HOT PROPERTY
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EASY IRRIGATION
The benefits of installing an inground sprinkler system
If youown ahome, youlikelyhavealawn and/or garden. Theseare thirsty,high-maintenance, delicate areasofyour yard that requireregular watering to survive and thrive. Formanyhomeowners,aninground sprinkler system takes the guesswork out of proper watering and savestime and hassle during the growing season, making this investment worth it.
“The obvious benefit of such systems is the neat, lean look of your lawn and garden that’s produced. It’salsoaneco-friendlier wayto water your lawn, as such systems –ifwellplanned –reducewater consumption and residential water runoff,”saysBryan McKenzie, a landscape designer,gardener,and co-founder of BumperCropTimes.com in Los Angeles.
Ponder howacarefullycared-for lawn and garden can up your home’scurb appeal and property value—a niceperk when it’stime to sell. Plus,professionallyinstalled inground systems,especiallythosewith advanced water gauges,sensors,and timers,can be programmed to automaticallyoperate at the mostefficient times,such as in the early hours of the morning when it’susuallyhealthier to irrigate and thereisless of ademand on water resources.
“Watering this wayissomuch easierthan hand-watering alawnorgarden. And it can be even moreconvenient if the sprinkler system is connected to an app youcan control with your smartphone and has smart features that predict the weather and adjustwatering schedules accordingly,”HollyMaguire, manager of Simple Lawn Solutions in Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, explains.
Caveats apply, however. First, inground sprinklers aren’tcheap; youcan expect to pay between $1,714and $3,519,onaverage,for an installed system nowadays.“Thesesystems requiredigging and installing pipes beneath the ground; if apipe bursts and leaks,itcan damageyour lawn or garden and youhave to tear up the yard to repair the problem,” cautions Maguire. Additionally, youcan accidentallydamagethe buried/hidden sprinklers with your lawnmowerifyou’renot careful.
Thereare three main types of inground watering systems to choosefrom: atraditional spray system that includes pop-up and ground-levelheads that distribute H 2 Oina circular pattern; amorewater-efficient drip system that employs customizable soakers, bubblers,micro-sprayers,and drippers; or arotor system that disperses water at a slowerpace, so that the ground can absorb it properly, via either impact sprayers,pop-up sprayers,orgear-drivenrotors.
Experts recommend hiring aprofessional installer,asit’shardwork to prep for the inground pipes and parts; plus,the shape and size of your lawn, as well as your water pressure, needs to be evaluated carefullyso that the bestsystem and components can be selected.
“The sprinklers have to coverthe lawn evenlywithout resulting in overwatering. To achieve this,you have to consider the coverageofevery single sprinkler and place them around the area at the right distancefrom each other,” suggestsMcKenzie.
McKenzie says theperfect candidates for an inground irrigation system arehomeowners who live in warmer regions wherethe ground doesn’tfreezeoverinwinter.
–CTW Features
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This project can be done by ahandy do-it-yourselfer, but the most difficult part of the project is the digging involved. Photo courtesy of Content That Works
