Choosing sprinklers: pop-ups, rotors, oscillating and hose-end
The main types of lawn sprinkler, what each suits, and how to get even coverage from whatever you have.
Irrigation guides
How much water your lawn needs, how to measure what your sprinklers put out, and how to water well within your local water rules.
DIY lawn irrigation design: zones, pressure, flow and head spacing
The basics of planning a home lawn irrigation system that waters evenly, before you buy any parts. What to measure, how to split the lawn into zones, and what needs a licensed plumber.
How much water does a lawn need?
A practical guide to lawn watering by grass type, season and soil: how to work out the right amount for your lawn, measure what your sprinklers deliver, and water deeply within your local rules.
How to install a pop-up sprinkler system
The hands-on steps for putting a pop-up sprinkler system into an existing lawn: marking out, trenching, connecting valves, flushing the pipes, setting heads at the right height, testing and repairing the lawn. Plus what needs a licensed plumber.
How to water new turf and seed
New turf and seed need far more frequent watering than an established lawn, then a gradual change to deep, less frequent watering. A week-by-week approach, how to check you've got it right, and what to do about water rules.
Hydrophobic soil: why water won't soak in, and how to fix it
Water-repellent soil sheds water instead of absorbing it, leaving dry patches that don't respond to watering. What causes it, how to test for it, how to water it, and how to stop it coming back.
Rainwater tanks and greywater for lawns: what works and what's allowed
How much a rainwater tank can realistically do for a lawn, what tank installations need, and when greywater can be used safely and legally. Rules differ by state and council, so this guide shows you what to check.
Smart irrigation controllers and rain sensors: how to choose and set them up
A controller decides when and how long your sprinklers run. How tap timers, standard controllers, weather-based smart controllers and rain sensors differ, how to set one up properly, and why a badly programmed system can waste more water than it saves.
The catch-cup test: measure what your sprinklers actually put out
A simple test with a few containers and a ruler tells you how much water each sprinkler zone applies, how long to run it, and whether parts of the lawn are missing out.
Watering under restrictions
How to keep a lawn alive with less water, and where to find your water authority's current rules. We link to the official rules rather than repeating them, because they change.