DIY Network

Curb Appeal: Multi-Zone Sprinkler System and Plant Layout From "Home IQ" episode DHIQ-124

Figure A

With our homeowners' (Brad and Lynn Oberg) landscaping plan in place, the top soil that was saved from the excavation phase of construction is brought up to the front of the house so the plant beds can be prepped for the plant layout. This bed preparation includes the installation of a multi-zone irrigation sprinkler system.

This is a system that the plumber has already pre-planned for, and he left a tie-in (figure A) for the landscaper, making the hook-up much easier. To figure out exactly where the sprinklers will go, Pad Douds (the landscape designer) and our homeowners decide on what type of plants to use and where to put them -- the plant layout.

advertisement

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Multi-Zone Sprinkler System Layout

"I got a general feel for what the Oberg's were looking for in the landscape [for the entrance area only, remember]," Douds said. "And I came up with a formal design (figure B) for them, and from that we were able to sit down and take a look at the plant materials which I had selected."

Our homeowners liked some of the selections and didn't like others. Once Douds knows where the plants will go and how much water they need to survive, he can design the pipe layout for the multi-zone sprinkler system. There are three zones -- one for the lawn and two for the plant beds, and remember that this is for the front-entrance area only. The main line comes out from the front wall of the house, and it travels out and goes underneath the driveway for future irrigation. It also travels in the opposite direction through a sleeve in the sidewalk over to the other existing zone across the sidewalk.

Altogether there are approximately 18 spray heads and each is adjustable, giving control over where it sprays and how far (figure C). There's a range of different nozzles that can be placed in the heads, with a radius from 7' up to 15', which means Douds had to figure out how many heads it would take to cover the area (front lawn for the Oberg job) in question.

Our homeowners wanted to hide the mechanics of the sprinkler heads but still be able to get the coverage their lawn and shrubbery needed. "Essentially all the heads that we used in this installation," Douds said, "are pop-ups, which means that they come out of the ground and have a fixed spray pattern." The nozzles have an adjustable arc, and some other parts of the sprinkler system have flexibility. For example, all the PVC pipe that's run is 1" and as it gets close to the pipe, a swing pipe (figure D is utilized, which allows the head to be moved around within the bed easily.

One of the great assets to having a sprinkler system is that it runs automatically on its own timer, which can be programmed to go off at certain times during the day. And Brad and Lynn will only have to worry about seasonal adjustments to the timer, which is installed wherever the homeowner chooses, and for Brad the utility room in the basement was the perfect selection.

In the next segment the beds are prepared for planting and find out how a late purchase by our homeowners changes the landscaping plan.

RESOURCES :

Interlocking Paving Stones & Versa-Lok® Retaining Wall Systems
R.I. Lampus Co.
Website: www.lampus.com

Land Excavation
Crea Excavating, Inc.
1315 Pleasant Hills Rd.
Wexford, PA 15090-6807
Phone: 724-935-2959

GUESTS :

Brad and Lynn Oberg
Homeowners
Company: IBACOS (Brad)
Title: Co-Founder/Chief Technology Officer
Website: www.ibacos.com

Greg Allen
Site Supervisor
Hendolhurst Homes
955 Markman Park Rd.
Baden, PA 15005
Phone: 724-935-5658
Fax: 724-935-0884
E-mail: gcrbs@adelphia.net

Pat Douds
Landscape Designer
Douds Bros. Landscape Construction, Inc.
Phone and Fax: 724-898-2006
E-mail: mike@doudsbrosinc.com