All About Irrigation

Everything You Need to Know About

Irrigation

Improve YourExisting System

1. Make sure what you have is in good working order.

2. Don’t mix different types of sprinklers heads ( rotors, spray, drip) on the same zone to run a the same time.

3. The run time for rotor zones and spray zones should be different not the same for all.

4. Head-to-head coverage is a must.5. Never reduce the throwing distance of a sprinkler

by more than 25%.6. Match the precipitation rates in your rotors.7. Irrigate shrub or flower beds separately from

grass areas.8. Reduce the amount of overspray.9. Install a rain sensor.10. Never operate your system during the wrong

part of the day.

Improve Your Existing System10 Tips to a Better Irrigation System

Improve Your Existing System• Check for dry spots and adjust irrigation heads.

• Make sure heads are adjusted to avoid overspray to

areas

not intended to be watered.

Improve Your Existing System• Keep sprinklers clean and clear of debris.

• Make sure they are set at the proper height.

Improve Your Existing System• Adjust time based on the water needs of the plant

and the time of year.

• Group plants with the same watering needs.

Improve Your Existing System• Fix leaking valves, heads and pipes.

Improve Your Existing System• Change irrigation heads to best suit plant bed

conditions.

Improve Your Existing System• Upgrade your controller.

Improve Your Existing System• Add a sensor.

How to Installa New System

How to Install a New SystemStep 1: Check the local codes for installation &

backflow

prevention. Get any permits if needed.

How to Install a New SystemStep 2: Draw your property to scale.

• Outline your house, driveway, sidewalks, fences and

all other structures and hard surfaces.

• Differentiate grass, groundcover, shrubs and flower

beds and divide these sections on the plan.

• Identify the location of the water meter (pump) and

available electrical power locations.

How to Install a New SystemStep 3: Check the water source.

• Check water pressure.

• Identify water meter size and supply lines.

(Use available charts to figure flows.)

- Or -

• Do a Flow Test.

Example: It took 15 seconds to fill up a 5 gallon

bucket. This means you have 20 gallons per minute

(5 divided by 20 x 60 = 20 gallons per minute).

How to Install a New SystemStep 4: Locating sprinklers & types of

sprinklers

Sprayheads:

• Installed on spray body

• Cover areas from 4’ -18’

• Precipitation Rate = 1.5”-1.6”/hour

Rotary Nozzles:

• Installed on Spray Body.

• Cover areas from 8’ – 30’

• Precipitation Rate = 0.4”- 0.6”/hour

How to Install a New SystemStep 4: Locating sprinklers & types of

sprinklers

Rotors:

• Requires correct nozzling to match

precipitation rates

• Cover areas from 4’ -18’

• Precipitation Rate = 0.3” - 0.5”/hour

Low Volume Irrigation:

• Rates vary by product but can =

sprayheads

How to Install a New SystemStep 4: Locating sprinklers & types of

sprinklers

• Take individual sections one at a time.

• Utilize one type of sprinkler per section. ( You can

mix

rotary and rotors only if PR Rates are the same).

• Plan the location starting from the corners, then if

needed,

draw in sprinklers along the edges and middle with

the

goal being “head-to-head” coverage (The spray

from one

sprinkler reaches the next sprinkler

location).

• Utilize sprinkler arcs to insure good coverage.

How to Install a New SystemStep 5: Divide the sprinklers into zones.• Group sprinklers into zones based on sprinkler types and water needs of the different plant types.• Figure out how many sprinklers at one time based on the water supply.• Each sprinkler has a specific flow expressed in gallons per minute based on pattern and pressure.• Divide the total gallonage of each of the specific sprinkler types and specific areas by the water source gallonage to determine the number of zones needed. • Note: Only 75-80% of the available water should be used to account for changes as subdivisions build out. Also, you are less likely to see the impact of the sprinkler system running while showering, etc.

How to Install a New SystemStep 5: Divide the sprinklers into zones.

One way to lay out pipe. Preferred way to layout pipe.

How to Install a New SystemStep 6: Draw in the valves and pipe.• Draw a line connecting all sprinklers in the zone

to one another then the solenoid valve. • Use a separate pipe as a sleeve to good under

drives and walks.• Typically grouped together into valve manifolds.• Size pipe based on friction loss charts.

1/2”=0-5 GPM, ¾” = 5-10 GPM, 1” = 10-15 GPM,

11/4” = 15-25 GPM.

How to Install a New SystemStep 7: Connect mainline.

• Run mainline from water source to each valve.

• Wires for the control of the zone valves should be

routed

along the main to the controller location.

• This wire is typically 18 gauge and can be single or

multistranted.

How to Install a New SystemStep 8: Determine type of timer.• Typically need 1 station per valve.• Choose a timer based on how you would like to

operate

your system.• The Entire System Runs Once Started• Multiple programs• Ability to Run 2 Programs at the Same• Programmable Master Valve or Pump Start

• May need a pump start if this is a pump and well.

How to Install a New SystemStep 9: Determine Type of Sensor.

• Florida Law requires a sensor.

• Switch Type Sensors

• Rain Sensor

• Freeze Sensor

• Moisture Sensor

• ET Device – Automatically adjusts the runs time

based on the sensor input up or down.

Hunter Industrieshttp://www.hunterindustries.com/Resources/Design/design_guide.html

Torohttp://www.toro.com/sprinklers/guides.html

ResourcesFor Sprinkler Layouts

New Technology

New TechnologyFor Irrigation

• Smart Controllers

• Smart Sensors

• Rain Sensors/ Moisture Sensors

• Pressure Regulating Heads

• MP Rotator Nozzles

• Precision Nozzles

• Low Volume Irrigation

Right Plant, Right Place

Florida Friendly Water Wise PlantsHere are select drought-tolerant plants that work

well in our plant zone.

• Crape myrtle

• Laurel oak

• Podocarpus

• Juniper

• Yaupon Holly

• Texas Sage

• Bulbine

• Agave

• Bahia turf

• Sabal palm

• Honeysuckle vine

• Mondo grass

• Lantana

• Pineapple Guava

• Viburnum

• Ligustrum

Case StudyOcean Hammock B5 Amenity Center

Problem:To create a landscape with the kinds of plants that might be found growing in a landscape only several hundred feet from the shoreline. The existing landscape was much more like a typical residential landscape in the neighborhood, was several years old, and was suffering from salt damage and windburn.

Solution:A plan was developed that included salt, wind and drought tolerant plants, with low volume irrigation, and coquina stone mulch. The intent was to grow in a landscape that would provide visual interest, require less agricultural input, and eventually completely cover the ground. Re-mulching would become unnecessary, and when mature, irrigation could be substantially cut back, if not turned off completely.

Case StudyGrand Haven

Problem:Grand Haven’s main problem was wrong plant, wrong place and water shed from existing irrigation.

Solution:Utilized drought-tolerant plant material and low-volume irrigation in creating new beds in strategic areas around lake banks to reduce irrigation runoff.

Created a unified landscape theme from main entries into village entries and islands throughout property

Case StudyBella Collina

Problem:The Bella Collina community had strict water regulations along with sandy, over-drained soil conditions.

Solution:Drip irrigation was used throughout the property to help with conservation. More than 2.6 million linear feet (16 miles of lateral line) of drip irrigation can be found throughout the property, which eliminates typical water wastage by nearly 50 percent by reducing overspray, misting, wind-draft issues and water run off.

In addition to drip irrigation, drought-tolerant plant material is used to help with the water restrictions.

Case StudySea Pines

Problem:The controllers had improper wiring (speaker wiring was used). Also, there was an improper delineation of zones between the beds and the turf. Also, the irrigation head heights needed to be adjusted (some where too high, making it easily damaged by equipment and some were too low, making it not work properly.

Solution:The turf and bed zones were delineated. Also, a plan has been submitted to adjust the irrigation head heights and to properly wire the controllers. Also, enhancements were suggested using drought-tolerant plant material.

Learn More!

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