Great Outdoors adds irrigation service in-house across Southeast Michigan

Great Outdoors has brought irrigation installation, maintenance and repair in-house for residential and commercial clients across Southeast Michigan. The Ann Arbor company says the move gives customers one team for landscape work and watering, from design through seasonal upkeep.

Why it matters: - Great Outdoors now controls another core part of landscape care under one roof, which can simplify service for clients that already use the company for mowing, fertilization and property upkeep. - The change gives homeowners and property managers a single point of contact for irrigation work, from spring startup to fall winterization. - The company says the in-house model is meant to improve consistency and accountability when sprinkler systems need attention.

What happened: - Great Outdoors added irrigation installation, seasonal maintenance, repair and winterization services to its in-house offerings across Southeast Michigan. - The services are available to residential and commercial clients in Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea, Saline, Brighton and surrounding communities. - The Ann Arbor-based lawn and landscape company has served the area since 1983. - Great Outdoors said each irrigation project starts with a site visit and a plan tailored to how a property is planted and how it grows.

The details: - The irrigation lineup includes new sprinkler system installation, seasonal maintenance, sprinkler repair, fall winterization and spring startup. - Great Outdoors said the move expands the amount of work its own crews can complete without outside vendors. - The company said irrigation will follow the same seasonal cadence as the rest of its property care work, including spring startups, mid-season checks and fall winterization. - Michael Kowalski, president of Great Outdoors, said bringing irrigation in-house will help the company better control project quality and provide a seamless experience from design and scheduling through installation and service. - Kowalski also said the irrigation team has more than 100 years of combined experience, certifications from Rain Bird, Hunter and Irritrol, and uses state-of-the-art equipment. - Great Outdoors was named to the 2024 Michigan 50 Companies to Watch by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. - The company provides full-service lawn and landscape design, build and maintenance work in Washtenaw and Livingston counties.

Between the lines: - The move suggests Great Outdoors is trying to deepen client relationships by bundling more services into one provider instead of referring work out. - In-house irrigation can also make it easier for the company to coordinate watering with planting, maintenance and seasonal property changes. - The expansion fits a broader growth pattern for the business as it adds capabilities with its own crews.

What's next: - Great Outdoors will schedule irrigation work on an ongoing seasonal basis for existing and new clients. - Homeowners and property managers can learn more about the irrigation services at the company's irrigation services page. - More information about Great Outdoors is available at the company website.