You've finally done it. You've moved out of that rented apartment or house and into that new home that you can finally call yours. Trust us, we get it. Few feelings are better than closing on and moving into your first new home.

However, there's one thing that you need to keep in mind right from the get-go: maintenance. To keep your home's value up and keep your property looking good, you need to complete basic maintenance.

That includes designing a sprinkler system to hydrate your lawn. Without such a system in place, chances are, that well-manicured lawn of yours is going to dry up into dead grass in no time at all. 

Designing a sprinkler system, however, is no mean feat. In this article, we'll go over a few tips that you can use to make the process a little easier.

1. Be Scientific

When you're figuring out how to irrigate your outdoor space, it's important that you be scientific about it all. Don't just "guestimate" the setup of the sprinkler system. Instead, break out that measuring tape and start getting some numbers as to the size, area, and perimeter of your property that you need to be irrigated.

Once you have that information, you can start figuring out what kind of sprinkler coverage you need, the number of units that are necessary, and how much piping will be required to keep everything connected.

2. Know Your Water Output

In order to pick the right sprinklers, you'll need to know your water output. You can get this information in one of two ways. Firstly, you can talk to your local water department to get record as to the water output your home receives. Second, you can turn off all of the faucets in your home, then turn on your outdoor spigot and measure the output from it. You'll need this info to figure out whether your current water output can sustain the sprinkler system. 

3. Hydrozone Your Area

For most homeowners, you won't have a uniform sprinkler system across your entire irrigated property. For instance, areas with more shade require less water. Some types of plants and grass that you may want to irrigate also require less water.

Divide your property up into hydrazones that detail how much water is required in each area.

4. Choose the Right Sprinkler Head

The most important part that you'll be purchasing is the sprinkler head. There are several different possibilities here: rotary nozzles, special patterns, drip-based sprinklers, etc.. Figure out which one is best for the vegetation that you are growing. A sprinkler service has significant experience with each type of sprinkler head, so one could be a useful consultation for you.

5. List All Parts to Be Purchased

Last but not least, make sure to list out all the parts to be purchased ahead of time. This makes the shopping process all the easier, whether you're doing it in-person at the hardware store or online.

Designing a Sprinkler System Isn't Easy

There you have it — designing a sprinkler system may not be easy, but with these tips under your belt, the process should become a little more clear.

If this project is looking a little too complicated to DIY at your home, be sure to check out our irrigation services and give us a call today!