Sprinkler systems provide uniform coverage for your lawn without the need to drag your hose and sprinkler across the lawn. These systems save time and money, and to most people's surprise, a well-designed irrigation system can actually save water as well. The trick in efficient irrigation is design or placement of the sprinkler heads.

Clearing Up Assumptions

Let's clear the air first. Sprinkler systems help homeowners to avoid overwatering (a common problem when using traditional manual sprinklers). When set up properly, automatic sprinkler systems sense and monitor rainfall, allowing you to take advantage of natural irrigation and maintain a healthy lawn.

Another common assumption about sprinkler systems is cost. Because you can control the amount of water and frequency of operation, these automatic systems present an opportunity to save money. But remember that the initial design must properly account for spacing and coverage.

Many consumers looking to save money opt to purchase a system that provides the least amount of sprinkler heads. Although you do not want to overdo it and install an abundance of sprinkler heads, adequate coverage assures that every inch of the lawn is watered evenly. A lack of coverage results in dry spots, which often require supplemental watering.

Proper Coverage

Experts agree that the distance between sprinkler heads should be equal to the radius of those sprinkler heads. Commonly referred to as head-to-head design, this provides necessary overlap in coverage in order to ensure every portion of the lawn is watered.

In windy areas that spacing needs to be shortened by about 5 to 10 percent. Try to stretch out that space and you'll end up with dry patches. Many consumers invest in sprinkler systems that use alternate designs in an effort to lower the initial cost. Those homeowners often end up adding heads to the system to compensate, spending more in the end than a head-to-head design would have cost up front.

Sprinkler heads also need to be installed at the proper height, with adequate water pressure in the system.

Talk to your landscaper or irrigation specialist about designing an automatic sprinkler system for your property. Head-to-head design creates uniform coverage and contrary to popular assumptions, sprinkler systems can save money and water when used properly.