Key Takeaways

Protection strategies for sprinkler heads:

Increased Durability: Guarding against physical damage prolongs sprinkler longevity.
Efficient Water Use: Ensures optimal sprinkler performance, minimizing water wastage.
Cost Savings: Prevents frequent replacements and repairs, reducing long-term expenses.

Most homeowners know that sprinkler systems are a great way to keep your lawn looking great all summer long. In addition, they reduce the amount of work required for lawn care.

Sprinkler systems can also reduce the amount of water required to keep your lawn and plants healthy by watering at optimal times of the day.

While sprinkler systems make lawn care easy, you must take care to protect the sprinkler heads, especially while mowing the lawn. Each sprinkler head costs between $10 and $20. If you must replace them frequently, the expense can add up quickly.

Several methods of protecting sprinkler heads are relatively easy. You could bury the heads below the level of grass to prevent a wheel from hitting them or move the sprinkler heads out of the path of the mower wheels. But for some, these strategies may not be enough.

There are several ways to provide greater protection for sprinkler heads, but one of the best methods is using swing joints. Swing joints allow the sprinkler heads to move. If they are hit with a lawnmower, the sprinkler head will move out of the way. These joints are versatile and reliable. They offer several key benefits, including:

They allow for easy adjustments to fine-tune sprinkler head placement during installation.
Swing joints are flexible and allow the sprinkler head to move a little without breaking.
They can withstand impacts from equipment and pedestrians better than a riser alone.

Swing joints are made of a length of flexible pipe with a moveable connection at either end. One end connects to the sprinkler system and the other connects to the sprinkler head. The flexible materials allow for enough movement to prevent the connection from breaking.

Another option that protects sprinkler heads is a sprinkler donut. These devices are secured around the sprinkler with the sprinkler head in the center. Once sprinkler donuts have been installed, you can mow around the area safely.

If you want additional precautions, you can plant small flags around your yard near each sprinkler head. These visual cues alert you when you approach a sprinkler head, allowing you to avoid it with the lawnmower.

If you feel uncomfortable getting too close with a mower, you can use a weed whacker or hand clippers near the sprinkler heads. You can also clear away the grass from the area immediately surrounding the sprinkler head. This process makes the sprinkler head more visible, allowing you to avoid it with the mover.

Protecting a sprinkler system is essential in keeping it functional. These systems are an excellent investment for your home, and they can help your yard look great all year long.

In addition to protecting the sprinkler heads while mowing, you will also want to clean the heads regularly. This process prevents soil from accumulating and blocking the water flow.

Keeping sprinkler heads in good working order will ensure your entire sprinkler system remains operational and keeps your lawn looking great!