As owner and manager of ABC Irrigation Inc., Robert Schmitchel and his team of experts are in the business of keeping lawns, trees and plants well hydrated while saving on water usage.
"We custom-design and install highly efficient irrigation systems,” Schmitchel told Corpus Christi Business News. “We're also certified to test backflow devices, which keep water running in one direction, and we also provide consultation services for pre-bid meetings.”
ABC Irrigation serves South Texas and the Coastal Bend from Beeville to northeast Port Lavaca and all the way from Laredo to the Rio Grande Valley. The company installs systems for ranchers and homeowners — anyone who needs water to preserve their landscaping.
According to Schmitchel, ABC Irrigations’s high level of customization is what sets his company apart from others in the same business.
"We don't compete for the purpose of just installing systems to get the ground wet and then move on to the next client," he said. "We operate with an understanding that different areas have different water requirements."
For instance, newly planted trees require more water, so he sets up zones to irrigate just the root balls of those young, thirsty trees. A local nursery that specializes in xeriscaping with drought-tolerant plants requires micro-drip irrigation.
Water conservation has always been at the heart of the mission for his company, which uses products such as microbubblers, drip irrigation and MP rotators. He also installs ground systems that use moisture sensors to detect when the soil gets too dry, automatically watering to proper levels before switching off.
Prior to launching his business, Schmitchel worked in the construction and heavy duty equipment industry, putting in 70- to 80-hour work weeks. Wanting to spend more time with his family, he decided he needed a change of pace. In 1987, he formed ABC Lawn Care and Landscaping.
In the beginning, Schmitchel spent 10 hours a day posting 10,000 fliers on door knobs before going home to return calls on his answering machine. As the work piled up, he repeated the cycle, bringing in more customers, until he had 18 people working for him.
"We were providing many services such as grounds maintenance, chemical application to turf and ornamentals, sidewalks and driveways, patios and irrigation work,” he said.
Schmitchel is fully licensed through the Texas Department of Agriculture to apply chemicals to turf grasses and ornamentals. He also has a floral license for selling plant material. He has received certification from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and is certified by the state of Texas to test backflows.
After 10 years of yard work, however, he decided to sell the grounds maintenance portion of his company and changed the name to ABC Irrigation.
"Looking back, I feel a great sense of satisfaction owning my own business and doing what I love,” Schmitchel said. “My wife, Rikki, helps me with bookkeeping, administrative duties and sales, and I have a great relationship with my staff and my clients."
Many of ABC Irrigation’s clients include ranches, apartment complexes, athletic fields and the U.S. Naval air bases in Corpus Christi and Kingsville.
"We've actually designed and installed systems for the Army Corps of Engineers,” he said. “We do a lot of work with Driscoll Children's Hospital and the city of Corpus Christi."
Schmitchel's vision for his company is to be the “go-to guys" for clients who want a highly efficient system that conserves water.
“Though it may cost a little more, it will save a lot on water, money and wastewater fees in the long run," Schmitchel said.
ABC Irrigation Inc. is located at 7621 Bay Drive in Corpus Christi. For more information, call (361) 857-7647, email abcirrigation@msn.com or visit abcirrigation.com.
