Introduction

If you’re like me, you love your yard. You want it to look its best, and you want it to stay healthy and beautiful. But when it comes to lawn care and landscaping, that can be a challenge. It’s easy enough to keep plants alive and even get them thriving if they’re in good shape when they go into the ground, but sometimes we need help making sure our yards stay green through even the toughest seasons—and sprinklers are one of those things that make all the difference between summertime paradise or dry ruin! To help make sure yours work like they should (and save money on water bills), here are some tips for keeping your sprinkler system in tip-top shape:

An Introduction to Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler systems are an important part of your landscape, and you’ll want to make sure they’re working properly. This guide will give you the basics on how sprinklers work, what kinds of problems they can have, and how to fix them.

A sprinkler system is a series of water valves that deliver water from a water source (usually a well) through pipes underneath the ground. When one or more of these valves is activated by an external mechanism like a timer or motion sensor, it turns on for a predetermined length of time before shutting off again automatically—and then repeating over and over throughout the day or night. The purpose of this automatic shutoff function is to prevent overwatering when there’s no one present in the yard who can manually turn off any running faucets or hoses if necessary (i.e., during rain storms).

Even though most residential designs use underground pipes for their delivery systems instead out in plain sight where they could be easily damaged by animals digging holes around foundations; homeowners should still inspect all irrigation lines once per year looking closely at connectors between components like Valves/Valve Boxes & Fittings/Pipe Reels/Spigots etc…

Get your sprinkler system tested by a professional.

When you need to make sure that your sprinkler system is working properly, it’s a good idea to get it tested by a professional. You can do this in the spring or fall and when you buy a new home, too. If you already have a sprinkler system installed and want to make sure everything is working properly, then getting it tested by an expert is also something that could be helpful for you.

The reason why this kind of testing is important is because there are many things that can go wrong with these types of systems if they aren’t properly maintained over time. For example, if there are problems with the valves or pipes behind them then those will need fixing before anyone uses them again (or else things could get messy).

Take care of your yard, and your sprinklers will take care of themselves.

Keeping your yard well-cared for is an important part of keeping your sprinklers happy. Mow your lawn regularly to keep it short, which will help reduce evaporation from the ground and improve water efficiency. If you have a big yard, keep in mind that it can take hours for a sprinkler system to run through all of its zones—and if there are weeds growing around the heads of those zones, then more time will be spent spraying water on them than on grassy areas nearby.

Another way to make sure your sprinklers aren’t wasting their sweet precious H20: watering deeply but infrequently instead of shallowly but often. This helps promote deep root growth and keeps grasses healthier overall (not just by helping them withstand droughts).

To prevent debris from clogging up spray heads or collecting around fittings, sweep any sticks or branches away after each mowing session; pick up rocks that may have fallen onto your lawn; and trim back long grasses so they don’t hang over into neighboring yards or driveways where they could cause accidents.

Know what types of plants are in your yard.

When you have a yard full of plants, it’s important to know what type they are. If it’s late summer and the plant is blooming, then watering isn’t necessary. However, if the plant needs to dry out or is in need of pruning, then watering may be necessary.

Another thing to consider is whether your plants are in containers or not. Containers need more attention than that of their outside counterparts because they aren’t getting adequate water from rain alone. Make sure that you’re checking on your plants regularly so as not to over- or underwater them!

Know when you don’t need to water your yard.

When you water your yard, you want to make sure it’s not too much and that it’s not too little. To help you determine the right amount of watering, here are some tips:

• If your grass is turning brown and patchy, check the soil underneath to see if it’s dry or moist. If there are visible signs of moisture, then your sprinkler system may need a new filter or an adjustment on its sprayer heads.
• If your grass is turning yellow but there aren’t any signs of moisture in the soil, then you might not be watering enough—either manually or with a sprinkler system set up that cycles at high intervals (like 20 minutes). Make sure all valves are open so that all lawn areas receive adequate water pressure.

Keep the right tools on hand for quick fixes.

When you need to make quick repairs and adjustments to your sprinkler system, nothing beats having the right tools for the job. Here’s what I keep in my garage:

• A screwdriver and a wrench (for tightening or loosening pipes)
• A bucket, some old rags and a hose (for cleaning out dirt from water valves)
• A container with spare parts that fit various models of irrigation equipment (so you don’t have to run back and forth to your local hardware store every time something breaks down)

I also like keeping these things around:

• A flashlight (to help me see when working in dark places)
• Extra batteries for my flashlight (just in case my primary ones go dead during a power outage!)

You can prevent most sprinkler issues with the right maintenance and a little knowledge.

To make sure you’re using your sprinklers in the best way possible, it’s important to learn a few basic steps. First, get in the habit of doing a quick check every time you water your lawn or garden. Check for leaks and make sure all systems are working properly before turning them on. If you see any issues—such as broken sprinkler heads or leaky pipes—get them fixed immediately so they don’t cause more damage down the line.

Next, think about what kind of plants you have growing in your yard and how often they need watering. In general, most trees and shrubs can go weeks without being watered again after their first drink during planting season (but check their tags for specific recommendations). Annuals are planted differently depending on when they’re planted; some may need regular watering while others don’t need any at all once established (check with professional advice on this one). Finally, be sure that large trees and shrubs have sufficient moisture in order for them not only survive but thrive through hot summer months when there isn’t enough rainfall available locally anymore due climate change affecting precipitation patterns around globe today vs., say 20 years ago.)

Conclusion

Hopefully, we’ve given you some new ideas for keeping your sprinklers in top shape. If you want to learn more about sprinkler systems and how they work, check out our blog post “An Introduction to Sprinkler Systems.” And if you’re still wondering what types of plants are best for your yard, take a look at our post “Know Your Plants”. It’ll help keep them healthy so they can do their job better!