irrigated lawns—sometimes reaching the size of a toonie just two weeks after treatment. But that fast growth is also a sign of a healthy lawn where new plants love to sprout.
With our Weed Free Guarantee (included in the Quad Plan), if any larger weeds are still around a week after a treatment, we’ll come back for a free touch-up—no questions asked.
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Nope. They may be sad to see no dandelions in your yard, but it is perfectly safe for bees.
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We recommend waiting 24 hours before mowing again for optimal effectiveness.
Aeration and Dethatching
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Nope, cleaning up aeration cores reduces the effectiveness of the treatment. The plugs help break down thatch and improve soil health as they decompose, so it's best to leave them in place for maximum benefit!
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Of course! Heavy watering of your lawn after aeration helps speed up the decomposition of the cores, allowing them to break down more quickly and return valuable nutrients to the soil. This enhances the overall benefits of aeration, promoting healthier grass and improved soil structure.
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Aeration boosts lawn health by improving water, nutrient, and air flow to the roots. It helps reduce soil compaction, breaks up thatch, and encourages deeper root growth—resulting in a thicker, greener, and more drought-resistant lawn.
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Dethatching removes the thick layer of dead grass and debris (thatch) that can choke your lawn. This allows water, nutrients, and air to reach the soil more effectively—promoting healthier, lusher, and more even growth.
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Most lawns benefit from annual aeration and dethatching—especially if you want thick, healthy turf.
Aeration helps loosen compacted soil and improves the flow of water, air, and nutrients to the roots, while dethatching removes the dense layer of dead grass and debris that can block moisture and stunt growth.
Some lawns may not need both every year, but we recommend evaluating your lawn each spring to see what it really needs—some years it may need both, some just one, and others neither.
Irrigation Repair, Installation and Blowouts
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Irrigation blowout pricing in Cranbrook varies based on the size of the property and irrigation system.
Small residential properties — typically 1–3 zones: around $85
Medium residential properties — typically 4–6 zones: around $100
Large residential properties — typically 7–9 zones: $115–$130+Plus applicable taxes.
These are general estimates for residential properties within Cranbrook. Larger or more complex irrigation systems may cost more. Final pricing is based on the number of irrigation zones. Properties outside Cranbrook may also be subject to an additional travel charge.
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For winterization, follow these simple steps:
If your shut-off valve is inside the house, turn it off when you receive notification that we are coming. This valve controls water to the irrigation system, and after we blow out the system, you may need to bleed the line from inside to fully winterize. If your system uses an outside tap, we’ll turn it off upon arrival.
Set the timer to "off." Avoid unplugging the timer, as doing so will erase all programming. If you have a hose timer, remove it and bring it inside for the winter. This ensures your system is properly prepared for the colder months.
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In spring, getting your irrigation system ready is simple. First, turn the water on, then test all zones using the timer to ensure each area is covered properly. Finally, program the timer to match your watering needs for the season. These steps help ensure your system is working efficiently for a healthy, thriving landscape.
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If one of your irrigation valves is manually open, check the valve box. The solenoid, where the wires are attached, controls the valve. Turn it to the right to close. If you're unable to close the valve, schedule an irrigation service appointment, and we'll take care of it.
If the valve was left open after a blowout, this service is free of charge.
If the valve remains open due to wear and tear, diaphragm failure, or debris, it will be billed as a standard irrigation service.
Check out this video for a step by step instruction
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A common issue is a broken black elbow located below the rotor or spray head. When the system is turned on, water may flow from underneath the rotor and partially through it, often due to a cracked elbow. These elbows are designed to break easily to protect more expensive parts and are not caused by the blowout process.
Common causes of broken elbows include:
Leverage from vehicles driving over the rotor or spray head
Snow shovels striking the rotor
Shifting heavy clay soils from frost
High water pressure caused by slopes or excessive PSI when turning on the system
We recommend replacing the broken black elbow with a white Schedule 40 street elbow, which is more durable and better able to withstand impact and harsh winter conditions. If you're unable to complete this repair, please contact us, and we'll fix it for you. Note that this repair is not covered under the blowout warranty.
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Click on this video for a step by step
Turn off your water to the irrigation from the inside
Open the exterior faucet attached to the irrigation system.
This allows air and space in the pipe that will survive -5 low.
Turn on again when the temperature is warm or you need to use the irrigation.