How to Map a Sprinkler System

Measure the area of your yard, including any bushes or trees, to scale on graphing paper. Use ½ inch or one inch ruled graphing paper and designate a uniform area for each square, such as each square is equal to 10 square feet or five square feet if you have a smaller yard. For bushes and trees, use icons like a circle for bushes or a rectangle to represent trees.

Research how much water each area of your yard needs to determine how many sprinklers or how much water should be given to a specific area. For example, some trees or plants need more watering than regular lawn grass, so you can plan to set up one sprinkler for these areas only.

Mark the areas of lawn into sections according to how much water they need. For example, you could make a section for areas that need multiple sprinklers, a large lawn area might need two or three, whereas areas like trees may require more watering and can have their own sprinkler designated to that area.

Purchase sprinklers from your local hardware store and bring your map, along with any pertinent information on plant life in your yard, with you. Ask employees for recommendations based on your individual lawn's need and select sprinklers based on your needs and any helpful recommendations.

Set up up sprinklers in the sections you have designated and do a test run. Start with the general lawn sprinklers and run them for a few minutes taking note of any areas that are not receiving coverage. Adjust and move sprinklers as needed until all areas of the grass are receiving water. You can even put small stakes into the grass to mark the areas for sprinkler placement, so that you can easily find them.

Run sprinklers dedicated to sections of trees and other plants to insure they are watering plants properly. For example, most trees shouldn't be watered at the bottom, whereas shrubs, bushes and flower beds can be, so insure that they are receiving water and stake the areas if needed so you don't forget.

Set up a watering schedule based on your town or county's requirements. For example, if you are only allowed to water for a short period of time, say a couple of hours a day with a certain amount of water, switch between days of watering the lawn and then watering the other plants in your yard.