Now is the perfect time to plan to install an automatic sprinkler system or upgrade your existing one. The first step in planning an automatic sprinkler system is to know your landscaping and a few details about your water utility usage. How big is your lawn? What kind of plants and grasses are growing there? What are the sun and shade patterns? Do you have adequate water pressure to operate an automatic sprinkler system? The tips below will help you find the answers to questions.

HOMEOWNER TIP: Rain Bird offers our Homeowner Sprinkler Design Service to create your personalized plan with just a few simple steps. Learn more and download our free design worksheet here.

Planning your sprinkler system

To get started, you’ll need a few tools to record some initial measurements. These include:

• Water pressure gauge, which you can buy at your local hardware store
• Piece of string at least 5 inches long
• Tape measure
• 5-gallon bucket
• Timer or stopwatch
• Marking pen
• Pencil and paper

Check your water pressure

Attach the water pressure gauge to an outside faucet, turn on the water and record the reading in pounds per square inch (PSI). Most automatic sprinkler systems require between 40 to 60 PSI to operate properly. Because water pressure fluctuates throughout the day, it’s best to make sure other faucets in your house are off and that you record your water pressure at around the time you will likely be using your irrigation system.

Calculate your water flow

Flow rate, measured in gallons per minute (GPM), is a measure of the water capacity at your home. Place the 5-gallon bucket under an outside faucet, turn the faucet on all the way, and time how long it takes to fill the container. Now that you know how many seconds it takes to fill 5 gallons, you can do some simple math to calculate GPM:

Gallons(container size) ÷ Time(seconds) × 60 = GPM(Gallons per minute)

Find your water meter size

Locate your water meter. The water meter size is usually stamped on the outside of the meter. If you can’t find the size, call your water utility company and ask for that information; standard sizes are 5/8", 3/4", or 1". If you are on a well, check your pump owner’s manual to determine its pressure and flow capacity, or consult a well pump dealer/installer.

Measure your service line diameter

The pipe that runs from the water meter to your home is called the service line. The service line is usually made of either plastic, copper, or galvanized steel. To determine the diameter of the service line, wrap a piece of string around the pipe, mark it with a pen, then measure the string. Check your string length in the table below to find your service line size. For example, if your string measures 4" and you have galvanized pipe, your service line is 1”.

Sketch your yard

Make a rough sketch of your property and write down the measurements. Include the locations of trees, bushes, flower beds, and any other landscape features. Also, identify your house, garage, and any other buildings, and hard surfaces such as patios, driveways, and sidewalks. Don’t worry about being too precise at this stage; you can always refine your sketch later on graph paper or transfer your drawing onto our free design worksheet.

Common irrigation design problems (and solutions)

While outlining your irrigation system plan, be sure to identify all the unique areas of your landscape that may have special watering requirements. Here are some common design challenges and solutions:

Watering slopes or hills

If sprinklers are installed at the bottom of a hill or slope, water can pool and cause soggy patches of grass that invite fungus to grow. For low areas, plan for sprinkler heads 

Different plant types

Shrubs, trees, flowers, and grass all need different amounts of water. Delivering the same amount of water to every plant can reduce plant life and are simply a waste of water. A great solution is low-volume drip irrigation that allows you to customize the water delivery to each plant individually. Designing a system with multiple independent zones allows you to schedule watering according to each area's unique watering needs.

Corners, odd shapes, or strips

Unusual property lines can be challenging to get complete and adequate coverage in hard-to-reach areas, leaving some areas over-watered and others under-watered. Sprays installed with Variable Arc Nozzles (VAN) efficiently deliver precise, even coverage in any corner or odd-shaped area of the landscape.

Small yards

Smaller areas can be difficult to water. Often sprinklers waste water on sidewalks and driveways or spray against the house or garage. One solution is to design your irrigation plan with low-volume Rain Bird SQ Nozzles that precisely water in a square pattern from 2.5 to 4 feet, eliminating over-watering and wasteful run-off in small properties and tight landscaping.

Variations in sun and shade

Over- or under-watering often results because sunny or shady parts of your yard and garden require different amounts of irrigation. When planning your new installation or upgrading your existing sprinkler system, consider an easy-to-set controller, like the Rain Bird ARC8 Smart WiFi controller, with multiple independent programs that allow additional watering times for areas with more sun exposure. And programming is easy by using the Rain Bird app on your smartphone.

Designing an automatic sprinkler system for your home can seem daunting, but following these simple tips will help make the process easier. Our Rain Bird Sprinkler Design Service can help you make your personalized plan. By making note of a few key measurements and sketching out your yard, you can begin to identify the unique areas of your landscape and design a customized irrigation plan that delivers water where it's needed most - saving you time, money, and water over the long run.