Lawn and Yard Irrigation

We won’t get into the entire conversation about water shortages and the dire straits some areas are in. Whether you are concerned or not, the bottom line is that these tips will save you money – and, like it or not, they will conserve water and you will be doing a fantastic thing for your community and the earth’s fresh water supply. Thank you!

The biggest, most important, amazing thing you can do is install an automatic irrigation system. Find a reputable irrigation contractor and get a quote for an underground sprinkler system. Automatic lawn watering systems are the most efficient method to watering your lawn. You can program their exact coverage so every inch of your lawn gets an even dose, with little or no wasted water. Equally important, you can schedule the irrigation system to water early in the morning before the sun comes up, and when you are still sound asleep. This is the best time to water to avoid evaporation.

Irrigation Basics

Irrigation systems are the most efficient way to water large, evenly covered areas of the landscape, most commonly lawn. With very few devices an entire area can be watered. They work best in large, regular sided areas, where spray is not blocked by plant material. The range of sprinkler options is significant, but all owe their lineage to the brass spray head or the impact rotor.

Sprays, which can be on risers or on pop ups ranging from 2″ to 12″, can throw water in a pattern up to a 15’ radius.

Rotors

Historically the loud splashing impact type, are now predominantly gear-driven. Residential and light commercial rotors that throw a radius of between 16’ to 40’ are available. Commercial / professional rotors that throw a radius of between 40’ to 70’ are available for large turf applications such as sports fields and parks.
The Urban Farmer Store stocks most options from the three leading sprinkler companies: Hunter, RainBird, and Toro.

Rotors— Like sprayheads, rotors have body options from shrub to 12″ pop ups. But unlike sprays the nozzles are usually a single stream throwing a long distance at different volumes and trajectories. The patterns are made by gear adjustment in the sprinkler body. A rack of nozzles usually comes free with each sprinkler. The range of rotors from shrub to 12″ pop up, and from residential to commercial is wide. Residential rotors usually cost less than $25. Commercial rotors can cost upwards of $50. The options that we have in sprinklers are too vast to include in these pages, and most manufacturers have territorial restrictions on distributor sales.

Spray Heads

Spray heads are made up of two parts, the nozzle which determines the pattern of spray and the body which varies from the shrub type that stays above-ground on a riser, and the popup type which is completely hidden until used, and range from 2″ to 12″ in popup height. They are now made of plastic and use a spring for attachment. There are dozens of nozzles and improvements that make them better each year by Rain Bird, Toro, and Hunter. Depending on the nozzle chosen and the height of the pop up used The prices range from about $2 to over $10 each.

Getting Started

Know your grass, your soil, and your plants. Do the research and find out exactly what amount of water is recommended, given your soil, climate, and grass type. The same goes for your garden. Feel free to talk to your irrigation contractor or lawn care specialist, they will have a lot of advice, and know the area well.

Take these suggestions to heart, and definitely find a landscaper to install your automatic watering system for your yard. Do it now. There are many more tips to save money and be kind to the environment, we’ll keep them coming!

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