If every section of your lawn and landscaping receives an identical amount of water, the result is often water waste – and a possibility of significant damage to your grass and other plantings.
High-efficiency irrigation system design starts with proper zoning.
Underground automated turf watering systems are divided into irrigation “zones” for two major reasons. First, the standard water output capacity at most homes and businesses is usually insufficient to maintain the amount of pressure needed to move the extreme volume of water needed to operate every sprinkler head in the system simultaneously. Second, different areas of any given property likely have specific watering needs – some plantings need more water, others need less.
A detailed blueprint of your exterior property is the starting point for Heinen’s irrigation pros in determining the correct number of water zones.
The irrigation system design pros at Heinen initially map the customer’s property to determine the watering requirements for each area of the homeowner’s yard. They consider many factors, such as plant type, sun exposure levels, soil type, slope, and more.
Each of these factors plays a role in how quickly water will be absorbed or evaporated. For example, one watering zone may cover a section of the lawn and another zone may irrigate a landscaped plant bed with ground cover and shrubs, each zone requiring different amounts of water and absorbing it differently.
This matters as grassy areas need far more water than shrubs and require a specific type of spray head. The quantity of water appropriate for turf is far too much for shrubs, and without the correct spray head that is calibrated to the flow and plants within that zone, water is delivered ineffectively, resulting in water waste and increased water bills.
Heinen’s irrigation professionals select the best sprinkler head for each watering zone to deliver water as effectively as possible.
Excess flow and sprinkler heads that are inappropriate for a specific zone create the risk of water runoff. Water not absorbed by plants, soil, and turf will flow downhill to the lowest point of your property – carry along with it with it nutrients and even soil. Over time, erosion issues can become serious, especially if they occur near a home’s foundation.
Each zone within an irrigation system is connected to a single on/off valve. As a watering cycle runs its course, each valve is opened for a specific amount of time. The scale of each zone is designed to maintain the optimum amount of pressure within your irrigation system. Sprinkler heads for each zone are carefully selected to meet the needs and characteristics of that specific zone. When planning a zone, sprinkler heads are carefully arranged so they will thoroughly and evenly cover the entire watering zone so every inch of that property area receives the proper amount of water.
Dedicated zones enable more control over the duration of watering schedules within a property, and adjustments to increase or decrease watering time can be made as needed to address local conditions. For instance, in the summer grass needs more water than in the spring so watering of turf zones can be extended for the summer. If a section of a yard starts out as sunny in the summer but becomes shady thanks to lower sun rays in the fall, watering levels for that zone can be lowered as the seasons change.
The irrigation professionals at Heinen have designed and installed high-efficiency irrigation systems for home and business owners in the Kansas City area for over 30 years. Heinen’s expertise in establishing watering zones within a property and determining which sprinkler components best meet the needs of that area leads to healthier plants and less water waste.
