The short answer
Measure pressure and available flow before selecting sprinklers. Then divide the landscape into practical zones and design head-to-head coverage within the supply limits.
Measure the water supply before designing zones
Static pressure alone does not tell you how many sprinklers can operate together. A useful design considers pressure while water is moving, the available flow, service size, meter, backflow assembly, elevation changes and friction through the piping.
Guessing at the supply can create weak coverage, excessive pressure loss or zones that only work when other water use in the property is low. The design should fit the available water instead of asking the water supply to fit an oversized zone.
- Static and working pressure
- Available flow
- Service, meter and backflow size
- Elevation change across the property
- Distance to the farthest zone
Separate areas with different watering needs
Lawns, shrub beds, planters and containers do not normally belong on the same watering schedule. Lawn sprinklers apply water differently from drip equipment, while sunny and shaded areas may also need different run times.
Purposeful zoning makes the system easier to adjust through the season and helps avoid overwatering one area to keep another area alive.
Design coverage—not just sprinkler locations
Sprinklers should be selected and spaced to provide consistent overlap across the irrigated area. Stretching a head beyond its useful range often leaves dry sections between sprinklers and wet areas close to each head.
The layout must also account for wind exposure, narrow lawn strips, slopes, walls, paths and planting. Correct nozzles and matched application rates matter as much as the number of heads.
- Head-to-head coverage where appropriate
- Matched sprinkler types within a zone
- Reduced overspray onto buildings and paving
- Separate drip zones for gardens
- Practical access for future adjustment
Coordinate irrigation with the landscape build
The best time to install irrigation is before final soil preparation, sod, planting and pavers. Pipe routes and sleeves can be completed without cutting through new finishes, while valve boxes and sprinkler elevations can be matched to the final grade.
Landscape and irrigation planning should use the same drawing or site measurements so planting beds, lawn edges and future hardscape do not conflict with buried components.
Test, adjust and document the finished system
Installation is not finished when the trenches are closed. Each zone should be operated, checked for leaks, adjusted for coverage and programmed around the season and plant material.
A homeowner should know where the shutoff, backflow assembly, controller, valves and key winterization points are located. Clear records make future repairs and additions much easier.