Learn
DIY Sprinkler & Irrigation Guides
Everything you need to plan, install, and maintain your own sprinkler system — written for homeowners, in plain English. Start with the fundamentals or jump to what you need.
Getting started
How to Design a Sprinkler System: A Complete DIY Guide
A step-by-step guide to designing your own lawn sprinkler system — measuring water supply, mapping zones, choosing heads, and routing pipe.
9 min read →
Spray Heads vs. Rotors vs. Drip: Which to Use Where
Compare fixed spray heads, rotor heads, and drip irrigation — coverage, flow, spacing, and the right choice for lawns, beds, and slopes.
8 min read →
Sprinkler Head Spacing and Head-to-Head Coverage Explained
Why sprinkler heads must overlap, how to calculate head-to-head spacing, and how wind and pressure change your layout.
7 min read →
Water supply
Understanding Water Pressure (PSI) and Flow Rate (GPM) for Irrigation
How to measure your home's water pressure and flow rate with a gauge and a bucket, and why both numbers decide your whole design.
8 min read →
How to Calculate Sprinkler Zones (So You Never Run Dry)
Divide your yard into zones that fit your available flow. Worked examples for sizing zones by GPM so every head gets full pressure.
9 min read →
How to Set an Efficient Sprinkler Watering Schedule
Set run times and days by grass type, soil, and season — using cycle-and-soak to water deeply without runoff or waste.
8 min read →
Parts & components
PVC vs. Poly Pipe for Irrigation: Which Should You Use?
The pros, cons, fittings, and climates for PVC and polyethylene irrigation pipe — and how to choose the right one for your yard.
7 min read →
Backflow Preventers and Where to Tap Your Water Supply
What a backflow preventer does, the common types, and how to safely connect your sprinkler system to the house water line.
8 min read →
Irrigation Valves and Controllers: How to Wire and Install Them
How zone valves and timers work together, how to build a valve manifold, and how to wire a controller step by step.
8 min read →
Installation
How to Install a Sprinkler System Yourself: Step by Step
A complete DIY installation walkthrough — from calling 811 and trenching to flushing lines, setting heads, and testing zones.
11 min read →
Drip Irrigation for Beds, Trees, and Gardens: A Beginner's Guide
How drip irrigation works, the parts you need, emitter spacing and flow, and how to lay out efficient drip for beds and containers.
9 min read →
Call 811 Before You Dig: What Every DIYer Needs to Know
Why you must call 811 before trenching, how the free utility-locate process works, and how to dig safely around marked lines.
6 min read →
Cost & planning
Maintenance
How to Winterize a Sprinkler System (Blow-Out Method)
Protect your irrigation system from freeze damage. A safe, step-by-step blow-out guide plus the drain methods for milder climates.
8 min read →
Troubleshooting Common Sprinkler Problems
Fix low pressure, uneven coverage, heads that won't pop up, leaks, and zones that won't turn on — a practical diagnostic guide.
9 min read →