Installing an irrigation system allows you to provide just the right amount of water to your yard, resulting in a beautiful, healthy lawn. However, different areas of the property will have different needs, so they are separated into sections. The following guide will help give you a better understanding of sprinkler zones and why they're important.

What Are the Different Types of Sprinkler Heads?

When you decide to have an irrigation system installed, there are a few types of sprinkler heads your landscaper might use. Here are the basic options:

• Fixed Spray Heads: These are the typical sprinkler heads that come to mind when people imagine irrigation systems. They provide a continuous fan of water in a fixed pattern, which can be full-coverage or adjusted to target smaller areas.
• Rotary Heads: Rotary heads oscillate to spray a stream of water over a large area. They operate using higher water pressure, so they can send liquid further than standard heads. Additionally, their delivery is slower, which is beneficial to hilly areas that are susceptible to runoff.
• Bubblers: Bubbler sprinklers are much faster than spray or rotary heads because they are designed to pool in small places. As a result, they are used for trees and shrubs, not grass. Water flows from these devices deep into the soil until it reaches the root zone.
• Drip Irrigation: Drip irrigation systems deliver a precise amount of water directly to the roots of plants, which is why they are primarily used for flowering species and fruit and vegetable gardens.

How Do You Zone a Yard for an Irrigation System?

Your landscaping company will visit your home and evaluate the yard before installing an irrigation system. They will look at the different areas of the land to determine how much water each needs, taking into account the elevation levels, sun exposure, and types of plants.

Each spot with unique watering requirements becomes its own zone. The sections are given different sprinkler heads and watering systems to provide the right amount of liquid and coverage. For example, a grassy area on a slope should get a slower delivery of water to prevent soil erosion and flooding. Trees, shrubs, and well-shaded zones don’t need as much moisture. Gardens and flowering plants benefit from concentrated watering and typically make up their own section.

Some zones may contain multiple spray heads. An irrigation specialist can evaluate your water pressure and flow to determine where sprinklers should go, how many are needed per area, and how much water they will provide.

Refresh and revitalize your lawn with a new irrigation system from Oasis Landscapes & Irrigation. Their team has been serving homeowners throughout the Columbia, MO, area for over 30 years. Their sprinkler systems are designed according to your lawn’s unique needs, delivering the precise amount of water when appropriate. They also provide irrigation sprinkler winterization, as well as backflow prevention and testing. Visit the website for more information, and call (573) 446-0858 to receive a free quote.