Sprinkler systems for lawns and gardens had come a long way since a generation ago when they were afforded only by the very rich.
In many parts of the land where natural rain is a rarity, they are frequently planned into new home lots from the beginning.
Even when rains are more plentiful, the homeowner often builds a system in or adds one later when his gardening or law-keeping interests lean toward perfection or when his lack of time makes it necessary to employ automation for this end yard maintenance.
The cost of these systems varies widely depending on many factors, but no longer is such an improvement considered merely a rich man’s preserve. The average person usually considers convenience ahead of any other aspect.
Not only does an automatic lawn sprinkler system end hours of hose dragging, it even continues to water for you while you’re away.
It can be preset to water during the night or in the early morning so that you are never deprived of using your yard because of the need to water it.
But beyond mere convenience, an automatic lawn sprinkler system has its economic aspects. It accurately times the watering, distributes moisture evenly—and never forgets to shut off!
Watering can be done during the early morning—not only a convenience but a further saving since evaporation and water waste from wind are both at a minimum, and the water has a better chance to penetrate to root level.
Sprays In A Variety Of Patterns
A well-designed automatic system can use various available sprinkler equipment for further efficiency.
For example, besides regular spray heads for lawns, there are special heads for planter boxes, designed to water narrow areas, bubbler heads for soaking tree wells or specimen plants, heads with a flat spray angle to water underneath heavy foliage, and low angle shrub sprays to control water near walls, windows, and doors.
New automatic controls provide almost unlimited flexibility in timing. You can program up to an hour’s watering for sections of large rotary sprinklers or down to five minutes or less for small bed areas which flood quickly.
It is even possible to program several short waterings of a steep slope during a watering cycle to prevent runoff and washing.
In short, these systems can provide a garden enthusiast with an amazingly versatile and efficient watering method, provided he knows what to look for in selecting his system.
Almost any public water system provides satisfactory pressures for properly operating a sprinkler system. These pressures generally range upward from a low of 35 to 40 pounds per square inch.
Spray heads are now available, which operate efficiently on as little as 15 pounds per square inch at the spray head, so only enough pressure is needed at the entrance of the system to make up for what is lost in forcing the water through the valves, pipe, and fittings to reach the last sprinkler in the line during the lowest pressure periods of the day.
Pressure in water mains varies. However, it always reaches its lowest point during peak demand periods—another point in favor of the efficiency gained by early morning “off-hours” watering you can do with an automatic system.
May Need Higher Volume
Besides water pressure, you need to consider the volume. The average home has a ⅝” inch or ¾” inch water meter with a ¾” inch service line from the water main.
This combination supplies only 20 to 30 gallons per minute at a high-pressure loss. Because of this limitation, it is usually best to install a larger water meter and service line from both operation and economic standpoints.
Although a system can be designed to operate on an extremely limited volume of water, it must be broken into so many small sections that it becomes rather impractical and inexpensive, especially on large yards.
Usually, the saving in cost of the sprinkler system itself more than offsets the cost of installing the larger water service.
Consider Wind Direction
In many areas, strong winds are a problem. Automatic watering at night or in the early morning usually is at least a partial solution, but even beyond that, much can be done to minimize wind effects through proper planning and to use of special equipment.
For instance, part circle sprinklers with a flat spray angle, used around the outer edges of the watered area, help minimize wind drift.
If the prevailing wind is strong and constant throughout the watering season, you may need to use special spray patterns to compensate for wind drift.
For example, use sprinklers that spray a pattern of 200° degrees along the curb, walk or drive on the upward side of the property, and 160° degrees spray patterns along the downward edge rather than the 180° degrees patterns normally used.
In extreme cases, you might place sprinklers closer together than usual and offset the rows of sprinklers a foot or two upwind from their normal pattern.
These steps should be taken only where the wind is a serious and constant problem—otherwise, coverage will be poor under normal conditions.
Separate Watering Units
Yard contours, open sun, dense shade areas, types of plantings over large areas, and soil drainage should all be considered in the system’s design.
In addition, areas with individual characteristics need to be watered by separate sections of the sprinkler system. A steep bank, for example, should be watered as a separate unit.
A ground cover area needs a different control valve than a grass area. A low spot with poor drainage or one in constant deep shade needs individual control.
Especially important are separate controls for small planter boxes located underneath the roof overhang, which must be watered even during periods of rain.
By analyzing and separating these various areas as the system is designed, different watering periods can be set up on the automatic controls to provide the right moisture for every part of your property.
Materials and equipment used in the system have much to do with its ultimate success and durability. A well-designed system installed with poor equipment gets better results than a poorly-designed system with the best equipment.
Still, the ideal is a combination of good equipment with good design, which uses the equipment to the full extent of its capabilities.
Pop-ups Are Popular
The most popular sprinkler heads are the brass pop-up kind. These can interchange spray nozzles with a wide variety of spray patterns.
When the water is turned on, the nozzle pops up above the surrounding grass while spraying, then drops inside the housing out of the way of mowers or foot traffic when not in operation.
Some kinds are adjustable, so you can raise or lower the head to compensate for turf growth or top-dressing without disturbing the sod.
Special sprinkler heads, such as bubblers, planter box heads, bed spray heads, and line heads for watering long, narrow patterns, are all available. These refinements add much to the system’s performance at little, if any, extra cost.
An automatic control raises the initial cost a little, depending on the kind you select, but it pays for itself in saved water and work, to say nothing of the convenience.
The most useful controls are those capable of programming waterings over a repeating two-week period in conjunction with a 24-hour clock.
Each section needs simple, individual timing adjustments plus a means of omitting it from the automatic cycle if desired. You should be able to make all adjustments on the face of the control without using tools.
A low-voltage electric control is usually favored over hydraulic kinds because they are more trouble-free and not subject to damage from freezing or leakage in the lines.
Common Pipe Materials
The most common pipe materials for residential sprinkler systems are galvanized steel, copper, and plastic.
Plastic has gained favor rapidly in the past several years because it is lightweight, easy to handle and install, has excellent flow rates because of its smooth wall, and does not rust or deteriorate. It is also economical.
The most popular and trouble-free plastic pipes used so far are the semirigid kinds, such as Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), installed by a solvent weld process using fittings molded from the same material.
Points In Installing A Lawn Sprinkler System
There are so many points to consider in designing and installing a lawn sprinkler system that the average homeowner is wise to use the professional services available in his area.
An established, reliable lawn sprinkler contractor with training and experience will guarantee any system he designs and installs.
To begin with, he will explain the materials and equipment, show you samples, make recommendations, and give you an estimate based on your choices.
He will probably survey your property and show you a complete plan of the system he proposes to install, along with a firm contract price.
Costs will vary considerably depending on the materials and equipment used, local labor rates, water supply, and pressure.
So a universal rule of thumb cost estimate is impossible. Your best protection is to check out your contractor’s reputation and business record with your local Better Business Bureau.
Even the avid do-it-yourselfer who tackles home installation of a sprinkler system should avail himself of the design service and recommendations of his local sprinkler contractor before starting.
Nothing is much more useless or worthless than a sprinkler system buried under the ground that won’t operate!
44659 by A. C. Sarsfield