5 Fantastic Benefits of a Lawn Sprinkler System
A close-up view of a lawn sprinkler head spraying water on neatly trimmed grass.
If you have ever tried to water a yard without an installed lawn sprinkler/lawn sprinkler system, you know what a pain it is.
Before you go to work or when you come home, you have to drag the hose and portable sprinkler for the yard to one spot. Then you have to time it and then drag it somewhere else. It can easily take an hour or more to get the entire lawn watered properly every time you need to water it.
And if you have a lawn without watering it at all, you’ve probably known the awful feeling of having your grass all die during a time of drought or simply a time when there isn’t quite enough rain. Brown, dried-up grass is not really the look you want to go for to impress the neighbors.
Neither of these situations is fun. And, thankfully, neither of them is necessary these days. Not when you could simply install a sprinkler system to take care of things automatically.
In this post, we’ll talk about a few commonly asked questions regarding yard sprinkler systems:
What is a lawn sprinkler system?
5 surprising benefits of a sprinkler system
Are lawn sprinklers worth it?
When is the best time of day to water grass in the summer?
Should you water the grass every day when it’s hot?
Should I water my lawn if it rains?
How often should you water the grass in the spring and fall?
How often should you water sod?
What is a lawn sprinkler system?
An in-ground yard sprinkler system consists of a series of water pipes that are installed below the ground around your yard leading to strategically-placed sprinkler heads.
These heads stay down below the grass level when not in use, but when it’s time to water the grass, they pop up so they can spray a specific amount of water on a certain area of the lawn. This way the entire lawn and all of your flowerbeds can be properly watered and no areas have too little or too much water.
Somewhere near your house or in the garage, you’ll have access to a control panel to allow you to program the sprinkler timer to automatically water your lawn on certain days and at certain times.
A beautifully landscaped lawn with flower beds, landscaping rocks, and shrubs in the background is being showered with water from a water sprinkler head.
5 great benefits of a sprinkler system
Yard sprinkler systems provide a lot of advantages for homeowners who would like to have a beautiful lawn. They:
Save a lot of time and hassle.
Avoid wasting water (which is great for the environment).
Save money on your utility bills.
Help to keep your lawn and plants healthy.
Improve the value of your home and curb appeal.
Whether your primary concerns are convenience, being eco-friendly, aesthetics, or your home’s value, a sprinkler system can help.
You can also divide your system into zones so you can automatically adjust the timing and amount of water the grass gets separately from other plants that may not need as much water.
A luxury home with vibrant green grass and trees in the summer and a sprinkler system running in the late afternoon with a blue sky and some white clouds.
Are lawn sprinklers worth it?
Many homeowners find that a sprinkler system for the lawn pays for itself over time in utility bills. Having an automatic sprinkler system that gives precise doses of water is much more efficient than manually watering your yard.
And if you are in a neighborhood with an HOA (homeowner’s association), keeping your lawn looking green and healthy will help you avoid fines due to overwatering or underwatering your grass.
Still not convinced? Talk with friends and neighbors who have an inground lawn sprinkler system and see what they think. Or call a few local lawn sprinkler system contractors near you and ask for their thoughts and recommendations. Then you can compare the cost of the system to the savings you can expect to see if it’s a good fit for you.
An irrigation system spraying water in a large grassy lawn at sunset.
When is the best time of day to water grass in the summer?
The best time to water your lawn in the summer is in the early morning as the sun rises — between 5 am and 10 am. This lets the roots of the grass absorb water properly before it evaporates away.
The next best time for watering grass is between 4-6 pm in the late afternoon. But watering too late in the day can let leaves and grass stay wet overnight which could invite fungal growth.
If you aren’t able to be there to manually water your grass during those times, having a sprinkler system on a timer that can water your lawn automatically is a great solution to this problem.
Should I water my lawn if it rains?
If your area is expecting heavy rains, change your watering schedule to account for the rain so that you don’t waste water or overwater your lawn.
But if all you are expecting is a light rain or sprinkle, continue watering your lawn on your usual schedule.
Even better, install a shut-off device in your system that can sense precipitation and automatically adjust. For more details, check out Rainbird’s recommended watering tips.
A lush green lawn with colorful flowers and landscaping that is well-cared for.
Should you water the grass every day when it’s hot?
A trusted lawn sprinkler service near you can give you the ideal recommendations for your particular region and grass type. But, in general, your lawn needs approximately 1.5 inches of water weekly in the summer.
It’s best to spread watering out throughout the week rather than deluging your lawn all at one time. Aim for about ½ an inch of water three times per week for a healthy root system. This generally means that your sprinklers will need to run for about 30-60 minutes per session.
It’s important to avoid both underwatering and overwatering if you want healthy, thriving grass and plants in your yard.
Some key takeaways about how to water your grass in the summer include:
Water early in the morning if at all possible.
Use pulsating sprinklers rather than misting.
Water deeply and less frequently.
If your area is getting an inch or more of rain in a week, don’t irrigate.
What temperature is too hot to water grass?
When the temperatures get to about 95 degrees or above, it’s best not to water your lawn. If it’s a sunny, hot afternoon, a lot of the water will evaporate and not actually help the grass. It ends up being a waste of water.
A very close-up view of blades of grass with water droplets on them and sunlight shining in the background.
How often should you water the grass in spring and fall?
Every other day is generally adequate for watering your lawn when the temperatures are lower for a total of 1 to 1.5 inches per week.
Again, it’s important to take into account the type of grass, type of soil, and climate in your region. So your local lawn care expert may have specific recommendations for your lawn that make a big difference in the health of your particular grass and plants.
A drone view of a landscape company worker laying down sod near a landscaped area with gravel and concrete steps.
How often should you water sod?
Sod needs to be watered more frequently than an established lawn. Plan on watering twice per day (early morning and late afternoon/evening) for two months. And in a very warm climate, you may even want to add a third watering cycle.
In need of a lawn sprinkler system contractor near you in the Columbia, SC area? We can help.
At Boots On Enterprises, whether you are interested in yard sprinkler installation, maintenance, or repairs, we’ve got you covered.
Simply contact us today for a FREE quote.
Phone: 803-521-4978
Email: bootsonenterprises@gmail.com
We also handle yard drainage issues, landscaping, hardscaping, and more. If you need work done outdoors, just ask us. We can generally do everything you need.
