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How to Install a Sprinkler System

Loveleena Rajeev
For a garden to bloom beautifully and for a lawn to stay soft and fresh, a water sprinkler system is essential. Here is an attempt to share the right way to install it.
A sprinkler system is a water irrigation method and a garden tool by which, water is distributed via a system of pipes and sprinklers.
Water pumped through the sprinklers attached to the pipes, gets sprayed into the air and moistens the entire area (soil). They can be used in a garden of any size as well as in farms, and are capable of providing efficient and adequate water coverage.

The Process of Installation
When designing a sprinkler system, it is important to know about the soil type, water retention and drainage of the garden, climate, water availability and flow rate, and the size of the system. Once you have this information, you have to work on the requirements for the installation.

Materials Required

  • PVC pipes
  • Casings
  • Sprinkler head
  • Chalk markers
  • Control box
  • String
  • Measuring tape
  • Pipe cutters
  • Shovel
Draw a diagram; even a rough one will do for the areas you want to irrigate. Chalk out a routing plan on the actual site of the pipelines and placement of sprinkler heads, using strings and chalk markers. Start by digging up trenches.
It would be in your best interest to have a layout of your property. You do not want to dig up an electric cable or water pipeline. The trench should be dug at least eight inches deep. Dig it all over, so the entire area can be covered by the sprinklers.
Cut the PVC pipes as per the required length. Ensure they are not damaged during the process. They will carry water from the main source to all the sprinkler heads. Any leaks will reduce the water supply and waste the water. Also, it will be tough to dig the trenches again and fix the leaks. Interlock the pipes with casings; so that no mud enters the pipe.
Choose locations to affix the sprinkler heads. There are different types of sprinkler heads available in the market, such as pop-up, fixed, arc, semicircle, etc. Choose as per your requirement, and place them at least about 50 feet apart to allow some overlap.
The sprinkler system has its own openings which should be attached to the pipe and the sprinkler head using screws. The sprinkler head should be well above the trench for the water to be sprayed efficiently.
Once the pipe and sprinklers have been laid out, it is time to join the pipe to the main water source. Affix a tee to the water meter and connect it to the sprinkler system. Secure it well using nuts and bolts. Install the control box, which consists of the valves as well as the timer, on the tee.
The installation is mostly governed by the instruction manual that comes with it. Test the sprinkler system by turning on the main tap, and correct the defects if any.
If you are unsure about the process, you could call in professionals or take advice from someone who has done it before. Once you have the system installed, you will never have to drag pipe hoses all over the garden, and yet have a lawn that is never dry.