Irrigation

Q. What are the pros of automatic irrigation systems? Aren't they wasteful?

A. Automatic irrigation systems are convenient, especially for those who travel. If installed and programmed properly, automatic irrigation systems can even save you money and help in water conservation. Dead lawn grass and plants need to be replaced, and that can be expensive. But the savings from automatic irrigation systems can go beyond that. Watering with a hose or with an oscillator wastes water. Neither method targets plant roots with any significant degree of precision. Automatic irrigation systems can be programmed to discharge more precise amounts of water in a targeted area, which promotes water conservation.

Q. What equipment is required for automatic sprinkler irrigation systems?

A. To simplify matters concerning irrigation equipment, we can speak of four basic components of automatic sprinkler irrigation systems: the timer or "controller" (sometimes misspelled "controler"), irrigation valves, underground piping and sprinkler heads. Drip irrigation systems have equipment that discharges water differently and will be covered separately. Even among sprinkler irrigation systems, there are various types of “head” equipment for discharging water. “Spray” heads and “rotor” heads are two of the most common.

Q. What's the difference between "spray" lawn sprinkler heads and "rotor" heads?

A. Two common types of lawn sprinkler heads are “spray” heads and “rotor” heads. Spray lawn sprinkler heads are sometimes designed to pop up out of the ground when the sprinkler system is activated, while others rest on pipes that remain aboveground at all times. Spray heads discharge a large volume of water in a relatively short amount of time, giving them, in irrigation lingo, a “high application rate.” For this reason, sprinkler systems with spray heads are most suitable for even surfaces, not slopes. If you do have to use a spray head on a slope, program your sprinkler system such that water is discharged over several shorter periods. This will help you avoid wasteful run-off.

By contrast, rotor lawn sprinkler heads have a lower application rate, so they’re simpler to use on slopes. Rotor heads also apply water more uniformly than do spray heads, making them more suitable for watering larger areas. For people who wish to irrigate large areas of lawn, sprinkler systems with rotor heads would be a logical choice.