I'm Finally Doing It...

This may surprise a lot of people, but I don't have a sprinkler system.

(pause for laughter)

Yes, it's true. I live in Texas... in one of the hottest cities in the state... enduring scorching 100-plus degree days (day after day after day)... and I don't have a sprinkler system.

Well, that's all about to change...

When I first moved into my house, back in 2001, I knew what I wanted to purchase first: a sprinkler system. Back then I relied on my folks to recommend residential companies. Given that they had recently installed a sprinkler system (I come from a long line of "irrigationally stubborn" people), I decided to use their company.

Not only did they recommend the company, but so had Neil Sperry, the local/Texas expert on all things "yard." So, "Company A" came out and gave me a bid... to the sum of $4,500. My jaw dropped, especially after my parent's MUCH LARGER lot came in around $3,500.

So, I did what any other new homeowner with a depleted bank acount would do: I didn't seek out any other bids.

Ok, maybe others would have pursued more estimates. I guess I was naive enough to figure, "Well, if that's how much it's going to cost, then I'll just water it myself."

That worked out fine for the first few years. I'd go out and drag the hoses around the house... spending hours of my evenings to make sure proper coverage allowed for proper greenage!

Then we went into a drought... and half my front yard just died off. It was dreadful. I'd water, but my time was limited and by late August it resembled something from a Mad Max movie.

Last year my yard started to recover. In fact, it's looking pretty good right now. However, I know that it's going to get hotter (and harder) in the coming weeks.

So everything changed recently when my good friend Jason informed me that he purchased a sprinkler system. Given that he's probably one of the tightest (er... cheapest!) people I know, I was shocked. But when he told me the cost, I was intrigued enough to get another bid.

In fact, I got several. All were right around the same dollar amount. After meeting the owner, I decided to go with Ducky's Sprinklers. They're out of Royce City, and I actually found them via the BBB website.

Anyway, my life of dragging hoses in the oppressive heat will end next week. They arrive on Monday to trench the yard (and anything else that stands in their way). I'm excited... so we'll just see how much of an impact this will make!