Sprinkler systems take the labor out of watering your lawn, helping all of its blades stay lush and beautiful. If you recently invested in lawn irrigation or simply want to get the most out of your existing system, use this guide. You’ll learn the best practices for efficient, money-saving irrigation.

What Are Some Best Practices for a Sprinkler System?

1. Water Early

Set the sprinkler system timer to go off before dawn to avoid excessive water evaporation from the sun’s heat. Pre-sunrise watering gives the lawn enough time to absorb the moisture but avoids fungal growth, which is a problem with nighttime watering. Lawns stay too wet if they are watered at night and risk fungi and disease issues.

2. Calculate Need

Determine how much water the system delivers per minute with cans. Place cans around your lawn and turn on the sprinkler system to see how long it takes to reach 1- to 1.5-inches of water, which is how much liquid most turf needs per week to saturate root systems. You can also multiply your yard’s square footage by 0.62-gallons, then divide the result by the sprinkler’s flow rate to learn how much water your lawn needs per week. Stick to deep, infrequent watering for best results.

3. Consider the Season 

Water more often during warm weather to avoid drought and evaporation-related issues, such as watering three times a week to provide 1- to 1.5-inches of water. Stick to a bi-weekly watering schedule during the cool seasons when the evaporation rate lowers, and there’s usually more rainfall.

4. Check Sprinkler Heads 

Examine the sprinkler system heads every month or so for clogs and leaks. Remove debris in the heads with thin wire and replace valves as necessary to avoid leaks and water losses. Check the entire system for leaks to keep it efficient, as well as for misdirected sprinkler heads that “water” the sidewalk, driveway, or street and subsequently increase your utility bills.

5. Conserve When Possible 

Consider installing a weather app on your phone, so you are always aware of the forecast and can adjust your lawn irrigation schedule. There’s no need to water during periods of heavy rain, as it will cause your lawn to become waterlogged and yellow. It also helps you to conserve even more water to help the environment and your wallet. 

Discuss your sprinkler system needs with Design Rite Sprinkler Company, the business where “the grass really is greener on the other side.” Serving clients throughout the Cincinnati, OH, and the Northern Kentucky area since 1996, this company provides lawn sprinklers from Hunter among other brands and offers system installation, maintenance, winterization, and spring startup services. Call (513) 248-8999 or visit the licensed providers online for more information. Like the Facebook page for additional lawn care tips.