Maintaining your home landscaping, and exhibiting a healthy, vibrant lawn and flower beds takes time and dedication. With the assistance of the right tools and products you can achieve a picturesque home exterior that is the envy of the neighbourhood. An irrigation system will reduce the time you physically spend in the yard, while ensuring your grass and other plants are well watered. We are sharing a simple maintenance routine to ensure your in-ground sprinkler system continues to operating at optimal levels.

1. Inspect Your System

Checking the different components of your system on a monthly basis is a great habit to start building. Start by inspecting each head while it is running, look for the coverage area and the pressure of the water coming out. Sprinkler heads are often damaged by lawn mowers, by people inadvertently stepping on them, and even by the ground shifting. If your heads do not go up or down as intended, replace them immediately, as this can lead to additional damage if not attended to. If the pressure is low this can be an indicator of a broken line or a poorly performing pump. Walk your yard and look for any pooling water or bubbling, as this can be an indicator that your line is damaged.

2. Monitor the Spray Area

For an irrigation system to do its job properly, it needs to be able to water your entire yard. When your system is initially installed, it will be set up to reach all areas of your yard. Over time, adjustments of each sprinkler head is required to ensure all areas are being watered equally. Observe the spray that is coming out of each sprinkler head, the spray should be evenly dispersed and consistently flowing. If the spray is more like a fine mist or spraying in multiple directions, the sprinkler head may need to be cleaned as well as adjusted. If you see that the spray is going past your intended area and landing on the street, sidewalk, or driveway, adjustments are required to reduce the amount of wasted water. After your system has run a full cycle, walk your yard and look for any dry spots, adjust the nearest heads to ensure those dry areas are now receiving water as well.

3. Update Your Settings

Depending on the season, your lawn and flower beds will require varying amounts of water. Your control panel allows for you to adjust the time of day and how long each irrigation zone runs for. Shaded areas will require less water than those with full sun exposure. Your watering routine will also need to be adjusted from spring to summer and from summer to fall.

4. Always Winterize

Getting your irrigation system winter ready is perhaps the most important maintenance task to ensure your system remains operational for years and years. When the temperatures drop below freezing, your system is at serious risk if the lines are full of water. As the water freezes it expands, and this expansion can crack or break your water lines. It is important to clear your lines of all resting water prior to the arrival of below freezing temperatures. Forcing air through your system with an air compressor is a great way to clear any resting water in your lines.

A well-maintained irrigation system will work hard to help you sustain a yard that will impress your neighbours and friends alike. If you are not comfortable with completing your in-ground sprinkler maintenance, we can help. Call Turf Rain Irrigation Systems today at (416) 856-5000.