December 2018

Easy Steps to Controlling Insects on Your Ornamental Shrubs

Posted on December 28, 2018September 8, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

Your accent shrubs are there for one reason – to make the rest of your yard look good! Pesky insects can keep your landscape from looking its best. Here are some easy steps to controlling insects on your ornamental shrubs.

How to Control Insects on Your Shrubs

Change your plant variety – Some plants are more prone to pests than others. When you are making a purchase, consider the pests that are around your area. For instance, if crape myrtle has a higher instance of aphids in your area, consider a different tree or choose a type that is more tolerant.
Keep your plants healthy – Shrubs that are healthy can better withstand small infestations. Since your shrubs will probably be in direct sunlight, you must be sure that they get the water and nutrition they need to keep from drying out.
Inspect all new entrants – Before you bring a new plant into your landscape, inspect it thoroughly for insect infestations. As they say, one bad apple can spoil the bunch.
Prune – Infestations can be controlled if you prune the infested parts of your shrubs before the insects spread to the entire plant. Take on this task in the early morning. Pests will be less active during these hours, allowing you better access.

The Next Move for Your Shrubbery

Give the dedicated landscape and outdoor living experts at W. P. Law, Inc. a call when you have an insect problem that needs a professional touch. We are here to ensure your landscaping looks its best, and your ornamental shrubs are a vital part of that look.

3 Things to Know About Pump Stations

Posted on December 26, 2018September 8, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

The right pump station makes all of the difference for industrial and municipal operations. Pump stations are also vital components in wastewater and sewage applications.

Understanding the basics about pump stations can provide you insights for better decisions when it is time to upgrade or modify a system. Concepts such as design considerations, maintenance, and parts availability will also factor into your decision. Here are three of the most important characteristics to consider about your pump station.

Automation – The possibilities for pump station automation are numerous. Most pump stations, depending upon the application, will be designed to be turned on and off by system conditions such as pressure, flow, the level of a fluid in a reservoir, or possibly a combination of these. These conditions can now be monitored through the use of cell phone, or web based technologies that allow for remote monitoring and control. The degree of system automation is a major consideration when looking to purchase or upgrade a pump station.
Design Considerations – The basic design considerations on any pump station begin with questions about required capacity (flow rate) and pressure (psi). Other considerations such as where the pump station will be located, the type of fluid being pumped, the temperature of the fluid being pumped, and power availability will all contribute to the proper design of a pump station for a particular application.
Maintenance – All pump stations require some regular maintenance and most will at some time in their useful life also require repair. Maintenance and repair considerations need to be made at the time of purchase and they contribute to the overall cost of owning and operating a pump station. If the pump station is in a critical application that cannot afford any significant down time, then the owner needs to consider the cost of keeping replacement parts on hand, especially if the pump manufacturer has a long lead time on parts or replacement pumps. This is often an overlooked consideration when purchasing a pump station.

Call the dedicated experts at W. P. Law, Inc. for any questions about pump stations or to start the process of upgrading or replacing your station.

Maintaining Your Outdoor Sports Field for the Winter Season

Posted on December 21, 2018September 8, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

Athletic fields are rarely given a rest. Between the different seasons and heavy foot traffic, sports fields experience extreme wear & tear throughout the year. It can be a real challenge to keep fields ready for its in-season sport and to ensure that they will not only look their best, but they will be as healthy as possible for years of continued beauty and safe use.

1. Hollow tine aeration

Aeration is key in loosening up the soil and increasing water infiltration as well as oxygen flow to the roots of your turfgrass. Hollow tine aeration works best after the fall sports season because of the amount of disruption it causes.

2. Overseeding

It is important to undertake overseeding on the worn out areas of the field during the winter season. Overseeding can help prevent further damage if the field is used during the winter months. When the winter ends and warm weather sets in, worn areas can be reseeded and the seeds will germinate and start to fill up the bare sections of the field as well as increase turfgrass density.

3. Top-dressing

Undertaking top dressing after the hollow tine aeration contributes massively towards improving the conditions of the grass come spring. Consider using compost as the top dressing material on native soil fields, and sand as the top dressing material on sand-based fields.

4. Consider using growth covers

Growth covers will help you to create a greenhouse-like effect over your field to allow seeds to germinate and grass to grow during the winter season.

How W.P. Law, Inc. Can Help Automate Your Pumping and Piping System

Posted on December 18, 2018September 8, 2022 by splashme@splashomnimedia.com

In an age when it seems that everything has become automated, W.P. Law wants to show you how automating your pumping and piping system can be beneficial too. Whether you already have an installed pumping and piping system, or if you are preparing to install a new system, our experts can help you design the system and explain how the newest technology can make your pumping and piping system the most efficient and state of the art system available.

At W.P. Law, our electrical technicians, fabricators, and programmers will help you build a system, or will help add automation to an existing system that will help add levels of safety and ease of operation.

Our technicians can design and build a system to utilize state of the art technologies such as VFD’s soft start pump control panels, PLC programming, and touch screen interfaces to make it easier for operators to know what is happening. The new technology can be operated using radio signals, cell phone access, or web-based tech to ensure that it is state-of-the-art and offers 24 hour access and control.

Automated pumping and piping systems not only add convenience, it but can also help reduce the risk of injury by detecting a leak and allowing remote shut off. This limits exposure to the leak and to chemicals that could be flowing through the pipe. Another benefit is that less chemical will be lost if there is a leak. Other system failures such as high or low pressure indicators can also be detected and used to shut down pumping equipment or close isolation valves as needed.

If the fluid moving through the pipe is water, detecting a leak quickly can still prevent waste, damage to other machinery, and limit downtime.

W.P. Law, Inc. is a top supplier of fluid handling equipment, including automated systems, in the Southeast. If you are interested in learning more about how making your next system automated, or converting your current system into an automated system, please contact W.P. Law, Inc. to see how we can help.

Month: December 2018