How to Plan a Sprinkler System Layout
To
plan a sprinkler system layout, the very first thing you need to do is
create watering zones. Flowers, plants, bushes, trees and lawn each have
there own water demands. You should group together flora with similar
demands into a zone. This
is referred to as hydrozoning.
Next,
you need to select the type of spray head you prefer. There are
three basic types: Spray heads, rotor heads or drip systems. The
primary difference between the three concerns application rate.
Spray
heads yeild a high volume of water in a short period of time; the
average application rate is 1.5 to 1.7 inches per hour. Spray
heads either pop up from underground when the system is activated, or
they sport stationary heads on a pipe fitting above ground. Spray
heads work best on small areas, such as flower beds, shrubs or turf;
they are also best suited for flat lots and sandy soils. If used
on sloped lots or clay soils, the large amounts of water being delivered
don't have time to soak in. A series of short watering times with pauses
between will give the water more time ot soak in.
The common spray patterns are quarter, half or full circles; although
they can also be arranged to cover rectangle and square areas.
Rotor
heads are best suited to large areas, and they apply water more
uniformly than do spray heads. They have a lower application rate
of 0.6 to 0.8 inches per hour; the slower application rate is well suited
to all soil types and requires less cycling. Rotor head styles
include impact or gear-driven. They spray in partial or full circles,
and they can be adjusted to various angles.
Drip
systems are handy for watering flower beds. A
drip system is simply a small hose with holes or emitters along its
length. Emitters can be spaced to cover closely-spaced beds or
precisely positioned to water specific plants. Drip systems are consider
good choice because they apply water directly to the soil, eliminating
runoff. They keep water off of the plants leaves and flowers, reducing
the risk of damage and disease. Drip systems also feature widely varying
application rates, from 0.5 to 24 gallons, which renders them easy to
adapt to any soil type and a plants particular needs..
When
deciding which type of system is appropriate for your needs, you should
also keep in mind the height of your plants. You don’t want
a system whose jets of water will smack your Asian lilies in the face,
causing their petals to fall off. Your system should also be zoned,
as shady areas may require less water than full-sun areas.
Sprinkler
systems come equipped with handy automatic timers. However, don’t
let the crutch of an automatic timer trump your common sense. Once
you install your sprinkler system:
- Don’t water immediately preceding, during, or after a rain!
Or better yet, select a timer with a rain sensor.
- Water only during dawn or dusk. Water evaporates
rapidly during the hottest hours of the day; this doesn’t provide
your plants with the quenching drink they need, and the mix of water
and hot sun can damage their leaves.
- Adjust your watering cycle to the seasons. You won’t
have to water as often in spring and fall when rain is more frequent.
- Listen to the land. If the ground can’t readily absorb
the water and creates runoff, decrease the duration of the cycle. More
frequent, but shorter, cycles may be necessary, especially for clay
soils.
You should also follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for
proper winterizing. If you leave in a winter freeze climate, it’s
advisable to hire a landscape and irrigation expert to blow all the
water out of the lines in late fall to prevent winter freezing.
The proper sprinkler layout will save you loads of time--so you can
sit back and admire your plants!
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