Question: What are irrigation zones and what's their role in landscape irrigation design?

So-called "irrigation zones" are an element of landscape irrigation design that allows you to target water distribution with precision, thus cutting down on waste and saving you money.

Answer:

The premise behind the landscape irrigation design concept of "irrigation zones" is simple enough. Before you install your system, you need to decide that area A of your land should get X amount of water, while area B should receive Y amount, etc.

Once you have irrigation zones established, you will then program your system accordingly. This is one of the virtues of automatic irrigation systems: you can target water distribution more precisely than by manual watering or by using oscillators.

The demarcation of landscape irrigation zones is an issue to consider when planting – well before irrigation design itself. Establish separate beds for your plants according to how much water they need. If plants with similar watering needs are planted together, you’ll conserve water. You’ll also promote plant health by insuring that one plant isn’t over-watered on account of one of its thirstier neighbors. This planting strategy is sometimes referred to as "xeriscaping." Drought-tolerant shrubs will inhabit one landscape irrigation zone, drought-intolerant annuals another, and so on.

The lawn is a landscape irrigation zone all by itself. An area with southern exposure requires more watering than one with northern exposure.

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