Irrigation & Landscaping education hub
Irrigation System Tips, Lawn Care Guides, Watering Advice & More!
welcome to Our education hub.
At West Irrigation, we believe informed property owners make better decisions about their irrigation systems and landscapes. That’s why we created the Irrigation & Landscape Education Hub — a centralized resource for expert guidance on irrigation system maintenance, water efficiency, seasonal start-ups and winterization, lake irrigation systems, and practical lawn care strategies. Our goal is to provide clear, trustworthy information that helps homeowners, HOAs, and commercial property managers protect their investment, conserve water, and keep their landscapes healthy year-round. Whether you’re troubleshooting a sprinkler issue or planning a system upgrade, this hub is designed to give you the knowledge you need to make confident, informed decisions.
topic of
the month:
What Is Evapotranspiration and Why Does It Matter for My Lawn?
Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined process of water evaporating from the soil and transpiring through grass and plant leaves. In simple terms, it measures how much moisture your lawn naturally loses to the atmosphere due to temperature, sunlight, wind, and humidity. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) explains that evapotranspiration is a critical part of the water cycle and directly influences soil moisture levels
Why Smart Irrigation Systems Are Worth It in Minnesota
Keeping your lawn and landscape healthy in Minnesota isn’t always as simple as turning on a sprinkler. Between unpredictable rainfall, hot summer stretches, and sudden
What Are the Benefits of Smart Irrigation Controllers?
Smart irrigation controllers are one of the most practical upgrades you can make to a sprinkler system. Instead of running on the same fixed schedule
What Is Evapotranspiration and Why Does It Matter for My Lawn?
Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined process of water evaporating from the soil and transpiring through grass and plant leaves. In simple terms, it measures how
What Types of Fungus or Lawn Concerns Should I Keep an Eye Out For?
Keeping a lawn healthy in Minnesota means paying attention to more than just watering and mowing. Weather conditions, soil health, and maintenance practices all play
How Does Soil Type Affect Watering and Plant Health?
Soil type has a major impact on how water moves through your landscape, how long moisture stays available to plants, and how often your lawn
How Often Should You Water Your Lawn in Minnesota?
Knowing how often to water your lawn in Minnesota depends on more than just the time of year. Our weather can shift quickly from cool
What Is Evapotranspiration and Why Does It Matter for My Lawn?
Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined process of water evaporating from the soil and transpiring through grass and plant leaves. In simple terms, it measures how
How Does Soil Type Affect Watering and Plant Health?
Soil type has a major impact on how water moves through your landscape, how long moisture stays available to plants, and how often your lawn
What Determines the Watering Needs of Plants?
Understanding how much water your plants actually need isn’t always as simple as setting a timer and forgetting about it. In reality, plant watering needs
How Often Should You Water Your Lawn in Minnesota?
Knowing how often to water your lawn in Minnesota depends on more than just the time of year. Our weather can shift quickly from cool
What Is Evapotranspiration and Why Does It Matter for My Lawn?
Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combined process of water evaporating from the soil and transpiring through grass and plant leaves. In simple terms, it measures how
GLOSSARY & TERMS:
RAIN SENSOR
A rain sensor operates with smart technology by shutting down the irrigation system during periods of rain. Per MN Statute 103G.298, “All automatically operated landscape irrigation systems shall have furnished and installed technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the landscape irrigation system during periods of sufficient moisture. The technology must be adjustable either by the end user or the professional practitioner of landscape irrigation services.” Need to have a rain sensor installed or replace your old one? Our team will evaluate during your spring startup and can provide a good faith estimate for installation.
Sprinkler Heads
“MP Rotator (MPR)”: A high-efficiency, low-precipitation-rate, rotating stream spray nozzle that can be used in place of traditional spray nozzles.”
“Spray Heads”: Sprinklers that emit a fan–type spray of small droplets of water. The heads have a radius of 17′ or less. Spray heads fit into the “small-area sprinklers” category.”
“Rotors”: Gear-driven sprinklers that deliver a solid stream of water and rotate slowly in a circular pattern, from 15’–46′. Rotors fit into the “large-area sprinklers” category.”
“Check Valve”: A small device often installed in the base of a sprinkler that allows water to flow in one direction only and does not open until a preset pressure is reached. Improves operation of irrigation system and helps to reduce/eliminate drainage at low points of system.”
“Drip Irrigation”: Inline drip products use capillarity to move water in all directions through the root zone. Water is distributed with maximum uniformity in all directions, providing the right amount of water exactly where needed to stimulate and sustain healthy root growth. When used below grade, inline drip irrigation significantly limits the loss of water through evaporation.”
“Control Valves”: Automatic sprinkler control valves are valves that are activated with a low voltage output from the controller and are connected to the controller by direct burial low voltage wire. A group of control valves located together is called a manifold.”
“Poly Pipe”: Polyethylene pipe is a black, flexible pipe popular in areas that are susceptible to long winter freezes. Insert or compressions fittings are used to connect the pipe.”
“Wire”: In an automatic sprinkler system, a low-voltage direct burial wire is used to connect the automatic control valves to the controller. Color-coded, multi-strand sprinkler wire is the most common and has several coated wires together in one protective jacket.”
“Backflow Preventer”: A device installed between the P.O.C. and the control valves that prevent the backflow of contaminated water into the drinking water.”
“Shutoff Valves”: Valves are used to isolate the irrigation system from the water supply or to isolate sections of the irrigation system for maintenance. The valve may be either a brass gate valve or a brass or plastic ball valve. Care should be used to slowly turn ball valves on or off as they only require a ¼-turn to open or close and could cause damage if operated too rapidly.”
“Pressure”: Measured with a pressure gauge and expressed in PSI. Static pressure is the pressure when no water is flowing through a closed system. Dynamic pressure is when the system is open and water is flowing though the pipes.”
“Volume”: Expressed in GPM (gallons per minute). Volume is used to describe either the amount of water available or the amount of water used. The available gallons per minute must be known before a sprinkler design can be completed. The total GPM of all the sprinkler heads on one zone should not exceed the available GPM.”
“Precipitation Rate”: Expressed in inches per hour, precipitation rate is the rate at which water is applied. Matched precipitation means all of the sprinklers in the area are placing about the same amount of water in a given area.”
“Friction Loss”: Water flowing through the meter, pipe, valves, and fittings will have considerable drag or friction. When the velocity of water increases, the friction loss increases. When the diameter of the pipe increases, friction loss decreases. Friction loss reduces the available dynamic pressure.”
“Head–to–Head”: This phrase describes the correct placement of spray heads or stream rotors. One sprinkler must be placed so that it will spray another sprinkler (or 50% of the adjusted diameter). This provides for complete coverage and prevents dry spots.”
Can't find what you're looking for?
Our team of irrigation experts are ready to answer any questions or curiosities that you may have!
