A well-maintained lawn can be a thing of beauty. The deep greens and clean lines of a healthy yard are just as important to curb appeal as any part of the physical home. We all know that without water, or with too much water, lawns will suffer. To avoid an outrageous water bill and grass gone golden in the dry Texas summers, you have to find the perfect balance. In-yard sprinklers systems, once viewed as a simple luxury, are now proving to be a homeowner's secret, water-saving weapon.
So, how exactly do sprinkler systems save water? The last most people heard was that hand watering was the way to go. Sprinkler systems have come a long way since then. Not only can you program your irrigation system to automatically adjust its output according to the season, it can even include rain sensors to pause watering when rain renders it unnecessary. Another perk of an automated irrigation system is watering in cycles. Instead of watering for 15 or so minutes straight, your system can perform three segments of 3-4 minutes, allowing the water to soak into the soil and using less water. This also reduces wasted water from runoff. Sprinkler systems also save water due to their ability to water when most people aren't awake or normally able to water. Watering at night can lead to standing water and contribute to mosquito problems. Watering during the afternoon wastes water due to evaporation, and who wants to wake up extra early to water their lawn? You can let your sprinklers do it and hit the snooze button a few more times.
Whether you've planted, or plan on planting, trees, flowers, shrubbery or just plain old grass, a new sprinkler system can help to ensure that each plant receives the recommended care without wasting water. Start by hydro-zoning your yard. Plants that require the same amounts of water should be placed near each other to avoid over or under-watering. Once you have your yard zoned for watering, have your local plumbing company install a sprinkler system. Today's in-ground sprinkler systems can be operated manually, by remote control or set to a timer. While timers can ensure that you don't over water during dry days, it's important to remember to manually pause them on days when it rains if your system is not equipped with a rain sensor.
When choosing your installer, there are several things to keep in mind. Will they not only install your home irrigation system, but also repair and perform any maintenance as well? Do they have irrigation specialists to work with you to design your system based on hydro-zoning recommendations? Over the years, sprinkler heads, valves and other major components of your sprinkler system could need repairs or upgrades, and having an experienced team to turn to is definitely worth it in the long run. So quit dragging that garden hose around and simplify your life, while simultaneously conserving water and cultivating a gorgeous lawn, with an in-ground sprinkler system.
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