A Lawn Irrigation System is a collection of inventions.
- the rain sensor
- the electric valves
- sprinklers that pop up
- controllers that do many things
- plastics that can last a lifetime
All these things work together to do your work for you.
Your irrigation system must be installed properly and maintained regularly to assure a green landscape. An irrigation system is exposed to car tires, snowplows, foot traffic, weed wackers, lawn mowers, children, and extreme cold and heat.
Remember these tips for a healthy lawn:
Water deep, not frequently. Shallow watering only wets the soil and water doesn't have a chance to soak in. This forces the grass roots to grow to the surface for water, and allows the sun to steal your water through evaporation. The recommended amount of precipitation for lawn areas is 1/2" of water every 3 days. The experts say 1" of water weekly. This plan has been experimented with for over a decade on hundreds of lawns over several states, and it works!
Measure your watering coverage. Do a "can test," using coffee cans or other flat-bottomed containers. Place the containers on the lawn in various locations. Run the system for a set period of time, and then check the contents of the cans. You should have the same amount in all the cans. If the amount is different in the cans you may need to adjust the time up or down, and adjust the zones to achieve even coverage.
A yearly service contract is the best way to make sure the system will continue to operate trouble-free. A professional will then check the system properly, program the controller accurately, and troubleshoot the system.
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