DIY Network

Sprinkler Maintenance and Drip Irrigation Lawn and garden irrigation: sprinkle and spray vs. drip by drop From "Dirt On Gardening" episode DDOG-109

April showers may bring May flowers, but after the showers disappear, you may need a reliable sprinkler system to keep your spring garden blooming through summer. So early spring is the perfect time to clean, adjust and (if needed) repair your sprinkler system . Some people hire a contractor or lawn service to take care of this, but below are a few simple things you can do yourself.

advertisement

Check your sprinkler heads each spring to ensure that the sprayers are clear of obstructions and in good working order.

Common Problems and Easy Fixes for Sprinkler Heads

• Missing or broken heads? Just replace them.
  
• Clogged heads? Flush out the system or clean out debris by hand.
  
• Tilted or spraying in the wrong direction? Re-adjust to the right direction.
  
• Obstructions preventing the water from reaching the desired areas? Check for overgrowth, and cut back. Remove any other obstructions (rocks, bags
• of soil, etc.) blocking the spray.
  
• Leaks or breaks in the pipe? Replace with new PVC piping and PVC glue.

Water Pressure and Sprinkler Systems

Another common problem with sprinkler systems is pressure. Without correct pressure, your sprinklers will not be able to perform as designed. You may notice large brown areas of lawn where the sprinkler is not reaching, or is over-shooting. Overly high pressure can also damage nozzles and heads, sometimes even causing them to break off. You may need a landscape or sprinkler professional to check the pressure at your sprinkler heads. If your pressure is too high, pressure-reducing valves and heads may be installed, or you may be able to retrofit your existing heads with new nozzles instead of replacing them.

Be sure to consult your system manual to see how to properly re-activate your system for the spring. Many problems have to do with the timer system. If you have an automatic timer, adjust the program to provide adequate watering time and don't forget to replace the battery that backs up the irrigation program.

Installing a Drip Irrigation System

Whether your garden is ornamental or food producing, a sprinkler system or drip irrigation system can be used with equal success. In fact, a drip irrigation system is likely more efficient when it comes to saving water.

Most garden plants love it when the soil is slowly, gently watered--much like a drizzling rain. You can mimic Mother Nature and pamper your plants by installing a drip irrigation system. By applying water at the gentle rate of a gallon or two per hour, instead of the "deluge" that typical sprinklers put out, (about two gallons a minute) the benefits are of drip irrigation will become clear. For one thing, since you're dripping water only at the root zone of the plants, you're irrigating only the plants you love, not the surrounding weeds.

When you water with sprinklers, there's a lot of runoff and a lot of evaporation. Only a fraction of all that water makes it to your plant roots. So, if you are watering your entire garden with a sprinkler, you are wasting a lot of water--and a lot of your money. And drip irrigation is perfect for homeowners with low water pressure. Soaker hoses, for example, need only 5 to 10 pounds per square inch of water pressure to operate effectively.

Drip systems are easy to install--in some cases, almost literally "a snap." To assemble most drip systems, all you need are the parts included in the kit, a pair of scissors or pruning shears and a hole-punching device. (The hole punch is usually included with drip irrigation kits.)

But don't let drip irrigation become drip irritation. Here are some tips and tricks for keeping your drip irrigation or soaker hose system flowing freely and your plants happy:

• Flush the drip irrigation system and check the filters monthly to keep the emitters from clogging.

• Use the right size emitters, and use enough of them for the entire plant.

• When choosing a drip system, consider an in-line emitter system. These seldom clog, and are harder to damage by the errant weed whacker or lawn mower.

• Soaker hoses need maintenance, too. Flush them monthly, clean them in a wheelbarrow, repair with duct tape.

• Make sure you are buying the right size tubing and fittings. Different manufacturers use different sizes.