ENN: Environmental News Network [[ ENN Garden Tutorials ]]

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What you need: There are many types of sprinklers on the market and each spreads water at a different rate. It’s a good idea to determine where a sprinkler deposits the most water, so you can place it to achieve the desired coverage. To test the pattern, turn on the sprinkler for a moment and note how far the spray reaches.

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Set up a series of gallon buckets evenly across the entire area covered by the sprinkler. Turn on the sprinkler again, and let it run for an hour.

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Turn off the sprinkler and measure the amount of water in each bucket for a clear indication of the maximum, minimum, and relative amounts of water reaching each area within the distribution pattern. Use this information to optimize irrigation.