About Me

Creating A Beautiful Home and Garden

When I purchased a home a few years ago, I had no idea what kind of workload I would be faced with. In addition to trying to figure out how to keep the place clean, I was also left with the challenge of tidying up the yard and keeping things trimmed. It was a little overwhelming, but I knew that I could do it with a little hard work and dedication. I started reading a lot of books and blogs about creating gorgeous things for your home and yard, and it was a great creative outlet. This blog is all about exciting, fun ways to make your home and yard even more beautiful.

Creating A Beautiful Home and Garden

Want To Save Money While Keeping Your Lawn Plush & Green? Switch From Sprinklers To Underground Lawn Irrigation

by Alyssa Perkins

If you still water your lawn with sprinklers, then realize that lawn irrigation technology has come a long way in recent years, and you should look into a new system that doesn't waste as much water as your sprinkler system does. Underground lawn irrigation is gaining popularity among homeowners who want to water their lawns as efficiently and affordably as possible. Read on to find out why using sprinklers to water your lawn results in many gallons of wasted water every month and learn all about underground lawn irrigation systems. 

Why Standard Lawn Sprinklers Waste Water 

Lawn sprinklers lead to wasted water for many reasons. First, they project relatively small droplets of water that can evaporate very quickly once they reach your grass and never make it down to the roots. If it is a very hot day, then small water droplets may evaporate even while the water is airborne before they even hit your grass. They also spray water haphazardly at the blades of grass instead of directly targeting the soil and roots of your grass, which is the only part of any plant that needs water.

Why Underground Lawn Irrigation Systems Are Becoming So Popular

Underground lawn irrigation is more formally known as subsurface drip irrigation. These irrigation systems consist of underground watering tubes, called drip lines, that are buried underneath your grass to deliver water to only the grass roots. When these systems are used to water lawns instead of sprinkler systems, they keeps lawns just as healthy (or healthier) while using 70 percent less water. This type of irrigation system is not new, because it has been used for decades by farmers who want to water their crops without wasting water. However, they are just recently gaining popularity among homeowners due to recent droughts in the United States that have led to homeowners looking into more efficient ways to water their lawns. 

Of course, many people are also installing underground irrigation systems to save money on their home water bills, as well. Homeowners have even reported cutting their sky-high water bills almost in half after switching from lawn sprinklers to underground lawn irrigation systems. As an added bonus, having this underground system of water tubes naturally discourages the growth of weeds while it keeps your lawn healthy. 

Don't worry if your lawn is not completely flat. Subsurface drip irrigation systems can be installed under lawns of every size and shape, even if the lawn is hilly or uneven. The only lawns that are not suitable for these underground systems are those covered with trees with extensive root systems or those that have large underground mole populations. Lawns with extensive tree root systems can make installation difficult, and moles are avid chewers that could chew system tubes or other components and damage them. 

How Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems Are Installed

Since these irrigation systems consist of many underground tubes, it may lead to you thinking that your entire yard would have to be torn up and replaced during installation. The truth is that while slim trenches must be dug where the irrigation tubes will be placed, these trenches are then quickly covered back up with soil and the strips of grass that had to be temporarily removed. Directly after the entire system is installed, you may not even be able to tell that your lawn was ever worked on when not looking very closely at it. 

Components that need to be installed include mainlines, which are main water delivery lines. Depending on the size of your lawn, you may need only one mainline or you may need a few. The main lines are then connected to the drip line, which is the series of tubes that delivers water into the soil for your grass roots to soak up. The drip lines are covered in microscopic holes that distribute the water, but don't worry that your grass roots or tree roots will grow into them and clog up your system, because the holes are much too small for that to happen.

How many drip line tubes will you need in your yard? It depends on the type of soil you have in your yard. Soil types that don't soak up much water require drip lines placed as far as three-feet apart. If your soil soaks up water easily, then you may need drip tubes about every 12 inches. 

A water filter, pressure flow regulator, a vacuum relief vent, and several valves must also be installed. On optional, yet great addition to your irrigation system is a fertilizer injector, which can be used to deliver lawn fertilizer right to the roots of your grass to keep it healthy and plush. 

If you want to save money and make sure you never have to waste water during a drought, then switch from a lawn sprinkler system to a lawn subsurface drip irrigation system. If you are unsure if it is a good idea for your lawn or not, then consult with an irrigation professional who can take a look at your lawn, answer any questions you have, and then let you know that the best water-conserving lawn irrigation system is for you. 

Visit your local lawn care specialist for more information.

Share