Like any green plants, the grass in your lawn requires water to survive and to thrive. If you're lucky, Mother Nature will supply your lawn with just enough – but not too much – water for its needs. It's more likely, however, that Mother Nature will need some help from time to time, as a typical lawn requires roughly 1 inch of water per week during warm weather conditions. The question is, how will you supply the extra water your thirsty lawn desires? For many, the answer is to install a sprinkler system directly into your lawn. Before you do so, you should understand what the procedure entails.
A lawn sprinkler system typically costs between $339 and $2,303, according to redbeacon.com. But the system can save you money in the long run. First, a properly designed system that's tailored to suit your landscape can help you avoid overwatering. Just make sure you can turn your system on and off, as opposed to installing an automatic system. Alternatively, have a rain or soil moisture sensor installed that prevents the system from watering your lawn when it's already wet. Moisture sensors, in particular, can reduce your watering needs by 50 to 75 percent, says the Virginia Cooperative Extension.
Additionally, by keeping your lawn properly watered and healthy, you lessen its vulnerability to pests or weed infestations, thereby reducing the need to buy pesticides or obtain other special treatments. Finally, an underground sprinkler system often increases your home's value, notes the Michigan State University Extension.
Quite a few considerations go into sprinkler system installations. If you wish to perform the work yourself, you'll have to check with your municipality and acquire any necessary building permits, choose a delivery system, map out your lawn, decide how far apart to place the sprinklers, and determine the flow rate of your local water system. When the planning is complete, you'll have to buy the materials, construct the system, tap into the water supply, attach the sprinkler heads and then test your handiwork.
Alternatively, you can have the system installed professionally. This may seem more expensive on paper but, again, it can be cost-effective in the long run, as an experienced contractor can likely provide a more efficient system. Additionally, if you do it yourself, you'll pay for any mistakes you make. A legitimate, licensed contractor like Steeplechase is less likely to make a mistake, but if one occurs, the contractor will bear the costs of correcting the error.
Share