A perfectly manicured lawn is something every home-owner dreams of. Plush green grass that feels like clouds underneath the bare feet of our children and also invokes the envy of neighbors; getting a lawn to that point requires more than just a weekly watering with a stand-alone sprinkler. Installing a sprinkler system is the perfect way to manage the water our lawn receives but avoiding mistakes upon installing prevents headaches down the road.
One is able to purchase a sprinkler system at their local big-box home and garden store but after that part of the fun is over…the real excitement is just beginning. Hiring a professional is recommended but not required if a few steps are followed.
Don’t dig before consulting your utility companies
If a home-owner is a citizen of a local municipality, it is most likely very much against the law to dig deep to install anything. Digging makes certain companies very unhappy as I have learned. Sometimes it doesn’t matter If the trench or hole happens to be two inches or a foot deep; don’t do it. Call the appropriate utility companies so they can send a worker to mark where not to implant your fancy new system.
Don’t mow over your sprinkler head
It’s all nice and fine when you have your system installed but not when you completely forget about the pop-up heads when mowing the lawn. They tend to get stuck in the upright position as they age. If you happen to mow one down, it’s very easy to replace.
Don’t water the street or most of your neighbor’s lawn
Placement of pipes and sprinkler heads is key to ensuring you conserve water. A water bill is more important than your water evaporating on the surface of asphalt. Using rotors is a good way to conserve water as well as cover a large area of lawn, with spacing being the most important part. There are many way of spacing your sprayers and rotors so that your lawn is watered perfectly. I watered the street for two summers in a row before the problem was fixed.
Don’t forget that your property may slope
Your lawn’s slopage may not ever be important until you undergo installing a sprinkler system. The heads must allow for slope so that water doesn’t pool against your home or in any other areas of your property. A bigger problem than installing a sprinkler system will be in your future if water is allowed to pool at your home’s foundation.
Take it from me; installing your own sprinkler system can be a nightmare, especially if your husband thinks he is Mr. Fix It. The most important part of the process is not learning how to install the system, but how to prevent future problems.
