:: neighborly advice

Evaluating the Efectiveness of Your Lawn‘s Irrigation System
Based largely on University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension NebGuide G93-1181-A

As we prepare our lawns for the hot summer months ahead, spring is an important time to evaluate your lawn‘s irrigation system. Annual maintenance is important because irrigation systems, like any other equipment, does eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Faulty irrigation components are relatively easy to spot and usually easy to replace by the do-it-yourself-type person. Almost all of these common lawn irrigation components are available at The Mercantile located near you.

A big factor, that is often forgotten when evaluating your lawn‘s irrigation system, is your landscape may have changed since your system was installed. For example, trees or bushes that you planted may now partially block or distort the intended spray pattern. To adjust, you must modify either the plants, or the location of your sprinkler heads. To better conserve water, simple drip irrigation systems have become very popular and can be easily installed to supplement your existing irrigation equipment. Drip irrigation equipment is easy to install and perfect for hard to water areas.

By far the most important factor to evaluate in your lawn irrigation system is your system‘s efficiency…especially given our current water supply situation. Does your system apply water uniformly? Let me suggest a simple "catch can test" to determine both proper application rate and uniformity of your system.

To perform the "catch can test", space several coffee cans uniformly 10 to 15 feet apart in the area you wish to test. Turn your sprinkler system on for 15 minutes and then measure the depth of water in each can using a ruler or a tape measure. With the information you gather, you can determine the amount of time it takes your system to apply one inch of water to the turf area. If the amount of water collected in each can is highly variable, you can also determine which sprinkler heads may need adjustment or replacement. When performing this test, it is important to keep the effects of high winds in mind, which can drastically affect the test results.

The above information will help you create a landscape that is extremely attractive with an irrigation system that is as efficient as possible. If you need help with your lawn‘s irrigation system, stop by The Mercantile‘s lawn and garden department and visit with our helpful staff. Have a great spring in your yard.

Owen Palm
General Manager