Installing an Irrigation System

A great way to water your lawn efficiently and effectively is to install a new underground sprinkler system. While this task can often be very laborious, Colorado Custom Landscaping takes the weight off your shoulders by installing all the necessary equipment, including a backflow unit, manifold box, irrigation control clock (controller), sprinkler pipe, sprinkler heads, and a drip line if necessary. To make parts of this process easier we operate our Toro Dingo TX-1000 vibratory plow to easily pull sprinkler pipe through all sorts of ground material. In the end, we are proud to provide you with a brand-new irrigation system to ensure all your grass and plants get the proper water coverage.

Our Equipment

To reduce the hassle that often comes with installing sprinkler systems, Colorado Custom Landscaping uses our very own Dingo TX-1000. Our vibratory plow optimizes pipe-pulling performance while minimizing turf damage during installation. The elliptical vibrating motion creates a natural force in the direction of the machine to allow a pipe to be pulled through difficult soil conditions, such as tree roots, hard clay, and even some rocks. There are also compression springs that allow the head to pivot 30-degrees side-to-side, making tight turns possible thus increasing the areas we can access. This machine gives us the power to safely and skillfully install your new sprinkler system for you to enjoy for years to come.

Toro Dingo TX-1000 with Vibratory Plow

The sharp blade and quick vibrating motion effortlessly pull line directly through the ground.

Backflow Unit

The backflow prevention unit, also known as a backflow, is the mechanism that protects the drinking water system from contamination due to backflow of non-potable (contaminated) water into the potable (fit for drinking) water supply. Any drop in pressure in the main city water line can result in back-siphonage backflow of fertilizers, pesticides, manures and other contaminants through sprinkler heads and the irrigation piping system into the potable water supply.

Manifold Box/ Valves

You most likely have seen a manifold box, as they are found in almost every American’s yard, which consists of box that is buried in the ground with a bright green lid. This box is designed to allow access to your sprinkler systems valves, also known as zones. A typical yard usually has approximately 4 to 6 valves/ zones. This is because only one valve is operating at a given time, due to the amount of water pressure that is available. Each sprinkler valve is connected to multiple sprinkler heads (usually 4 to 5 heads), so a typical yard will have anywhere between 10 to 30 heads! That is why when you see a sprinkler system irrigating a lawn, only a small portion of the yard is being watered - this is one zone being activated. A sprinkler system will tell each valve to water for a specific period of time before shutting that valve off and starting the next valve. Within 30 to 60 minutes your entire yard will be properly irrigated.

Irrigation Line

The sprinkler line that we use at Colorado Custom Landscaping consists of black polyethylene pipe (poly pipe) which comes in 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” sizes. In order to get the highest water pressure for each sprinkler head, we use the 1” pipe as the trunk line and then connect the heads using swing (or funny) pipe.

For any drip lines being installed, we use the 3/4” poly pipe as the trunk line. To directly water individual plants, we attach drip emitters, which typically range from 1/2 gallon to 2 gallons per hour, and then spaghetti lines going straight to the base of the plant. If a larger area of plants need coverage, then we install misters that spray a light mist over the top of the plants.

Sprinkler Heads

Our preferred brand for sprinkler use is Hunter Industries as their quality is unmatched by any other. Hunter understands sprinkler heads tend to be placed in paths of weedwhackers, lawn mowers or even cars, therefore guaranteeing their heads are built strong enough to hold up against these possible dangers.

The shape and size of your yard determines which sprinkler heads need to be utilized and where they need to be placed. For larger more open areas a rotor, or oscillating head is most practical. With a 4-inch pop up that easily clears the turf, the rotor heads feature an adjustable 40° to 360° arc that provides water-saving efficiency and uniform water distribution for consistent results. The height of the arc can also be adjusted enabling the spray to reach over a hill if necessary. The 3-gallon per minute nozzle grants easy fine tuning and versatility, ensuring your grass gets the desired amount of water.

To reach smaller or tighter areas a pop-up spray head becomes more effective. Hunter Pro Spray heads cover any angle from 0° to 360° meaning it has the ability to cover only a small sliver of an area or to be opened to a full circle. Pro Spray nozzles are available in several models that cover distances from 4’ to 17’ using recommended pressure.

Clock

The clock is usually found in the garage of a property, which acts as the “brain” of the entire sprinkler system. This clock can be programmed telling the sprinkler system when and how long to water the lawn. Here at CCL, we use a Wi-Fi smart controller, which allows the user to control the sprinkler system from anywhere in the world via internet connection using a cell phone, tablet or computer. Essentially, you can turn your sprinkler system on and off from a touch of a button on your phone. Pretty cool! This smart controller also tracks the location of the user’s property telling the system to water more or less depending on the local weather forecast (e.g., hot, cold or rainy days), among other customizable features.

All Finished!

After installation is complete, we test the entire system to make sure everything is functioning properly and only the desired areas are getting watered. Once we are completely satisfied with the angle and spray of every head, including the programming of the control clock, we hand the system over to you. No more hand-watering, no more worry or stress. Your sprinkler system is now live and ready for you to sit back, relax and enjoy the automation of your perfectly irrigated lawn for many years to come!