SPRINKLER SYSTEM AUDIT / START UP

Ensure Proper Lawn Watering With Our Sprinkler Audit Services

A sprinkler audit or sprinkler turn on service serves to evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and condition of an irrigation system, ensuring that it meets the water needs of a landscape without waste or overuse. The primary goals are to optimize water usage, improve plant health, and reduce water costs. Below are some specific purposes of a sprinkler audit:

Identify Inefficiencies in the System

Detect and fix uneven water distribution or dry spots in the landscape.
Identify broken sprinkler heads, or misaligned nozzles.
Check for issues such as overspray or runoff.

Evaluate Water Usage

Visually assess the amount of water being used and determine if it is excessive.
Establish a baseline for how much water is needed versus how much is being applied. Sometimes the water usage decreases and sometimes it needs to be increased.

Improve Performance

Optimize sprinkler head spacing, angles, and spray patterns.
Program the controller to optimize the health of the lawn.

Enhance Plant Health

Ensure that grass receives the right amount of water for optimal growth. Not too much and not too little, just the right amount.
Prevent under- or overwatering, which can stress plants and lead to poor health.
Water deeply and infrequently giving the lawn ample time between lawn watering for the soil to completely dry out.
Stimulate beneficial microbial activity in the soil.

Evaluate for System Repairs

Identify opportunities for the system to be optimized, such as installing a smart controller, raising sunken heads, identifying broken sprinkler heads, or the need for more efficient nozzles.

Conducting a sprinkler audit with Organo-Lawn ensures that your lawn is watered according to the 1-2-3-2-1 lawn watering technique. If you are considering a full-season program with Organo-Lawn, we can only guarantee the effectiveness of our weed control and fertilizers if the sprinkler controller is programmed to follow the 1-2-3-2-1 technique.

Sprinkler System Startup / Audit Pricing

Number of Zones – Price
1 Zone – $77.75
2 Zones – $83.00
3 Zones – $88.00
4 Zones – $93.25
5 Zones – $98.50
6 Zones – $103.50
7 Zones – $108.75
8 Zones – $114.00
9 Zones – $119.00
10 Zones – $124.00
11 Zones – $129.25
12 Zones – $134.50
13 Zones – $139.50

For Larger System with More Zones than Listed – please call for pricing

**Due to labor shortages we are only performing sprinkler audits and sprinkler startups for full season program customers.**

How Long Should Each Sprinkler Zone be Programmed to Water?

Every lawn is different! When we are performing a sprinkler startup in Fort Collins or Boulder we take into consideration all of the following criteria when programming the clock:

What type of grass is in the lawn (bluegrass, fescue, buffalograss, etc.)
Is there a slope in the lawn or is the ground flat
Is the lawn/section of the lawn north, south, east, or west-facing
Is the lawn/section of the lawn in full sun, shade, or normal lighting conditions
How good or poor is the sprinkler coverage
Is there an overlap of coverage between sprinkler zones (i.e. does zone 1 get watered by some heads in zone 2)
What type of sprinkler heads are in the lawn

How Many Days Per Week Should a Lawn be Watered?

What is included in a professional sprinkler audit or turn-on service with Organo-Lawn?

Our technician will thoroughly inspect your sprinkler system, zone by zone, ensuring that each sprinkler head is functioning at its best. We will adjust the sprinkler heads to ensure they are pointed in the right direction, watering only the grass and not the street.

We will also program the clock to water for the appropriate duration. Our programming is based on the following criteria: the sun aspect of the zone (full sun, full shade, partial shade), the type of sprinkler head (rotary, pop-up, MP rotator, impact), nozzle output, and overlap of sprinkler heads.

It is important to note that each zone may require vastly different watering times.

For example: a north-facing pop-up zone in full shade might be set to water for as little as 5 minutes
A south-facing rotary zone in full sun could be programmed to run for 50 minutes or more.

Does Organo-Lawn Fix Broken Sprinkler Heads?

Yes, we can fix broken heads, but we first must audit the sprinkler system. During the audit we will ensure that each zone in your sprinkler system operates to the best of its current configuration and capabilities. If we identify any issues with the sprinkler system, we will provide you with an estimate for repairs or adjustments that can be performed at a later date for an additional charge.

Common sprinkler repairs may include:

Raising sunken sprinkler heads
Addressing mixed types of sprinkler heads (e.g., having three rotary heads and one pop-up in the same zone—each zone should have the same style)
Replacing broken or damaged heads
Changing low-output nozzles to high-output nozzles
Changing high-output nozzles to low-output nozzles

With Organo-Lawn, you can be assured that we program your sprinkler controller correctly.

Important Note: Due to labor shortages we are only performing sprinkler audits and sprinkler startups for full season program customers.

What is the 1-2-3-2-1 Lawn Watering Technique?

Sprinkler Startup / Audit Prices start at: $77.75

REQUEST A SPRINKLER AUDIT FOR YOUR LAWN

Important Note: Due to labor shortages we are only performing sprinkler audits and sprinkler startups for full season program customers.

Detailed Explanation of What Occurs During a Sprinkler Audit Service with Organo-Lawn:

What is Included with a Professional Sprinkler Audit

Inspection of the vacuum breaker of your sprinkler system looking for damage or leaks.
If the water is off, we will turn on the water to the system.
Inspection of every zone in the sprinkler system by turning them on one at a time.
- While each zone is on, we will inspect each sprinkler zone and adjust heads as necessary and if the head is capable of adjusting.
- Important Note: We can only adjust sprinkler heads to optimize their performance based on their current condition. If any heads are malfunctioning, leaning, need to be raised, replaced, or relocated, we will inform the homeowner about the issue and provide an estimate for the necessary repairs, which can be completed at a different date and time.
We will program the sprinkler controller, so each zone is watering properly according to four main factors.
- The predominant grass type in the lawn (Bluegrass / Fescue / Other).
- The sun aspect of the sprinkler zone (north-facing, south-facing, full sun, full shade, partial sun, etc.),
- The type of sprinkler head and nozzle output (pop-up, rotary, mp-rotator, impact etc.),
- The amount of coverage and nozzle output (light, medium, heavy, double, etc.)
We will advise you about any areas that have poor coverage, broken, sunken, malfunctioning, leaning heads, etc.
Upon completion we will email a printout with each zone run time and how to follow the 1-2-3-2-1 lawn watering technique. This printout should be posted next to the sprinkler controller in case of a power outage.
- If you lose this program, we do keep a record in our database. You can contact our office, and we will email you programming for your controller free of charge.

What is Not Included with a Professional Sprinkler Audit

1. Replacing damaged heads, straightening heads, raising heads, and moving heads are not included in a sprinkler system audit, but can be completed at a different date with a sprinkler repair service.

Minor Repairs that can be Completed During the Sprinkler Audit:

Replace most broken pop-up sprinkler head tips (for an additional charge).
Replace micro-mist sprinkler system tips (for an additional charge).
Replace the bonnet or the pop-it in the vacuum breaker if it is broken (for an additional charge).

Sprinkler Repair Services

Why Can’t Organo-Lawn Fix Heads or Other Sprinkler Repairs During the Audit?

Organo-Lawn is not a full service sprinkler company and our main goal with performing a sprinkler audit is to make sure the controller is programmed according to the 1-2-3-2-1 lawn watering principles.
Why Organo-Lawn Doesn’t Perform Sprinkler Repairs During a Sprinkler Audit
- Our sprinkler audit technicians are trained in how to read if a lawn is being over watered, correctly watered, or under watered, but not all of our technicians are trained in sprinkler repairs.
- We have anywhere from 8-12 appointments during the day and we need to stay on schedule.
  - Some repairs might seem like they would only take a few minutes, but we don’t know what is underneath the soil. There could be a web of tree roots or other unforeseen issues that dramatically slow do a sprinkler head repair.
- Sprinkler repairs require a lot of expensive parts, tools, and training. To outfit a truck to perform sprinkler repairs is costly.
- We do have a few technicians that are capable and have the tools to perform repairs, but it is best to have the repairs completed when they are not in a rush to get to the next appointment.

*If you have major sprinkler system repairs that need fixing we can schedule a sprinkler repair at a later date or possibly refer you to a company that can fix the problem.

How Many Days Per Week To Water a Lawn

The 1-2-3-2-1 Lawn Watering Technique

Program your clock according to the sprinkler zone times above and as the season’s temperatures change you will add days as it gets hotter and take days away as it gets cooler. This technique is invented by Organo-Lawn and it is called the 1-2-3-2-1 lawn watering technique.

Cool and Often Rainy

1 Day Per Week Watering

(Sprinkler Startup through the End of May)

This is an important time for proper lawn watering, as we want to promote deep root growth. If a lawn is overwatered during this period, the roots will remain shallow, which will become a problem when the summer heat arrives.

Water no more than one day per week, when daytime high temperatures average below 70°F. This is generally sufficient from April through the end of May, although this may vary from year to year.

Warm – Not Quite Hot Yet

2 Day Per Week Watering

(Late May – Middle June)

This time of year might be difficult on lawns. The tendency is to water more because the lawn is turning a little brown. Stay patient with 2 day per week watering and the lawn will quickly adjust to the heat.

Water the lawn no more than twice a week, when daytime temperatures tend to be between 70°F and 85°F. This typically occurs from late-May to early or the middle of June. Mondays / Fridays, or Tuesday / Saturday is a good watering schedule.

Hot and Dry

3 Day Per Week Watering

(Middle of June – Middle of August)

This time of year, your lawn may start to develop some brown patches. These areas often indicate poor sprinkler coverage, so you may need to adjust the sprinklers to eliminate these spots. It’s crucial to allow the lawn to go without water for two consecutive days. This will help kill Japanese beetle eggs and prevent damage from grubs later in September.

Water no more than 3 days per week when Colorado’s daytime high temperatures average high temperatures is above 85°F: This is typically is between mid or late June through mid or late August. (I.e. Water Monday/ Wednesday / Friday or Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday)

Cooling Down

2 Day Per Week Watering

(Middle or Late August – Late September)

Reducing water usage is very important this time of year. It prevents lawn diseases like Necrotic Ring Spot and helps avoid lawn compaction.

Water no more than 2 days per week when daytime high temperatures average between 70°F and 85°F. This is typically between the middle or late August through the middle or late September. (I.e. water Monday / Fridays or Tuesday / Thursday)

Cold Nights & Warm Days

1 Day Per Week Watering

(Late September – Sprinkler Blowout)

To prepare your lawn for the winterization of the sprinkler system, it is important to reduce watering to no more than once a week. This decrease in watering will help prevent winter desiccation and damage from spider mites.

Water no more than 1 day per week when daytime temperatures are 70°F or below. One day per week watering is typically between the middle or late September until the system is winterized for the season.

Change the Days, Not the Watering Duration!

As seasonal temperatures change, it’s beneficial to adjust the number of watering days instead of extending the sprinkler run time. In the fall, when temperatures begin to drop, reducing the number of watering days is a great strategy, rather than decreasing the duration of each watering session.

It’s also helpful to avoid changing the timing of your sprinkler zones unless there’s a significant shift in sun exposure for a particular area. Many gardeners find it unproductive to modify the watering duration during the summer months. Our aim is to water the lawn deeply and allow the soil to dry out between sessions. Deep and infrequent watering helps moisture penetrate the soil to a depth of 10 to 15 inches, encouraging grass roots to expand deeper in search of water as the surface dries. This approach leads to a stronger, healthier lawn overall.

Sprinkler System Audit Season

April 15th – September 30th

Lawns tend to show the most damage from heat and drought stress and where sprinkler system coverage problems are during the hottest months of the year. Organo-Lawn tends to perform the most sprinkler system audits in Boulder and Fort Collins from June through August.

Organo-Lawn is your local sprinkler expert. Call Organo-Lawn today to schedule your sprinkler turn on services. Boulder (303) 499-2000 or Fort Collins (970) 225-9425

Quick Summary - 3 Steps to Proper Lawn Watering

Step 1 – Program the controller to water in the early morning hours.

Step 2 – Program each zone based on #1 sun exposure and #2 sprinkler head style.

South – Hot requires longer cycles
East / West – Neither hot nor full shade
North – Cool requires shorter cycles

Step 3 – How many days per week to program the controller

Spring: Water 1 day per week
Early Summer: Water 2 days per week
Summer: Water 3 days per week
Late Summer: Water 2 days per week
Fall: Water 1 day per week

See above for a detailed explanation on how to set this up. Organo-Lawn can also set up your sprinkler system if you order our sprinkler audit service.