From soil to sprinklers and everything in between

By Emma Peterson. 

4 common irrigation challenges and the tools that help outdoor contractors overcome them. 

On the surface, irrigation is simple – get the water to the plants. But in reality, there are quite a few different factors to account for when setting up an irrigation system! Things like soil type, thatch structures, climate factors and drainage routes can make or break a project. To learn about these different factors and strategies for successfully managing an irrigation system, we hosted Luis Andrade of Heritage Landscape Supply Group for an episode of OutdoorTalk™.  

1 - Soil type 

Luis explained, “Let’s use soil as an example. There’s many different types, from sandy to clay to rock, etc. All of these different mixtures are going to react with water differently.” He gave a few examples, sharing, “A sandy soil is going to absorb water fast, but it's not going to spread out evenly because it’s moving down so fast. Alternatively, a clay soil doesn’t absorb water well, you’re at a high risk of runoff, but the water will spread out more.” If you don’t adjust your irrigation system for these different factors, you are likely to encounter issues like flooded lawns, less-than-healthy plants and wasted water. 

2 - Thatch structures 

Thatch structures, or organic matter such as lawn clippings or fallen leaves, are another consideration. Luis explained, “These organic structures that get left will eventually create a mesh as they decompose. And that mesh acts like a water repellent.” This is why irrigation cannot be done independent of other outdoor trades, like lawn care and tree care. Success in each of these individual sectors of the yard relies on success in the other – it’s all one ecosystem. 

3 - Climate factors 

Another big consideration for irrigation professionals is the weather. Different weather patterns can wreak all kinds of havoc on the best-intentioned irrigation system. Think about freezing temperatures for one. If you don’t have freeze sensors and other tools set up, you run the risk of damaging your equipment or even people around the site. Luis gave an example, “There was a case, I believe it was in Texas, where we had a freezing condition and a system did not have a freeze sensor. Their system turned on, was spraying water on the road and created black ice that caused someone to crash and lose their life.”  

This is one of the most extreme scenarios that could come up related to weather, but it illustrates how important it is to plan with the actual site’s environment in mind, rather than just working out logistics on paper.  

4 - Drainage routes 

Another big site-specific consideration is drainage routes. When we’re thinking about irrigation, it can be easy to get caught up thinking about how to get water to places, and forget to consider how to get water out of places too. But it’s equally important. Luis explained:  

Plants, while they need water, also need oxygen to survive. And so, if we overwater them, or if we put them in an area where they're going to be saturated because of lack of drainage, they're going to die. I remember going out to one site, and you could smell the roots of these poor plants rotting because things weren’t draining properly. 

And damage to the plants is just the start of the issues that can stem from improper drainage. Other issues can be extreme as destabilization of soil and damage to house foundations due to pooling water. Luis put it simply, “Planning your drainage, in my opinion, is one of the most important parts of building a healthy irrigation system.” 

Tools to help 

All of this can be a lot to manage, which is why having the right tools for your next irrigation job is key to success. In our conversation with Luis, he mentioned two tools that should be in every irrigation professional’s truck – wetting agents and pressure regulated sprinklers (PRS).  

Wetting agents are an agronomic product that is typically sprayed over a landscape to help water and other products absorb better. They are very useful for avoiding compaction issues tied to your soil type or climate conditions. Luis gave an example of when you might use these, sharing, “Let's say you're going to a drought, and your soil is compacted. This is where wetting agents help. When you spray them on a ground they break down some of that compaction, allowing you to get water and other nutrients into the soil without flooding the space.” Wetting agents can be both liquid or granular. 

As for PRS, they are another tool that Luis highly recommends for irrigation professionals. He explained, “Every sprinkler rotor is kind of its own spigot. But when you don't have pressure regulating head, you might have one rotor sitting at 55 PSI, and then you're going to have another one that has 45 PSI.” He went on, “Because they’re at different pressures, they're applying different amounts of water.”  By utilizing PRS, you can ensure a more uniform application of water that allows you as the irrigator to know exactly what your system is doing so that you can tailor it to each unique site. 

Overall, these tools are just examples of the role technology and innovation has in managing all the different irrigation factors on any given site. As Luis put it, “Pressure regulation or wetting agents by themselves are not the ultimate solution, but they give you more control over your program so that you can use your knowledge of all the other factors to properly irrigate and care for a space.” 

Want to learn more about irrigation and all the factors that go into building an efficient, high-performance irrigation system? Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording.