Field notes · written by Landon

Honest answers
to the questions homeowners actually ask.

Most irrigation content on the internet is written by marketing departments at franchise contractors. It's designed to sell you something. This isn't that. These are field notes — written by Landon from six years of irrigation work in North Texas. Straight answers. Real pricing. And when you can fix something yourself instead of paying someone, it says that too.

Published periodically
Landon Melvin
Texas Licensed Irrigator (TCEQ). Owner-operator, Spray Irrigation Co. Based in North Richland Hills, working the Mid-Cities corridor since 2016. Third-generation outdoor service. Every article here is written by Landon — not ghostwritten, not AI-generated.

Published articles

6 articles published
Diagnosis Water bill

Your Water Bill Jumped $80 This Month. Here's What's Probably Wrong.

The panic moment when you open a $180 bill instead of a $100 bill. Here's the 95% answer to what's happening, how to find it yourself in under 20 minutes, and what it actually costs to fix in North Richland Hills.

April 2026 · 8 min read Read article →
Diagnosis Level B · Technical

Why Your Sprinkler Zone Won't Turn On: A Diagnostic Walk-Through

A field-grade diagnostic for a dead zone. Interactive wizard, multimeter tests, valve anatomy, and the seven most common causes in order of likelihood — with what each repair actually costs.

April 2026 · 14 min read Read article →
Education Regional authority

Texas Clay Soil and Your Sprinklers: Why "Deep and Infrequent" Is Wrong For This Market

The standard watering advice was written for sand — North Texas clay absorbs water 10–20× slower. The cycle-soak method that actually works, with an interactive schedule recommender for your specific soil, heads, slope, and season.

April 2026 · 16 min read Read article →
Service Honest ROI math

Wet Checks Explained: What a Monthly Irrigation Inspection Actually Covers

All twelve inspection points in detail, the seasonal differences across the year, and an interactive cost-benefit calculator that tells you honestly whether the service pays off for your specific system.

April 2026 · 12 min read Read article →
Authority For install shoppers

Why Most Irrigation Installs Fail Within 5 Years — And How To Spot The Ones That Won't

The six corner-cutting failure modes, the seven questions to ask before signing any bid, and an interactive bid evaluator that scores your contractor's proposal against the professional standards the industry should be meeting.

April 2026 · 13 min read Read article →
Advice Before you hire

Seven Decisions To Make Before Calling Any Irrigation Contractor

Before you dial anyone — Landon included — seven things to decide for yourself. Get clear on what you actually want and every contractor conversation gets easier. Includes a personal decision card you can fill in and reference during sales calls.

April 2026 · 12 min read Read article →
Why this journal exists

"If you can fix it yourself in ten minutes, you shouldn't be paying me $75 to do it for you."

Most irrigation contractors want you confused. Confusion is how they charge $150 for a diagnostic visit to tell you something you could have figured out in twenty minutes with the right information.

Landon's business works differently. He makes a living from customers who trust him — and trust gets built by telling people the truth, even when the truth is "you don't need to hire me for this." Every article in this journal is written with that as the test: would a reader walk away better off, even if they never called?

The ones who do call? They call because they've decided the problem is bigger than DIY, and they'd rather pay the guy who was straight with them than roll the dice on someone they've never heard of.

Got a problem right now?

You don't have to read an article first.

Call or text Landon directly. No call center, no dispatch, no $150 "just to show up" fee. Zero dollars for the service call. Seventy-five dollars an hour for actual work done.

Call (817) 993-9306 →