What is an irrigation system?
Too much or too little water can harm your landscaping. It can be hard to know exactly how much water your lawns and plants need. Installing an irrigation system with Ohio Valley Group can prevent over- and under-watering. An irrigation system is a system of water delivery tools like sprinklers and hoses that are installed around your property to provide just the right amount of water to maintain beautiful, lush lawns and thriving flowers, plants, and bushes.
What are the benefits of having an irrigation system installed?
At Ohio Valley Group, we believe having a customized irrigation system is beneficial for many reasons, including:
- Cost savings. Having an automated irrigation system saves you money on your water bill over time by only using the amount of water truly required to keep your landscaping healthy.
- Environmentally friendly. No water is wasted with an automated irrigation system. By considering all of the important factors when installing a system, like lawn size, local rainfall, and soil type, we ensure that your irrigation system is not only economical on your wallet, but also on our environment.
- Convenience. Stop spending your time outside wrestling with hoses and sprinklers! Enjoy your yard without the hassle of weekly, or even daily, watering. We will help you program your irrigation system so it waters your landscaping when it’s convenient for you and healthy for your plantings.
What should I consider when I’m choosing an irrigation system?
There are several factors to consider when choosing an irrigation system, and we’re here to help guide you on your decision. When we are designing a new irrigation system for one of our clients, we think about:
- Lawn size and number of plantings. If you have a very large lawn and lots of plants, you will need a larger irrigation system with more sprinkler heads.
- Local rainfall patterns. Average rainfall in an area is an important consideration when installing and programming an irrigation system. You don’t want to have too many sprinklers turning on too often during a rainy season. That would flood your lawn and damage your plantings. During a dry season, you want to make sure your sprinklers are installed across your entire lawn and running enough to keep your landscaping watered while there is no rain. Otherwise, your lawn will turn yellow and die.
- Existing water options. There are a few kinds of water you can use to feed your irrigation system. Using potable water for your irrigation is expensive, and if there is a drought, use will be restricted. If you have a well or nearby pond, using water from there can be a less expensive option, but does require pumping. If available, the best water option is reclaimed water. It is economically and environmentally conscious.
- Soil type. Depending on the kind of soil your landscaping is planted in, different amounts of irrigation will be required.
What type of irrigation systems are available?
There many types of irrigation systems that people use depending on their needs. Farmers across the US sometimes use huge machines as irrigation, but for our residential clients, we most commonly use one of or a combination of these irrigation types:
- Drip Irrigation. Arguably the most popular choice for residential irrigation systems, drip irrigation involves laying special hoses on the ground around your landscaping so that they slowly drip water into the roots of your plantings. They are the most efficient type of irrigation since they deliver water directly to the roots. They also help reduce weed growth.
- Sprinkler irrigation. Instead of delivering water directly to the roots, sprinkler irrigation delivers water to the surface of your landscaping. They are a popular choice for homes with a lot of grassy areas. They can be used anywhere and can distribute water across a large area.
- Surface irrigation. Taking advantage of a slope in the landscape, surface irrigation is the easiest and cheapest way to irrigate your lawn and plantings. Either by using the natural slope of a property or building out your property to optimize this type of irrigation, surface irrigation systems mostly use rainwater to water your property.
How are irrigation systems installed?
Once we help you decide on the best irrigation system for your home, we will design it and figure out the best way to install all of the features. Depending on the system, sometimes underground plumbing must be installed. We will dig into your yard or planting beds to lay the appropriate piping to supply your landscaping with water. We will also install any electronic components that you will use to automate your system.
How do I maintain my irrigation system once it’s installed?
Once an irrigation system is installed by Ohio Valley Group, there is very little upkeep required by you. We take care of any maintenance and repairs, and we also offer spring system start-up and fall system shut down services.
Contact Ohio Valley Group today at 440-543-0500 or visit us online at www.ohiovalleygroup.com to learn more about our services and to start planning the landscaping of your dreams!