Artificial Grass Installation Lakeville, MN
Lakeville in Minnesota is essentially a suburb of the larger Minneapolis city. Figures from the US Census Bureau show that Lakeville is home to 60,633 people and it is the fastest growing suburb in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. The suburb’s rapid expansion will likely cause an increase in the demand for landscaping services, especially artificial grass installation. Below is some more information on this topic.
Lakeville Climate
According to the Koppen Climate Classification, Lakeville has a “continental climate”, which means it experiences wide weather variations. What’s more, Lake Minnesota’s location in the Arrowhead Region means it influences the weather around Lakeville significantly. In particular, Lake Superior acts as a weather moderator that keeps nearby areas including Lakeville relatively warmer in summer and cooler in winter compared to areas outside the climate moderating effect of this water body. When it comes to precipitation, Lakeville receives an average of 30 inches of rain and 43 inches of snowfall per year. At least an appreciable amount of rainfall falls annually over a period of 89 days, whereas 198 days are relatively sunny. July is the hottest month in Lakeville when the average temperature reaches 83 °F. On the other hand, January is the coldest month when the average temperature hovers around 3.6 °F.
Watering Restrictions
Lakeville city authorities have enacted watering restrictions that become effective starting from May 1 through September 30. More specifically, residents of Lakeville can only water their gardens/lawns every other day based on the last digit of their house addresses. In other words, people whose addresses end with an even number get to water their gardens/lawns on even-numbered calendar days and vice versa. For apartments and homeowner’s associations located north of the 185th street, watering is permitted on odd-numbered calendar days irrespective of the last digit of property addresses. Similarly, homeowner’s associations and apartments located south of the 185th street can only undertake watering on even-numbered calendar days. An outdoor watering ban takes effect from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is important to note that the violation of these watering restrictions attracts varying penalties. To start with, the first violation attracts a warning while the second violation results in a $50 surcharge. For each subsequent violation, the surcharge penalty increases by $50, meaning the penalties for a third, fourth, and fifth violation are $100, $150, and $200 respectively. Finally, the City Council of Lakeville says it may totally prohibit watering in the event of a water emergency.
Landscaping Regulations
According to Lakeville’s Building Inspections Department, property owners must submit a landscaping plan before commencing any landscaping work. Furthermore, all home improvement projects that result in water runoff must include plans demonstrating proper channeling of water into nearby water drainage channels or storm drains. In fact, the City Engineer must review and approve all water drainage plans to ensure that they comply with city’s zoning and building codes. These codes help prevent soil erosion, flooding, as well as curb depositing of soil and other debris onto neighboring properties. Your landscaping plan should also include a detailed fencing plan if you intend to install one or alter an existing fence. The plan you submit must provide information on the type of fence, height of fence, location of fence, as well as the distance from the legal property line. It is important to note that the submission of a landscaping plan does not necessarily guarantee approval because your plan may require some changes/alterations. As such, you should hire an experienced landscaper who has in-depth knowledge of these landscaping regulations and can help you acquire the relevant permits from the relevant authorities.
Artificial Grass Installation Lakeville – Factors to Consider
Grade
Artificial turf comes in different grades ranging from low to high quality. Of course, high quality turf will cost more than low quality turf. That said, you should purchase artificial grass that suits your landscaping needs and budget.
Cost
In most cases, retailers of synthetic turf quote their prices per square meter. As such, you must measure the space where you intend to have it installed to avoid buying more turf than you require. Additionally, check the delivery costs because most retailers quote these separately. It is important to note that artificial turf can weigh tens to hundreds of pounds depending on its size, number of layers, and material. You can also use web-based price comparison engines to find the right artificial grass.
Landscaping Company
Hire a landscaping company that is preferably a member of professional bodies such as the American Sports Builders Association (ASBA). Make sure the company has qualified personnel including a landscape architect, turf installation experts, and certified track builders (CTBs). Such a company can undertake site preparation and install artificial grass according to your specifications, as well as advice you on the type of synthetic turf to purchase.
Infill Material
Some synthetic turf infill materials can cause health problems. For instance, the Mt. Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center says the chemicals found in artificial turf infill could cause birth defects as well as neurological and developmental problems in children. Nevertheless, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says there have been limited scientific studies on the effects of infill materials on human health. For these reasons, it is wise to purchase and install synthetic turf that does not require infill. Moreover, the Synthetic Turf Council has a published an article stating that synthetic turf is generally safe.
Yarn Type
Most artificial turf products are made from three types of yarn material: nylon, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Out of these, polyethylene material is the most popular because it is highly versatile, durable, and has great aesthetic properties. Nylon is mostly used to make putting green turf while polypropylene is used to make sand-filled synthetic turf.
Conclusion
If you live in Lakeville, MN, installing an artificial turf will save you the trouble of having to company with watering restrictions during the hot summer months. That said, some of the important factors to consider when buying an artificial turf include the yarn type, cost, grade, and infill material when purchasing synthetic grass.