Confused by your irrigation system? Confused by lawn watering?
Have questions to ask an irrigation contractor?
Maybe we beat you to it. Here are the irrigation questions we hear a lot. Bonus: we even include the answers!
1. Why Do I Need to Shut Down My Irrigation System for Winter?
Do you like the idea of exploding water pipes? No? That’s why.
Winterizing your sprinkler system is a crucial task before the first deep freeze of the season.
You absolutely must get the water out of your pipes, valves, and heads before the first deep freeze.
If water freezes and expands, things break, and that means a costly repair.
2. Why Do I Need an Irrigation System Check Mid-Season?
Maybe you figure if you have spring activation and fall winterization service, you’re all set.
But think about all the hard work your irrigation system does all summer, during the driest, hottest days.
Doesn’t it make sense to have sprinkler system maintenance then, when your system works the hardest?
Summer can bring all sorts of potential problems. Sprinkler heads can get mowed off. Miscellaneous construction projects can damage underground systems without your knowledge. Plants have grown and are now blocking spray patterns.
Your vegetables are finally almost ready to harvest, the lawn and landscape is looking great. It’s not time to throw caution to the wind.
Summer is also the perfect time for our skilled technicians to scrutinize your spray coverage when all your shrubs and flowers are in full growth.
3. How Hard Is It to Install an Irrigation System in an Existing Lawn?
Not that hard with the right tools. We do it all the time.
Sure, it’s a little easier to install in bare dirt, but we’re happy to install sprinkler systems in existing yards.
4. How Long Does it Take to Install an Irrigation System?
About a day.
5. What Will My Lawn Look Like After You Leave?
Usually, you’ll hardly be able to tell we were there.
Reputable irrigation contractors use a technique to “pull” pipe under the ground, not messy trenching, to install your sprinkler system.
We cut a slit in your lawn and a machine drags the pipe through underground. No cutting invasive trenches that throw dirt everywhere.
We clean up after we’re done and even reseed any areas we disturbed. Most companies don’t do this — it costs extra money.
6. How Soon Can You Get Here to Install My New Irrigation System?
Plan ahead. It typically takes several weeks to months (depending upon the time of year) to get on the installation schedule.
7. How Often Should I Change My Controller Settings?
You’re not going to like this answer: Once a month, minimum.
Your lawn has different watering needs from May to July to September.
It just makes senses that your lawn will need more water in the heat of summer than it does on a cool spring day.
When your irrigation contractor gets your system started up in the spring, they should get you set up with the right irrigation settings for spring.
But as spring turns to summer, the sun rises earlier, and temperatures warm up, you’ll need to adjust those settings.
We know, it’s a hassle. Irrigation controllers won’t win any prizes for ease of use.
Make it easy on yourself and let us take care of it! Sign up for our Peak Performance plan, and we’ll come out every month and do it for you.
8. How Often Should I Water My Yard?
There’s no quick and easy answer to this one.
Everybody’s yard is different. There are no universal watering rules for everybody.
Your goal should be an inch of water per week, and that includes any rain that falls.
But lots of different factors affect how long you should actually water your lawn.
If your soil is clay, you’ll water differently than if your soil is sand. You might water 40 minutes to an hour if you have sandy soil. But your friend across town who has clay might need to water for just 15 minutes. He’d have a lake if he watered for an hour.
Are you on a slope? In the shade? What variety of grass do you have? What type of soil? What kind of irrigation heads?
All these factors come into play when it comes to watering times.
Your best bet? Hire a skilled and knowledgeable irrigation contractor to help you assess your particular lawn and create an irrigation plan perfect for you.
9. Is It Best to Water Multiple Times for a Shorter Duration or Once for Longer?
Water deeper, longer, and not as often. That encourages deeper, stronger roots.
If you water too often, it encourages roots to hang out near the surface. Why should they head deeper in the soil to search for water when you’re serving it up so readily every day?
10. When Is the Best Time to Water My Yard?
Wrap up your watering as close to sunrise as possible. If sunrise is at 6 a.m., you should be done watering at 6.
Wind typically picks up as the day goes on. You don’t want your precious water droplets to blow away.
The sun will cause your water to evaporate before it can soak into your soil.
One of the best things about having a smart irrigation system and an expert irrigation maintenance program to go with it is not having to worry about the best time to water your grass.
It’s just done. Boom. Relax and focus on mixing up your famous barbecue sauce.
Get Your Irrigation Questions Answered With RainMaster
Here’s one more question: what are you waiting for?
If you’re ready for a new irrigation system, don’t wait too long to call us. (Remember question number 6?)
If you’re tired of your irrigation system’s clogged nozzles, broken spray heads, or downright confounding controller instructions, isn’t it time to ease your stress?
Choose from our irrigation maintenance programs that start at $179 a year for basic start-up and winterization tasks.
Or choose our Peak Performance Plan starting at $359 and you’ll get a visit every month between spring start-up and fall winterizing, to make sure everything is running smoothly and resolve problems.
Our most popular program is right in-between and starts at $229.
Proper irrigation is key to your lawn’s health, and that means a sprinkler system that won’t let you down.
Ready to make your lawn life easier? Request a quote today! We’ll review your options together so you can make a confident decision. Then, you can finally enjoy your well-watered lawn and stop worrying about it.
