My favorite part about summer is getting to spend time in my yard. I love watching the flowers bloom and seeing my lawn turn green again.
But there’s something even better than that: water! Specifically, sprinklers that water your plants and flowers.
They’re like tiny, automated raindrops that will help ensure your plants get enough water to survive the heat of summer.
And they’re easy to install and maintain too! So let’s walk through how you can adjust them yourself (that way you can save money on a landscaper).
Sure, here is the table based on the title:
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Understanding the importance of sprinkler head adjustment |
| Simple steps for adjusting sprinkler heads |
| Troubleshooting common sprinkler head problems |
| Additional resources for maintaining your sprinkler system |
Prepare Your Yard
Before you start to adjust the sprinklers, make sure to prepare your flower bed. You will have to rake away grass clippings and other debris that may have fallen into it.
If there are any rocks or other obstructions in the way, remove them as well. Remove weeds and other plants that are growing in the bed so that they don’t get damaged during this process.
Next, you need to measure how far away from each sprinkler you want them placed in order for them all to be properly watered by one watering cycle (usually about 15 minutes).
This means measuring how long it takes for the water from all four sprinklers combined to reach a point about 3 feet away from each sprinkler on either side of it with its spray pattern full open at maximum power setting (or as close as possible)
Are your flower beds not producing the desired results? Consider amending the soil to make it more nutrient-rich. Read our easy guide on how to amend flower bed soil for more information on how to do it.
Turn Off the Water
Once the garden is clear of debris, it’s time to start adjusting your sprinklers.
First, turn off all water to the sprinkler system. Make sure you know where the shutoff valves are and how to turn them off.
Drain the Flower Sprinkler Lines
One of the most important things to do when you adjust your sprinkler system is to drain the flower bed sprinkler lines.
This prevents waterlogged soil, which can lead to root rot. Root rot is a fatal disease that can kill plants and make them wilt even if they’re getting plenty of water. It’s easy to avoid by checking your lines regularly and draining them when necessary.
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Adjust Your Sprinklers
You can adjust the sprinklers yourself. The easiest way to do this is with a screwdriver and two wrenches. You will need:
- A screwdriver
- Two wrenches (one adjustable, one standard)
If your sprinkler heads are too far apart, then you’ll want to tighten the nut that connects them on top of where they’re installed in order to move them closer together.
If they’re too close together and don’t reach all parts of your flower bed, loosen that same nut so they move further apart.
If the heads are too close but only in one area like right next to a wall you may have better luck by removing one of them completely and setting up just one head closer to where you want it instead of trying to adjust both at once.
One last tip: if you live somewhere cold or damp year-round (or even just most years), make sure your sprinkler system is winterized before turning itself off for months at a time!
Clean and Change Sprinkler Heads
You may have a clogged sprinkler head or two, and you need to clean it out. Cleaning your sprinkler heads is an easy task that will save you money on water bills.
All you need to do is remove the sprinkler head from the water pipe, wash it off with a garden hose, then replace it into its proper place.
There are several different kinds of sprinkler heads: pop-up, spray mist, rotary and impact (or rotor). You can also purchase mechanical timers for all four types of heads so that you don’t have to worry about turning them on via hand when they need watering again.
If there isn’t already one in place where your yard needs watering most often, consider adding one it will make life so much easier!
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Use a Good Water Timer for Flowers and Plants
Setting up a water timer is a good investment. Not only can it be used to water flowers and plants, but also lawns, houseplants and more.
You’ll be able to set the timer whenever you want to water something in your yard so that you don’t need to remember when to do it yourself.
To set up a timer:
- Place the base of the timer in an area where it will get enough sunlight during all hours of day (at least six hours)
- Fill out all of your required information on paper or online so that you can program your device correctly (this includes choosing how many times per day/week/month, etc.)
Run a Cycle Every Day Until the Soil is Damp at Least 6 Inches Deep. (Or 3 Days for Clay)
Run a cycle every day until the soil is damp at least 6 inches deep, or 3 days for clay. The soil should be moist, but not wet. If the soil is dry, the plant roots will die; if it’s too wet, you could drown them.
Once your sprinkler system is set up, run it in cycles of 20-30 minutes each until all areas are saturated. This helps to ensure that all plants are getting enough water to thrive.
Adding infill to artificial grass can make it look more realistic and lush. Our easy ways to add infill to artificial grass guide provides tips on how to do it yourself and achieve a stunning look.
Check for Leaks
Checking for leaks is a simple way to troubleshoot any problems you may be having with your sprinkler system.
Look for wet spots on the ground near where the sprinkler head is located. This could indicate that there’s a leak in the pipe connecting that head to your water source, or it might just mean that you need to adjust its height.
Check for leaks by looking at places on your house where water could gather and then drip down onto other surfaces, like windowsills and roofing materials.
If there are any such areas, check them carefully for wetness/dampness before using additional methods of detection as described below!
Listen for sounds coming from your yard during operation (or lack thereof). If you hear gurgling noises coming from beneath the earth’s surface, this indicates an underground leak somewhere around one of your valves or pipes possibly even inside one of your valves or pipes!
You’ll want to follow up with visual inspection before moving on to other steps; if no leaking seems apparent visually, try listening again until you do find something worth investigating further; sometimes even small drips can sound like a lot when they’re happening right next door…
Make Small Adjustments With the Screws on Each Head
When you’re making adjustments to the flow rate of your sprinkler head, it’s best to start small and work your way up.
If you’ve got a whole bed of grass that needs watering, for example, but aren’t sure how much water is needed for every square foot of soil, turn the screws on each head only one quarter turn at a time until you get the desired result.
If you have multiple heads in a single zone or if they’re all set at different flow rates, experiment with each individually.
In some cases it may take more than just turning one screw on top of the head to increase or decrease its flow rate; if so, try adjusting another screw in addition to turning that first one.
Are you wondering how to care for your artificial grass lawn? Our landscape advice guide provides tips on how to maintain your lawn’s fresh look, including how to clean, brush, and disinfect it. Follow these tips to make sure your lawn always looks great.
Check Your Sprinkler Flow Rate and Coverage
Before you adjust your sprinklers, make sure that the heads are adjusted to the correct height.
Adjusting sprinkler heads: Your lawn should be at least 3 inches tall when you’re ready to start watering. If it’s shorter than this, give it time to grow until after you’ve finished adjusting your sprinkler head height.
Measuring Coverage from a Sprinkler: Measure out a piece of paper 22 feet long and 3 feet wide (about 1/3 acre).
Use masking tape along the edges of each side so that they don’t get wet while measuring coverage this will help ensure an accurate reading. Place a few stakes or small flags in various spots on the paper; move these around as needed throughout the rest of this process so they don’t get wet either!
Adjusting Zone Hose Lengths: Adjust zone hoses by turning them clockwise until they reach their desired length (usually 6-8 feet).
To shorten them, turn counterclockwise until they reach their desired length (usually 2-4 feet). Be sure not to twist more than necessary because doing so can cause kinks in your hose lines which will affect water pressure flow rate throughout entire system
Calculate How Much Water to Apply to Each Plant Bed Area
When you are watering your flower beds, it’s important to calculate how much water to apply to each plant bed area. You will need the following information:
- The size of the plant bed in square feet.
- The gallons per minute (gpm) your sprinkler puts out (usually found on the sprinkler’s packaging or box).
- Multiply these two numbers together and you’ll have how many gallons of water should be applied per square foot for that particular area. This will give you a total amount of water needed to cover one whole plant bed area with sufficient moisture.
Figure Out How Long to Water Each Bed in Minutes per Area Day
The next step is to figure out how long you need to run your sprinklers for each bed. To do this, you’ll need to know the amount of water (in gallons) each bed will require and how many minutes it will take the sprinkler head(s) to fill that space with water.
As an example, let’s say we have two beds: one has a radius of 8 feet and another with a radius of 6 feet. We also know that our timer can deliver up to 2 gallons per minute at 5 psi (pounds per square inch). The equation for figuring out how long it takes for a sprinkler head with 5 psi operating pressure set at 1 gallon per minute would be:
- 8 ft x 12 inches = 96 inches in circumference which equals 4 ft 2 inches;*6ft x 12 inches = 72 inches in circumference which equals 3 ft 6inches
Be Ready For Rain, You May Need To Turn It Off!
It’s important to remember that if it rains, you may need to turn off your sprinklers. This is especially true if the soil is already saturated and there’s no way further watering will be beneficial.
Some sprinkler systems have leak detection sensors that can shut off the flow of water when leaks occur, but most do not. If you want a leak sensor, consider adding one onto your system or calling in an expert for help with installation.
If you are using timers or zone valves without a rain sensor, make sure you check them before each use!
You don’t want to accidentally leave them on during bad weather your plants will get too much water at once and their roots will rot away from over saturation or dry out completely because there wasn’t enough moisture around their roots when they needed it most (especially during hot sunny days).
Don’t forget: Turn It Back On When The Sun Comes Out! Some people like having their irrigation systems automatically turn back on every night with a programming device like an automatic timer (or “automatic valve controller”)
While others prefer manual control over when different parts of gardens get watered throughout seasons and years.
Regardless of what type best suits your needs, always make sure they’re ready before starting any new project so none goes unnoticed during heavy rainfall conditions.”
Rainy Day Tips
| Situation | Rainy Day Tips |
|---|---|
| Saturated soil | Turn off sprinklers if the soil is already saturated |
| Heavy rainfall | Consider turning off sprinklers during and after heavy rainfall |
| Precipitation monitor | Install a precipitation monitor to automatically adjust your sprinkler system based on weather |
| Watering schedule adjustment | Adjust your watering schedule based on rainfall to avoid over-watering |
| Drought conditions | Continue to water as needed during drought conditions, even if rain is in the forecast |
Don’t Forget About Hand Watering in the Evenings if Needed!
You may find you need to hand water your plant beds in the evenings if they are not getting enough water from the sprinklers.
The best way to do this is with a hose with a nozzle on it that has several settings so that you can adjust how much water comes out of it and also what type of spray pattern.
For example, I have an outdoor watering system with three zones. One zone has some annuals (pansies) that are planted in pots and another zone has perennials like hostas, daylilies and ferns growing in large tubs.
The third zone has shrubs such as rhododendrons which are planted close together and require more frequent watering during hot weather than either of the other two areas does.
When hand watering at night, I typically open all three valves for about 10 minutes per area before moving on to another spot where I am going to be working on next day’s irrigation schedule or adding more plants into my gardens
So they’ll have plenty of time before needing any additional care beyond regular watering during daylight hours while temperatures remain high enough outdoors where they’re located within their respective zones/bins/pots etcetera…
Hand Watering Tips
| Situation | Hand Watering Tips |
|---|---|
| Not getting enough water from sprinklers | Hand water plant beds in the evenings if needed |
| Newly planted areas | Hand water daily until plants become established |
| Drought or extended periods of dry weather | Hand water as needed to supplement sprinkler system |
| Container plants | Regularly hand water containers to ensure adequate moisture |
| Tropical plants | Hand water frequently to simulate rainy, humid environments |
Conclusion
You don’t have to deal with a flower bed sprinkler that doesn’t work correctly. You can easily adjust the settings of your sprinkler so it works exactly how you want it to, without having to spend money on costly repairs or replacements.
Further Reading
Here are some additional articles you may find helpful:
How to Replace Sprinkler Heads – A comprehensive guide to replacing sprinkler heads and making sure your sprinkler system is in top shape.
How to Adjust Sprinkler Heads – A helpful guide on how to adjust the sprinkler heads in your yard to ensure optimal watering coverage.
How to Adjust & Repair Lawn Sprinkler Heads – This article covers the basics on how to adjust and repair your lawn sprinkler heads, including common problems and solutions.
FAQs
What are sprinkler heads?
Sprinkler heads are devices that are attached to a sprinkler system that control the flow, direction, and spread of water in a lawn or green space.
How do I know if my sprinkler heads need adjusting?
If you notice areas of your lawn or green space that are not receiving adequate water, it may be time to adjust your sprinkler heads. Additionally, if you notice water spilling out onto sidewalks or other non-lawn areas, your sprinkler heads may need to be readjusted.
How often should I adjust my sprinkler heads?
It is good practice to adjust your sprinkler heads at the beginning of each irrigation season, as this can help to ensure that your lawn and green spaces receive adequate water coverage. If you notice any problems with your sprinkler system throughout the season, you may need to make additional adjustments.
Can I adjust my sprinkler heads myself?
Yes, you can adjust sprinkler heads yourself. However, if you are not comfortable doing so or are unsure of how to make the necessary adjustments, it may be best to consult with a professional.
What should I do if my sprinkler heads are damaged?
If your sprinkler heads are damaged or not functioning properly, you may need to replace them. It is important to address any problems with your sprinkler heads as soon as possible to ensure that your lawn and green spaces receive adequate water coverage.
Hi! My name is Hellen James, and I’m here to help you with your home-maintenance needs. Whether it’s building a better yard or just trying to fix a garden—I can show you how.
