It’s estimated that 58% of your water usage goes into maintaining your lawn and landscaping. That means there’s a substantial opportunity to save on your water bill this spring. Consider what goes into making a proper irrigation system in Grand Forks, ND, so you can have a luscious lawn without wasting water or breaking the bank.

Coverage

Getting the proper coverage across your lawn is the difference between a full, luscious lawn and dry spots. It’s also the difference in getting your money’s worth in watering your lawn versus wasting money.

As you look at your sprinkler set up, check to make sure there is only minimal crossover between zones hit by each sprinkler. Also avoid areas that aren’t covered by a sprinkler, which can lead to dry spots.

Finally, consider how much is hitting areas that don’t need watering, such as your home, driveway, sidewalk, or even landscaping. This is just a waste of water that leaves stains and water running into the sewage system.

Timing and Volume

The time of day that you run your sprinklers is as important as making sure you have the proper coverage. First, you want to make sure that you aren’t running your sprinklers at the hottest times of the day. This causes the water to evaporate quickly, which can scorch many types of plants.

Additionally, different parts of your landscape may need different amounts of water. Using a one-size-fits-all approach often leaves most of your lawn overwatered. Not only is this a waste of water, but it can ultimately damage your plants and landscaping. Your control panel can help you manage individual areas, regulating not only when they come on, but for how long. They should be able to control various zones independently.

Use High-Efficiency Nozzles

Standard sprinklers and irrigation nozzles are affected by the water pressure to the nozzle. This pressure fluctuates based on the various draws on your water system, which changes how well your system waters your property.

High-efficiency nozzles equalize the water output across all serviced areas. The effect is more even watering, less fluctuation, and reducing water consumption by up to about 30%. The greatest savings will occur when you combine high-efficiency nozzles with proper timing and coverage.

Consider Drip Irrigation

For your home garden, flower beds, trees, and shrubs, you may want to consider drip irrigation. Rather than broadcasting water from afar and hoping enough water gets to the roots, drip irrigation uses nozzles near the plants. It then has a steady drip of water closer to the plants, allowing it to soak more deeply.

This is approach is especially helpful for anything with deep roots. Broadcast watering often evaporates before it gets deep enough to water these plants effectively.

Make sure you have the best irrigation set up for your property this spring. Call our team at Total Care Plumbing to set up a Grand Forks area spring inspection or a consultation to design a new lawn irrigation system for your home.