Q: What are the pros of an automatic irrigation system? Do they help conserve water?
A: Automatic irrigation systems when installed and programmed properly can save you time and money. Most importantly, it can help with water conservation. Automatic irrigation systems can be programmed to water precise amounts of water on specific days. An automatic irrigation system can be programmed to meet your cities water restrictions easing your worries over fines and costly water bills.

Q: Will having a sprinkler system really save time?
A: Yes it will! You won’t have to spend another minute watering your lawn. Your time is valuable, whether you are home or away a sprinkler system will take care of the watering for you.

Q: Does an automatic sprinkler system water as well as I can by hand?
A: A professionally designed and installed sprinkler system will deliver exactly the right amount of water to your individual lawn and garden areas making it much more proficient than watering by hand.

Q. Will it be expensive to have a professional plan my Irrigation System?
A. What you will spend in hiring a professional to plan your irrigation system, you will save in the long run by having a well functioning landscape. With the wrong layout, your water may just roll away and be wasted.

Q: What is the difference between “spray” lawn sprinkler heads and “rotor” heads?
A: There are two common types of lawn sprinkler heads, “spray and “rotor”.

• • Spray heads can be designed one of two ways. They either pop up out of the ground when the system turns on or they rest on pipes that remain aboveground all the time. Spray heads are sometimes called “high application rate” sprinkler heads because of the large volume of water they discharge in a short amount of time. These types of heads are therefore useful on even surfaces, not slopes.
• • Rotor heads have a lower application rate, and are simpler to use on slopes. Rotor heads apply water more evenly than spray heads so they are very good for watering larger areas.

Q: Why should types of sprinklers matter in lawn irrigation?
A: Whether you use spray or rotor sprinkler heads does matter. Installing precisely the correct head for each area of your landscape is very important. The goal of a good irrigation system is to target water distribution as precisely as the system allows and prevent run-off.

Q: What are drip irrigation systems and how do they promote water conservation?
A: Sprinklers spray water into the air before it reaches the ground. Wind can carry airborne water away distributing it in places other than where it was intended to go. This is not conductive to water conservation. Drip systems prevent this by applying the water directly to the roots. Drip systems are often installed in flowers, shrubs, planters and pots as opposed to lawns.

Q: Is sprinkler installation a do-it yourself project?
A: In most cases, professionals should handle installation of a sprinkler system. Most do-it yourselfers are not knowledgeable about the types of pipe, sprinklers, heads and timers necessary in install a sprinkler system.

Q: How can the new Smart Controllers help with water conservation?
A: Landscape contractors can help you upgrade your current irrigation controller to a “Smart Controller.” Smart Controllers are one of the newest water saving innovations in irrigation controllers. Smart Controllers use weather information and sensors to efficiently manage frequency of watering times. The controllers have the ability to turn off automatically during rain, high wind or low temperature to reduce unnecessary watering. Smart Controllers can reduce your outdoor water use by up to 30 percent and possible rebates for an upgrade may be available through your local government.