Growing a gorgeous lawn is easy if you have good irrigation ... and a great home irrigation system starts with smart planning and a working knowledge of system components and sprinkler types. In the first episode of this workshop, host Heidi Robinson and home irrigation expert Chuck Coddington provided an overview of basic planning and requirements for the installation of an irrigation system. To begin Part Two, they demonstrate how to "walk off" a lawn to accurately assess watering needs for flower beds, shrubs, trees and lawn areas. Since individual sections require different amounts of water, it's important to take your time on this initial step. Key Points: - Determine any potential obstacles -- such as trees -- that may block sprinkler patterns, as well as curves in the landscape design that might require special attention.
- Carefully measure property boundaries and record the numbers on a diagram of the layout (figure A). Use graph paper for the plan to allow the irrigation system to be drawn to scale and accurately plotted.
- Draw in the street, driveway, sidewalk, and house, as well as landscape elements such as flowerbeds, trees, etc.
Once the property layout is on paper, it's time to evaluate the various system components and sprinkler heads available and determine the best way to pull it all together. To start this process, Coddington introduces the basic elements of an irrigation system and highlights their respective features. - Polyethylene pipe (figure B) is the recommended choice for most irrigation systems. Flexible, lightweight, and highly durable, it's often referred to simply as "poly" (pronounced "polly").
- While PVC pipe (figure C) is probably more familiar to most people than poly pipe, it's generally not the best choice for irrigation systems. Its rigid composition and lack of flexibility can make it diffucult to work with, especially in applications where curves and corners require a pliable material like poly. (The importance of flexibility will be evident in the upcoming installation.)
Next, Coddington moves on to the basic fittings used for a typical system assembly, explaining that -- like the flexible tubing --these components are molded from polyethylene. Featured pieces include: - The straight coupler (figure D). This fitting is used to connect two pieces of pipe that meet at a certain point or to extend a length of pipe that's too short to reach the necessary area.
- The poly plug (figure E). Shaped, appropriately, like a stop sign, the poly plug is used at the end of a pipe length to stop water at a designated point.
- The elbow coupler (figure F). This piece is sometimes referred to simply as a "90", since it creates a 90-degree angle in a system of pipes. In short, it's used to change the direction of the water, allowing the system to turn a corner.
- The T-coupler (figure G). This fitting is designed to join together three pipes at one intersection, either coming off a main line or leading to a valve.
To control the release of the water into the pipes, electronic valves like the model shown in figure H are integrated into the system. To illustrate how the valves will work with the pipes, Coddington creates a T-formation mock-up of a section (figure I), which he connects with a T-coupler fitting. (The top pipe of the "T" sample represents the main line.) Coils of wire on top of each valve (figure J) -- known as solenoids -- will connect them to the indivdual zones. Finally, a programmed clock will be wired to all valves in the system, activating them at the appropriate, pre-set times. Once signaled by the clock, each valve will open, letting water into its corresponding zone. In turn, the water will prompt the sprinkler heads to pop up and begin spraying their designated areas.
RESOURCES :
Lawn Care for Dummies
Model: 0764550772
Author: Lance Walheim
Hungry Minds, Inc
(January 1998)
Handbook of Water Use and Conservation: Homes, Landscapes, Industries, Businesses, Farms
Model: 1931579075
Author: Amy Vickers
(2001)
To order this title from Amazon.com, click here.
WaterPlow Press
Website: www.waterplowpress.com
Rain Bird Sprinkler Heads and Components
Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
Website: www.rainbird.com
GUESTS :
Chuck Coddington
Coddington Enterprise
6376 Fairview Road
Hixon, TN 37343
Phone: 423-847-9964
Home Irrigation Specialist
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
