Here are some top tips to help ensure that the irrigation system you have in your garden remains working at peak performance.  The sprinkler system will need to be looked after to make sure that it can continue to water your beautiful garden as effectively as possible,

1. Check the ground for anything that should not be there.

You should inspect the soil to see if there is any grit or stones that may interfere with the deployment of your sprinkler system heads.  Many homes in the Richmond Hill area of Toronto are subject to this problem.

The problem of new objects in your garden is not limited to where the sprinkler heads are, if you have any thing that can affect the drainage of the water you may be unintentionally diverting water away from some of your plants.  This can be caused by even the smallest collection of stones.

2. You may need to replace components periodically.

Even though sprinkler systems in Toronto are built to last the very fact that they are outside means that they can become damaged in any number of ways.  It may become necessary on the rare occasion to replace a nozzle or sprinkler head.  As you perform your spring inspection on the condition of your irrigation system you should take extra special care to examine the components for cracks and blockages.

3. Check to see if the soil in your garden in frozen.

Towards the beginning of the spring it may appear that the soil has thawed completely under a cursory inspection, it is quite possible however, that the ground just a little bit deeper is still frozen.  The danger for your sprinkler system here is that if you begin to use it too early, overnight the water in the pipes may freeze and cause damage.  A good way to be sure that it is time to activate your sprinkler system is to check to see that the soil has thawed out up to a depth of 8 to 12 inches.

4. Take a good look at the device you use to control the sprinkler.

Another great first step to guaranteeing that the sprinkler system will function well until next fall is to make sure that the controller for the irrigation unit is working well and if it is battery powered, you should replace the batteries. A power failure during the middle of summer would not be the best thing for your plants as it may take you a few programmed cycles to notice that the sprinkler system is not running.

5. The valves need to form a proper seal

As with anything that uses and controls the flow of water, the valves of a sprinkler system are vital to the efficient and proper running of any irrigation system.  A leaky or damaged valve can increase your water bill.  A good indication of a faulty valve is that you may have an area of your lawn that is considerably wetter than the rest.

If you turn on the water on full blast can potentially cause damage to the valves.  By taking the time to gradually increase the water pressure you will help to reduce the chance of anything untoward happening.

By following these steps, you can then sit back and relax as your sprinkler system comes to life and provides your garden with the exact amount of water it needs to flourish for another year.