Are you thinking about installing an automatic water sprinkler on your property? Do you know how to decide what type of sprinkler system will provide the best ROI?

In this blog post, you’ll learn the following

• Determining your lawn care and landscaping needs
• Understanding the different parts of an automatic sprinkler system
• What type of automatic sprinkler system is right for you?

Determining Your Lawn Care & Landscaping Needs

Before buying your sprinkler system parts, you need to evaluate your property’s different hydrozones. Hydrozones are different parts of your landscaping and lawn that have unique irrigation needs.

Hydrozoning your property means that you group plants based on their watering needs. This helps you when buying water sprinkler parts and saves you money on your water bill.

For example, if you have a flower bed with native and drought-tolerant plants, a drip irrigation kit will be the perfect choice rather than sprinkler heads.

Meanwhile, if you have a southern-facing lawn, you ought to water it more often than a lawn in the shade or facing the north.


You can divide your property into four irrigation zones, according to LoveYourLandscape.org:

1. Routine Irrigation Zone: A routine irrigation zone is also known as a principal hydrozone because it encompasses the entire back-, front-, and side yards. It also entails the entire lawn, flowerbeds, shrubs, and trees. For example, your backyard is a principal or routine irrigation zone.
2. Reduced Irrigation Zone: A reduced irrigation zone is a secondary hydrozone with low activity and doesn’t need as much watering as the routine irrigation zone. Examples include shrubs, flowerbeds, and other landscapes that don’t get direct southern exposure—they may be the northern or western side of your home.
3. Limited Irrigation Zone: Minimal hydrozones are areas with no real purpose for your overall landscape or lawn. These include barrier areas, such as buffer zones and verges.
4. No Irrigation Zone: This area only uses rainfall to stay alive; you don’t provide any supplemental irrigation to this area. Drought-tolerant native plants, grasses, and groundcovers work well in a no irrigation zone.

Native plant suggestions that work well in reduced irrigation zones for homeowners in the southern U.S. include

• Agave
• Aloe
• Beach Sunflower
• Beautyberry
• Coontie
• Dwarf Palmetto
• Longleaf Pine
• Muhly Grass
• Pineland Lantana
• Succulents, such as sedum
• Wormwood
• Yucca.

Native plants that do well in non-irrigation zones for the northern U.S. include

• Beardtongue
• Big Bluestem
• Black-eyed Susans
• Butterfly Weed
• Coneflowers
• Eastern False Aloe
• False Indigo
• Fragrant Sumac
• Goldenrod
• Indian Blanket
• Largeflower Aster
• Sunflowers
• Tickseed.

Understanding the Different Parts of a Sprinkler System

Before you buy, you need to understand what water sprinkler parts you need to irrigate your hydrozones correctly. Here are five sprinkler system parts you must be aware of before purchasing water sprinklers:

1. Controllers: Controllers are where you manage your sprinkler system. Bluetooth and WiFi technology allow you to set the timers at different zones, even while you’re away from home.
2. Drip Irrigation and tree bubblers: Drip irrigation and tree bubblers deliver water directly to the root zones of plants. Drip irrigation works well in flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, and on slopes. Tree bubblers provide water to groundcovers, trees, and shrubs directly at the root zone.
3. Rotors: Rotors, or gear-driven rotors, are in-ground sprinkler heads that pop up at a designated time and spray in a radius. Your lawn gets complete coverage as the rotors cycle through each zone.
4. Sprays: Spray heads, also known as sprinkler heads, work well in smaller areas, such as flowerbeds, groundcovers, and shrubs. K-Rain’s Pro-S™ sprays are certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense by meeting the EPA’s criteria for more than 20% water efficiency.
5. Indexing Valves: This single valve supplies water lines to various zones and can run up to four to six zones, depending on your model. K-Rain’s indexing valves go from zone to zone clockwise each time the water flow stops and starts.

K-Rain has two types of indexing valves; the K-Rain 4000 Series Automatic Indexing Valve provides cost-effective and reliable control of numerous zoned irrigation systems.
 
The K-Rain 6000 Series Indexing Valve has a metal die-cast body and can handle high-pressure applications.
 

What Type of Automatic Sprinkler System Is Right for You?

The best in-ground sprinkler system will be the one that meets your lawn, landscape, and garden watering needs. If you live in an area under water restrictions or with a summertime drought, you’ll want to look into getting an automatic sprinkler system for your property.

It also depends on how busy you are; for example, if you travel for work or don’t get home until late in the evening, an in-ground sprinkler with a Bluetooth controller will allow you to set your sprinkler system to go off in the early mornings.

Plus, irrigation systems do the watering so you can relax after a long day at your job. Also, your irrigation system will help you comply with your municipality’s water restrictions and save money the longer you use your water sprinklers.

You also have to consider your property’s needs. If there is a lawn and landscaped area in full sun, you may want to invest in a sprinkler system to water those hotter and drier areas of your property adequately.

Summing Up

Suppose you want to install a water sprinkler system on your property this year, including drip irrigation and tree bubblers. In that case, you first need to determine your lawn and landscaping needs by dividing these areas into irrigation zones.

Next, you ought to know which spray heads, controllers, and valves will best meet your property’s irrigation needs. Then, put it all together to determine which sprinkler system products you need to buy.

How K-Rain’s In-Ground Sprinkler System Products Work for You

K-Rain’s irrigation products are built to last. They’re low maintenance, so you have more time to enjoy your green spaces rather than repairing broken sprinkler system parts.

Our K-Rain products are sustainable and conserve water, so you’ll see a reduction in your water bills and that you’re saving water instead of wasting it.

Discover our sprinkler system products at our online store, or buy K-Rain products at The Home Depot and Lowe's for an easy shopping experience. Find an irrigation contractor through our website if you prefer a pro to install your K-Rain water sprinklers.

For assistance with K-Rain irrigation products, contact our customer service team at 800-735-7246 or email us at custo​​merservice@krain.com.

Sources:
EpicGardening.com, 37 Drought Tolerant Native Plants to Grow This Season.
LawnLove.com, What Is Hydrozoning?
LoveYourLandscape.org, Designing a Yard Using Hydrozones.