This type of audit you don’t need to be afraid of, even if you do get soaked. A lawn sprinkler audit done annually is one of the best home improvement investments you can make so your lawn stays lush and your water bills stay low. “Nationwide,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day.” And as much as 50 percent of that irrigation may be going to waste, due to inefficient or improper watering, the EPA says. When to auditAuditing your irrigation system to make sure it’s working well can be done anytime weather permits, but early spring is an especially good time since it comes before your lawn’s growing season. As far as what part of the day, early morning is the best time to test your sprinkler system. The sun isn’t yet at its peak, so you won’t lose much water to evaporation, and water pressures are high. Big-picture considerations for a sprinkler systemThere is more to a lawn irrigation audit than checking hoses and sprinkler heads for leaks. First, experts advise, take a step back and figure out what you have and what you need. Your lawn’s size in square feet and shape will heavily influence your watering decisions. If the area is compact and rectangular, a simple hose-end oscillating sprinkler may be all that is needed. Soil typeThere are three main types of soil, each with different watering requirements:
Grass types influence watering needsGrasses vary greatly in their drought tolerance. The more tolerant they are, the less water they will need
Conducting your lawn sprinkler auditThe goal is to achieve lawn irrigation to a depth of six inches. Here is how you figure out how much to water, and how to adjust your sprinkler system to achieve that six-inch depth.
From the two figures — the average amount of water and the depth of saturation — you should be able to figure out your desired watering time. For example, if a half hour of watering filled your cans to an average of 0.5 inches, and moistened the soil to 3 inches, you know you’ll need to water for an hour to get the water to soak 6 inches down. If you also have a drip irrigation system, check it as well. There may be some wear and tear that calls for the replacement of parts. This would be a good time to flush out the system, as the No. 1 problem with drip irrigation systems is an accumulation of dirt that causes clogs. Typical homeowner water sprinklers and irrigation systemsFixed sprinkler Gear drive sprinkler Hose-end spray nozzles Impact sprinkler With an impact (sometimes called impulse or pulsating) sprinkler, the spraying nozzle is rotated by the pressure of the water from the hose. Made in both plastic and brass; the brass impact sprinkler is more expensive but more durable. Some models are attached to the ground via a spike, others are elevated to become a tripod sprinkler. Control collars limit the travel of the head, and a rocking arm repeatedly inserts itself into the stream of water to both drive the head and create an additional spray stream. The pulsating sprinkler was invented in 1933 and marketed under the Rain Bird brand name. In-ground water sprinkler Oscillating sprinkler At its simplest, the oscillating sprinkler has a metal or plastic bar with holes drilled in it. Water comes out the holes as the bar rocks back and forth and sprinkles the lawn with a gentle spray. You control the size of the area at the source, by adjusting the water volume at the faucet. Great for relatively small, rectangular yards. More-advanced models such as the turbo oscillating sprinkler allow greater control of the watering pattern and spray volume. Traveling sprinkler Other irrigation equipment to consider Automatic timer Smart irrigation controller Some water utilities offer free sprinkler auditsYour water utility has an interest in preserving water, so much so that many public and private services offer sprinkler evaluations at no or low cost. Free programs are offered in many cities and counties across the United States, including In California: Montclair, Santa Clara County, San Diego. In Colorado: A consortium of 30 water districts, including those serving Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins. In Florida: Orlando, communities in the Southwest Florida Water Management District. In Texas: Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Southlake, Sugar Land. In Utah: Counties around and including Salt Lake. The post Keep Your Grass Healthy With a Lawn Sprinkler Audit appeared first on Lawnstarter. from https://www.lawnstarter.com/blog/lawn-care-2/keep-grass-healthy-lawn-sprinkler-audit/
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