Lawn & Garden Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler System Basics

• In lawn care, a sprinkler system is a permanent network of sprinklers installed in a yard that provide water to the lawn and possibly to surrounding garden plans, bushes and trees. Sprinkler systems are an alternative to using portable sprinklers that users connect to a hose. Sprinkler systems can consist of aboveground sprinkler heads or underground sprinklers that pop up to provide water and then sink back into the ground when they are not in operation.

Benefits

• Sprinkler systems carry several benefits over portable sprinklers. Sprinkler systems can be set up to automatically provide water to a lawn and gardens on a certain timetable, which eliminates the need to manually set up and run sprinklers. This can significantly reduce the labor involved in watering landscaping, especially for large yards. The ability to set water times can also allow users to water at times of the day where watering won't interfere with the use of the yard and at times that may be inconvenient to manually set up sprinklers, such as in the early morning.

Drawbacks

• The primary drawback of a lawn sprinkler system is the cost associated with installing and maintaining the system. A sprinkler system can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to install and it requires regular inspections and maintenance to ensure that it functions properly. Another drawback of sprinkler systems is that digging is required to install sprinklers and piping, which can damage lawns and plants. Sprinklers become a permanent fixture of the yard, so if you dig in your yard, you could accidentally damage your sprinkler system.

Considerations

• The Utah Division of Water Resources recommends that users inspect sprinkler systems once a month by turning on sprinkler heads and checking for problems. Common problems include clogged or broken sprinklers, sprinklers that spray too much water into streets or sidewalks and inadequate water coverage.