Save water by tuning your lawn’s irrigation system

Spring is here, and homeowners are thinking about their landscaping. On average, 70% of water consumption at home is from the irrigation system. Let’s make sure our systems are optimized for maximum efficiency and ensure our plants get the water they need to thrive.

We asked Rosie Certified Partner Aaron Merkow, owner of Core Landscaping, to help us get you some tips on what you can do to prepare your lawn irrigation system for the warmer months ahead.

Start with the brain of your lawn irrigation system

The time clock is essentially the brain of the lawn irrigation system. As the command center, it tells the system what to do, when to do it, and how long to do it. To begin:

1. Make sure the current time setting is correct. If this is off, then watering will happen when you don’t want it to. The day, AM or PM, hour, and minute settings should be set in real-time before you program the controller.
2. Set the start time(s). If your system is zoned for different types of plants, say for trees, shrubs, grass, or cactus, a start time for each will be needed.
3. Set the run time for each zone. The run time determines the length of time each plant is watered and sets the amount of water each plant in a zone will receive.
4. The interval setting is next. This setting is where you choose which days you want to water. Each zone will have a different setting if your landscape irrigation is zoned. If you have settings already programmed and your plants seem healthy, reusing them is best.
5. Your controller may have a backup battery. Typically, these are either 9-volt or lithium batteries. Remove the front face plate on the controller to view the battery. Plan on replacing these once a year. If you are unsure of the timing you need to set, call one of our landscaping Rosie on the House Certified Partners, like Aaron, to get guidance. Asking up front may cost a little, but less than buying new plants.

Next step: valves and filters in your lawn irrigation system

With the controller all squared away, your next task is to check the valves and filter. The valve is commonly in a plastic enclosure underground near the controller box. Remove the cover and look:

1. Warning- look carefully before you reach inside. Crickets, scorpions, and other creatures love to hang out here!
2. There should be no standing water in the box. It will be moist, but standing water is indicative of a leak. If there is standing water, your next step is to search for a leak, and that leak is usually near the enclosure. If there is no leak, then move to the next step.
3. Unscrew the Y-shaped, black piece or other filter housing. Once inside, you will see a filter that can usually be cleaned by running a hose over it to dislodge any debris or sediment. When done, screw the Y piece back where you got it from.

Think about the emitters in your lawn irrigation system

The working end of every lawn irrigation system is the emitter. Emitters may come in the form of a drip emitter, slow steady stream emitter, or sprinkler head emitter. The type of emitter used is decided by the type of plant the system is supplying water to. For instance, a cactus will need much less water than a Cottonwood tree. Aaron’s tips start with a visual inspection of each emitter.

1. Turn the system on so it is fully operational before you inspect.
2. You may have to crawl under the shrubs to locate each emitter. That may also take some clearing and digging.
3. Emitters can become clogged with debris and even plant roots. Have a thin piece of metal, like a paperclip, that will fit in the emitter outlet to clean out any such build-up.
4. Have extra emitters with you for replacement if necessary. These are typically compression fittings that you can push into the open end of the irrigation line.
5. For sprinkler emitters that usually water turf and lawns, see if the water pattern accurately covers the area needed and does not produce over or under coverage.

The goal of any irrigation system is to conserve water while providing the correct amount of water your landscape needs. Making sure our systems are working properly is a huge part of achieving that goal.

Did you like this guide to boosting your lawn irrigation system?

Aaron will leave us with a parting tip.

Often, we remove plants around our lawn irrigation system. Of course, there are various reasons: the plant died, grew too large, or you just wanted a change.

A common oversight is leaving the emitter for that plant. Remove the emitter feeding that plant and plug the irrigation line.

Do you have questions about your house, home, castle, cabin or lawn irrigation system? 

Reach us by phone at 1-888-767-4348 or email  info@rosieonthehouse.com. 

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