An effective sprinkler system for your lawn waters all of your grass without watering areas outside your lawn. Watering non-lawn areas wastes water. In order to have a sprinkler system that works well, accurately calculate the number of sprinkler heads needed. Then you can install your lawn's irrigation system and never have to worry about dry spots or overwatered areas.
Related Articles
- 1 Measure for Sod
- 2 Cut Your Grass in a Circle Around a Landscape Tree
- 3 Fertilize a Lawn With Ammonium Phosphate
- 4 Water Zoysia Sod
I would classify the room as Light Hazard. Given the building's age I will assume the sprinkler system was designed using the pipe schedule method. As a result the area of protection for standard spray sprinklers (either pendant or upright) is 200 square feet. The maximum spacing between sprinklers is 15 feet. So, while a 2,500 square foot lawn may average $2,500, a 5,000 square foot lawn may only cost $3,000 to $3,500. What’s included with your Underground Sprinkler System? An underground lawn sprinkler system consists of several main components. The controller is a small computer that is installed in an out of the way place such as the garage.
1
Measure the dimensions of your lawn with measuring tape. Draw your lawn to scale on a piece of graph paper with every square on the paper equal to 1 square foot of lawn space.
2
Multiply the diameter of the circular spray pattern of the sprinkler you want by 50 percent, or 0.50. The result is the spacing to use between sprinkler heads and rows of sprinklers. If, for instance, the sprinkler's spray pattern is 6 feet across, then you would place the sprinklers 3 feet apart from each other because 6 x 50 percent = 3.
3
Sketch the locations of the sprinklers on the graph paper drawing of your lawn. Start at the corners, and use one dot for each sprinkler. Add rows of dots so the dots are spaced according to the distance you calculated to use between sprinklers.
4
Mark the dots at the corners with a one-quarter circle so you know that those sprinkler heads need to spray in only 90-degree arcs instead of full, 360-degree circles. Draw those one-quarter circles in a second color so they are simple to see on the drawing.
5
Make one-half circles next to the dots along the border of your lawn in the drawing, except for the dots in the corners. Use a third color to draw those one-half circles. Each of those lawn-border sprinkler heads should spray in only a one-half circle, 180 degrees.
6
Count the total number of plain dots you have on the drawing, and write down that number. The number is how many sprinkler heads you need to spray in a full circle, 360 degrees. Count the dots on the borders marked with one-half circles, and make a note of that number. Count the corner dots with one-quarter circles, and write down that number.
7
Add all of the sprinkler numbers. The result is the number of sprinkler heads you need to water your lawn completely without wasting water on the sidewalk or driveway.
Things You Will Need
- Measuring tape
- Graph paper
- Calculator (optional)
- Colored pencils
References (2)
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Choose Citation Style
System Protecton Area Limitations
System Protecton Area Limitations
Thanks in advance.