What to know about home irrigation systems

What to know about home irrigation systems

Landscaping goes a long way toward how residents, guests and even prospective buyers view a property. A 2023 Thumbtack survey conducted in partnership with Nextdoor found that 73 percent of homeowners feel a well-kept lawn dramatically improves curb appeal.

Maintaining a lawn involves more than mowing once every week or two weeks. While it's important that grass be cut consistently and at a height that helps to prevent weed infestation, homeowners also need to go further if they hope to produce a lawn they can be proud of.

Watering a lawn promotes strong roots and produces that lush, green look that can quickly become the envy of a neighborhood. Hand watering is effective but also labor-intensive, while watering with lawn sprinklers may require frequent repositioning and lead to substantial runoff. That's why many homeowners look to irrigation systems to preserve their lawns and other areas of the landscape outside their homes. Homeowners considering such a system for their homes can take note of some of the basics of home irrigation systems.

Types of irrigation systems

Homeowners may be surprised to learn there are various types of irrigation systems. When considering an irrigation system, homeowners may settle on two of the more common types.

· Sprinkler systems: These might be the most familiar home irrigation systems. A sprinkler irrigation system positions various sprinklers around a property and allows homeowners to water large areas in a relatively brief period of time.

· Drip irrigation systems: Drip systems are installed underground and provide water directly to the roots, which builds a stronger lawn and reduces the risk of weed infestation. Drip systems also can help to conserve water, which is important for homeowners who live in areas with arid climates. And because they're underground, drip systems do not lose a lot of water to evaporation, which is another notable factor for homeowners to note if they live in areas with high temperatures and substantial summertime humidity.

Cost

Cost is a chief consideration for any home improvement project, and irrigation systems are no exception. The cost of a system will depend on a number of variables unique to each property, including the size of the grounds, the soil conditions, and the layout of the lawn. A drip irrigation system is considered affordable, with the experts at LawnStarter® estimating homeowners spend between $310 and $815 on such systems. A sprinkler system can cost anywhere from $0.90 to $1.70 per square foot, according to LawnStarter®. So homeowners interested in such systems can expect to spend thousands of dollars to install one.

Installation

It's generally a good idea to leave irrigation system installation to the professionals. However, various resources indicate that drip irrigation systems are DIY-friendly for people with ample DIY experience. Sprinkler systems are more difficult to install than drip systems, and these projects should be trusted to experienced local professionals.

A well-maintained law can be a show stopper, and an irrigation system can help homeowners get the most out of their lawns.