How to Dig a Sprinkler Well

Call your local municipality to see how deep underground the sprinkler system needs to be located. This varies according to how deep the ground freezes in your area. Generally, sprinkler systems need to be 6 to 12 inches below ground.

Remove an 18-inch circle of sod from the location you'll be digging the sprinkler head's well, using a shovel held at a 45-degree angle to the ground. Dig an 18-inch-diameter hole between 6 to 12 inches deep at the location of each sprinkler head. Save the sod and soil you remove, placing it in a wheelbarrow.

Twist a 90-degree elbow pipe onto the end of the water pipe leading up to the sprinkler head. If the elbow opens up directly to where you want the sprinkler head located, wrap plumber's tape around the sprinkler head's threaded bottom and twist it onto the elbow. If you want to adjust the sprinkler head's placement slightly away from the elbow, wrap plumber's tape around an offset swing pipe's threaded end -- and twist it onto the elbow, then attach the sprinkler head to the offset swing pipe.

Pour approximately 4 inches of soil you saved in Step 2 back into the hole. Tamp the soil down around the sprinkler head with a rubber mallet. Add another 4 inches of soil and tamp it down. Continue until the soil is about 2 inches lower than the sod level, and then surround the sprinkler head with sod.