landscaping sprinkler system

[Spork]

You can make the argument that this isn't mustacian.  You're probably right.  But the wife loves plants and spends a crap ton of time watering them.  In the heat of the summer, even at the crack of dawn, it can be hot and unpleasant and takes quite a bit of time.

So... I'm probably going to DIY a sprinkler system.  I've done a ton of repair on existing systems.  I get how they work.  But any hints on design/layout/types of heads/installation hints... would be awesome.

I tend to be very slow at projects... but I'm aiming to be done by next spring.  I will probably rent a trencher... though I have actually considered just using muscle.  Our soil is very sandy and easy to dig (but that's a LOT of digging). 

[srob]

consider renting a vibrating pipe puller if available in your area. much less messy than trenching. I have installed a system but don't know much about what is best...just went to HD and chose what looked best. So I will refrain from giving other advice.

[geekette]

There's a much easier way - run a drip irrigation system and then mulch.  You can add sprayers on spikes for beds, but we mostly have perennials, and they do well with a drip system. 

[zolotiyeruki]

There's a much easier way - run a drip irrigation system and then mulch.  You can add sprayers on spikes for beds, but we mostly have perennials, and they do well with a drip system. 

That's exactly what I was just thinking as well.

[Spork]

There's a much easier way - run a drip irrigation system and then mulch.  You can add sprayers on spikes for beds, but we mostly have perennials, and they do well with a drip system. 

That's exactly what I was just thinking as well.

This would work for some beds.  We do have A LOT of beds.  And we do maintain mulch on most of them.  But, for example, outside my window there is a hillside bed that is about 160ft x 30ft.  The garden is about 90x50ft.   We live on acreage, so they are also somewhat spread apart.  I think in general much of it will have to be rotary impact type heads, just from a coverage and layout point of view.

I don't terribly care about the "grass" so much.  (By "grass" I mean the stuff that is mostly green in color and is a mixture of many different species of plants that holds the soil in place.  It isn't what you'd usually call grass.)  However, if I am going to the trouble of pulling pipe, I may go ahead and lay pipe for the grass areas as well.

[Spork]

Just in case someone is searching some day... 

This site has more information than you'd ever wish for.   http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/

It does not seem to be skewed toward any one brand (i.e., written by Toro or Hunter or Rainbird).  It is HIGHLY technical.  Based on sprinkler systems I have had in previous houses, I can safely assume no one has put as much physics/hydraulics into their design.  I am about halfway through my first pass of design (which may be pared back once I see the cost!).  It helps you match flow rates/precipitation rates, size pipes, estimate capacity of incoming water, etc.

[alme]

There's a much easier way - run a drip irrigation system and then mulch.  You can add sprayers on spikes for beds, but we mostly have perennials, and they do well with a drip system.

We have a drip irrigation system set on automatic timers. The materials weren't too expensive, and it took a couple of days to install, plus some extra time in the evenings fidgeting with it to get things right. It's worked really well for about 2 years now. Our water bill hasn't gone up at all, although our municipality charges for a minimum water consumption, which we've never hit, so I'd have to look at the details of our meter readings to see whether our water consumption has increased.

[Spork]

Update 4 months later...

You might call this badassity.  You might call this anti-mustacian hall of shame.

I just completed construction.   I spent probably a week in design and roughly a month and a half of construction.  I hand trenched the entire thing because (a) I am cheap, (b) I have the time, (c) I need the exercise and (d) there were numerous obstacles that would have had to be hand trenched even if I rented a trencher.  Fuckitall, I'll dig the whole thing.

I took a google earth view of the property, pulled it into Gimp and did the entire design in gimp.  I did all my estimates measuring distances on the computer and was off by +/- 30 feet on all my pipe.

By my estimates, I dug 1550ft of trench by hand and moved approximately 34 cu. yards of dirt.

Recommended resources if you're going to take this plunge:
* http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/ - this guy goes into super detail on every aspect: flow rates, pipe sizing, pressure drop through devices, etc.
* http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/ - I have no affiliation with these guys, but I bought a shit ton of stuff from them and I highly recommend them.  Their prices were well below Amazon and the big box stores.  They have free shipping for orders over $150 (and that will be NO PROBLEM with the amount of crap you will have to buy).  In almost every case, if I ordered before 5pm, I got my parts the very next day.  (There were a couple of backorders that took slightly longer but those were the exception.)

By my estimates

[sokoloff]

I'm just wrapping up a project here to repair an old, mostly destroyed sprinkler system here as well.

My tips would be (for northern climates):
Use poly pipe (160 psi for the mainlines, 100 psi for downstream of the valves).
Install risers for gate valve spigots near the zone boxes. These are useful throughout the season, but also useful to blow out the mainline with air at the end of the season.
Use the yellow and black Blazing Saddles pipe taps for all the middle of run outlets. Super fast, easy, and cheap. Don't use them on any permanently pressurized mainline.
Use end combination elbows (1" down to 3/4" FPT) for end of line outlets.
Don't mix outlet types in a zone. No rotors with sprays. Nothing else with drip.
Consider running speaker wire and 120VAC (UF-B with a GFCI before it enters the ground) to any sheds, patios, or deck areas.
Consider running low voltage landscape lighting wire at the same time.
Consider running underground Cat6 and RG-6 (gel filled for both) if you want wifi, Apple TV, or TiVo mini/MoCa boxes out on the patio.
Consider running gate sensors and wiring for same.
I also ran PVC conduit to the zone boxes for future wire repairs/replacements. I'm not sure if I'd do this again; it was a lot of work for future-proofing that I'll probably/hopefully never need.

Follow the irrigationtutorials site. It really walks you through what you need. Then, place a small order with sprinkler warehouse to get some parts in your hand that you're still wondering about. There will be plenty of room later to make another > $149 free shipping order.

Buy poly pipe at Home Depot or Lowes. I used 1" for the mainline and most zones, 3/4" is OK for most drip zone applications.

All told, I'm going to be a few thousand into this project, but that's 13 zones (7 rotors, 2 sprays, 4 drip), landscape lighting, electrical, 3 outdoor spigots, speakers by the patio, 3 new gate sensors, and a new DIY RPi-based sprinkler controller.

We better not need to move is all I've got to say... ;)

[MMM98]

Now that you have the system installed have you considered a Rachio 'timer' ?  Rachio is a smart timer that is proactive.  A dumb timer with sprinkle as you set it, say every other day at 8 AM.  You might even have a reactive rain detector, as in it is raining now (or just did) so don't sprinkle.  Rachio is proactive; it checks with the weather station for your zip code and it knows that it will rain at 10AM, so don't sprinkle.  Or you can set the sprinkling based upon your soil and if it is say clay, it will know that it is better to irrigate for two six minute intervals 40 minutes apart vice one `12 minute.  A eight zone system costs 199.00 from amazon.

Depending upon the cost to water in your part of the world it can pay for itself rather quickly

[Spork]

Now that you have the system installed have you considered a Rachio 'timer' ?  Rachio is a smart timer that is proactive.  A dumb timer with sprinkle as you set it, say every other day at 8 AM.  You might even have a reactive rain detector, as in it is raining now (or just did) so don't sprinkle.  Rachio is proactive; it checks with the weather station for your zip code and it knows that it will rain at 10AM, so don't sprinkle.  Or you can set the sprinkling based upon your soil and if it is say clay, it will know that it is better to irrigate for two six minute intervals 40 minutes apart vice one `12 minute.  A eight zone system costs 199.00 from amazon.

Depending upon the cost to water in your part of the world it can pay for itself rather quickly

I looked at that one and many others.  I decided on Rainmachine (based on reviews alone... not first hand experience).  Rainmachine has the similar features.  So far it looks really cool, though I will have to wait until next summer to really determine if the weather-based predictive algorithms really work.

[MasterStache]

I used Irrigaitontutorials.com for the irrigation system I designed and installed at my previous residence. It was a 10 zone system covering the majority of my large lawn. It was an excellent site to use. I also sourced most of my materials from Sprinklerwarehouse so props to them as well.

 I will never put in another irrigation system as long as I live. It was back breaking work spread out over 2-3 years. I have permanent elbow damage. Oh the newly renovated lawn of beautiful KBG was the talk of the town (seriously I got compliments from landscape companies). It so wasn't worth it in hindsight. It was a shit ton of money as well. 

Sorry not trying to rain on your parade. If you have a lot of landscape and find watering it to be very daunting, I think an irrigation system (or drip irrigation) is excellent. We purposefully chose our current house with more woods and less yard and landscape. It's been a blessing time and money savings wise.

 

[Spork]

I used Irrigaitontutorials.com for the irrigation system I designed and installed at my previous residence. It was a 10 zone system covering the majority of my large lawn. It was an excellent site to use. I also sourced most of my materials from Sprinklerwarehouse so props to them as well.

 I will never put in another irrigation system as long as I live. It was back braking work spread out over 2-3 years. I have permanent elbow damage. Oh the newly renovated lawn of beautiful KBG was the talk of the town (seriously I got compliments from landscape companies). It so wasn't worth it in hindsight. It was a shit ton of money as well. 

Sorry not trying to rain on your parade. If you have a lot of landscape and find watering it to be very daunting, I think an irrigation system (or drip irrigation) is excellent. We purposefully chose our current house with more woods and less yard and landscape. It's been a blessing time and money savings wise.

No irrigation on my parade taken.  Your warnings are not wrong.  It was back breaking labor.  It took me 6 weeks, working all day every other day.  (Every other day because I had to have a recovery day.)  I have a tendency to like difficult, complicated projects.  There's nothing like when the plan comes together and everything works.

And sprinkler systems are ridiculously expensive to build and operate.  You're tossing a whole lot of drinkable water on the ground. 

We, too, live in the woods.  But gardening (vegetables and flowers) is what my wife likes to do in FIRE.  It's her thing.  She was spending 3 hours or more almost every day... coming inside hot and sweaty watering in the Texas heat.  (And yes, this was first thing in the morning.)  This system was effectively me buying her flowers every day for the rest of her life -- or that's how I see it.

[MasterStache]

I used Irrigaitontutorials.com for the irrigation system I designed and installed at my previous residence. It was a 10 zone system covering the majority of my large lawn. It was an excellent site to use. I also sourced most of my materials from Sprinklerwarehouse so props to them as well.

 I will never put in another irrigation system as long as I live. It was back braking work spread out over 2-3 years. I have permanent elbow damage. Oh the newly renovated lawn of beautiful KBG was the talk of the town (seriously I got compliments from landscape companies). It so wasn't worth it in hindsight. It was a shit ton of money as well. 

Sorry not trying to rain on your parade. If you have a lot of landscape and find watering it to be very daunting, I think an irrigation system (or drip irrigation) is excellent. We purposefully chose our current house with more woods and less yard and landscape. It's been a blessing time and money savings wise.

No irrigation on my parade taken.  Your warnings are not wrong.  It was back breaking labor.  It took me 6 weeks, working all day every other day.  (Every other day because I had to have a recovery day.)  I have a tendency to like difficult, complicated projects.  There's nothing like when the plan comes together and everything works.

And sprinkler systems are ridiculously expensive to build and operate.  You're tossing a whole lot of drinkable water on the ground. 

We, too, live in the woods.  But gardening (vegetables and flowers) is what my wife likes to do in FIRE.  It's her thing.  She was spending 3 hours or more almost every day... coming inside hot and sweaty watering in the Texas heat.  (And yes, this was first thing in the morning.)  This system was effectively me buying her flowers every day for the rest of her life -- or that's how I see it.

Yes hand trenching REALLY sucks!! I did that for probably 4-5 zones, mostly in the backyard (smaller zones). Took several weeks.  It was especially difficult with arthritis and a couple bulging disc in my back. I rented a trencher for the front yard. Got it done in half a day. Found some crazy large boulders in my yard and cut my neighbors cable wire. Oops haha, he just laughed about it.

I am sure it is brutal in the Texas heat. I did it in the middle of summer here in the Midwest and it sucked.

I am planting some raised beds next year, for the first time. Trying to find a cheap/free rain barrel to help with the watering.

[Spork]

I used Irrigaitontutorials.com for the irrigation system I designed and installed at my previous residence. It was a 10 zone system covering the majority of my large lawn. It was an excellent site to use. I also sourced most of my materials from Sprinklerwarehouse so props to them as well.

 I will never put in another irrigation system as long as I live. It was back braking work spread out over 2-3 years. I have permanent elbow damage. Oh the newly renovated lawn of beautiful KBG was the talk of the town (seriously I got compliments from landscape companies). It so wasn't worth it in hindsight. It was a shit ton of money as well. 

Sorry not trying to rain on your parade. If you have a lot of landscape and find watering it to be very daunting, I think an irrigation system (or drip irrigation) is excellent. We purposefully chose our current house with more woods and less yard and landscape. It's been a blessing time and money savings wise.

No irrigation on my parade taken.  Your warnings are not wrong.  It was back breaking labor.  It took me 6 weeks, working all day every other day.  (Every other day because I had to have a recovery day.)  I have a tendency to like difficult, complicated projects.  There's nothing like when the plan comes together and everything works.

And sprinkler systems are ridiculously expensive to build and operate.  You're tossing a whole lot of drinkable water on the ground. 

We, too, live in the woods.  But gardening (vegetables and flowers) is what my wife likes to do in FIRE.  It's her thing.  She was spending 3 hours or more almost every day... coming inside hot and sweaty watering in the Texas heat.  (And yes, this was first thing in the morning.)  This system was effectively me buying her flowers every day for the rest of her life -- or that's how I see it.

Yes hand trenching REALLY sucks!! I did that for probably 4-5 zones, mostly in the backyard (smaller zones). Took several weeks.  It was especially difficult with arthritis and a couple bulging disc in my back. I rented a trencher for the front yard. Got it done in half a day. Found some crazy large boulders in my yard and cut my neighbors cable wire. Oops haha, he just laughed about it.

I am sure it is brutal in the Texas heat. I did it in the middle of summer here in the Midwest and it sucked.

I am planting some raised beds next year, for the first time. Trying to find a cheap/free rain barrel to help with the watering.

I waited until "Fall".  (That is fall by the calendar... not by what others think fall is.)  The temperatures were not awful most of the time.  I will also say our soil is sandy to a fault.  In some ways this makes it easy ... you can get your shovel in and out easily.  In some ways it makes it hard.  Think about trenching in a beach and how badly the sides collapse in.

[MasterStache]

I used Irrigaitontutorials.com for the irrigation system I designed and installed at my previous residence. It was a 10 zone system covering the majority of my large lawn. It was an excellent site to use. I also sourced most of my materials from Sprinklerwarehouse so props to them as well.

 I will never put in another irrigation system as long as I live. It was back braking work spread out over 2-3 years. I have permanent elbow damage. Oh the newly renovated lawn of beautiful KBG was the talk of the town (seriously I got compliments from landscape companies). It so wasn't worth it in hindsight. It was a shit ton of money as well. 

Sorry not trying to rain on your parade. If you have a lot of landscape and find watering it to be very daunting, I think an irrigation system (or drip irrigation) is excellent. We purposefully chose our current house with more woods and less yard and landscape. It's been a blessing time and money savings wise.

No irrigation on my parade taken.  Your warnings are not wrong.  It was back breaking labor.  It took me 6 weeks, working all day every other day.  (Every other day because I had to have a recovery day.)  I have a tendency to like difficult, complicated projects.  There's nothing like when the plan comes together and everything works.

And sprinkler systems are ridiculously expensive to build and operate.  You're tossing a whole lot of drinkable water on the ground. 

We, too, live in the woods.  But gardening (vegetables and flowers) is what my wife likes to do in FIRE.  It's her thing.  She was spending 3 hours or more almost every day... coming inside hot and sweaty watering in the Texas heat.  (And yes, this was first thing in the morning.)  This system was effectively me buying her flowers every day for the rest of her life -- or that's how I see it.

Yes hand trenching REALLY sucks!! I did that for probably 4-5 zones, mostly in the backyard (smaller zones). Took several weeks.  It was especially difficult with arthritis and a couple bulging disc in my back. I rented a trencher for the front yard. Got it done in half a day. Found some crazy large boulders in my yard and cut my neighbors cable wire. Oops haha, he just laughed about it.

I am sure it is brutal in the Texas heat. I did it in the middle of summer here in the Midwest and it sucked.

I am planting some raised beds next year, for the first time. Trying to find a cheap/free rain barrel to help with the watering.

I waited until "Fall".  (That is fall by the calendar... not by what others think fall is.)  The temperatures were not awful most of the time.  I will also say our soil is sandy to a fault.  In some ways this makes it easy ... you can get your shovel in and out easily.  In some ways it makes it hard.  Think about trenching in a beach and how badly the sides collapse in.

Oh I remember. I dug many trenches in the Florida sand for military training. I'll be in Texas next week (outside of Houston). Wondering what the weather might be like. Sorry to stray from the topic.

[stoaX]

 "I hand trenched the entire thing because (a) I am cheap, (b) I have the time, (c) I need the exercise and (d) there were numerous obstacles that would have had to be hand trenched even if I rented a trencher."

This needs to be in the "share your badassity" section!

[Sean Og]

Seems like a few of us were going through similar pain this summer/fall.

I hand trenched the entire thing because (a) I am cheap, (b) I have the time, (c) I need the exercise and (d) there were numerous obstacles that would have had to be hand trenched even if I rented a trencher.

I love this also, identical to my thought process haha. I likewise have sandy soil here in Kansas so it made it a little easier.

Went with a Rainmachine also as I like the at unit functionality unlike the Rachio "box".

Cant say enough good things about sprinklerwarehouse.com, good prices and delivery times, a great source for those working on their sprinkler systems.

Now just one more zone to add next year for the vegetable patch.

[Goldielocks]

Okay,

This is hilarious,  I went to the internet to find a link to the accu-rain product we installed on our last house in around 2003.

It is like a "robotic" sprinkler that cuts trenching demand to 20% of previous.   It also eliminates over watering on hard surfaces with its precision head.  It worked great.

But but but.   the photos have at least 5 from our yard install.   DH was quite creative with the bird bath, install on top of the gazebo for more range, and the side of the deck rail....

Anyway about 4 sprinkler heads covered 7 zones in the rear yard, on a property that was 1/4 acre of mostly back yard.  Grass, tree, veggy garden, and shubbery beds from only 4 sprinklers...

We went this route because DH had a summer job installing sprinkler lines when he was 19, and was good at it, but the Calgary soil we lived in at the time was clay gumbo and we actually broke the trencher rental on it...  so swore off any more trenching than a minimum.

http://www.accurain.com/customergallery.htm

Blast from the past, indeed!