Did my own irrigation this weekend

[Lawnworks]

I finally got around to installing my irrigation at my shop this weekend. Hopefully, the resident irrigation gods will approve. It is powered by a Hunter Pro-C, six zones, beds seperate from turf. 12" pro-sprays for bed areas, double backcheck backflow, Carson valve boxes, PGV valves(payed $3 a piece), and last but not least 6" I-20 stainless steel rotors. I got the rotors at cost and still payed $21 a piece.

Not bad pics from the blackberry huh?

[DanaMac]

That rotor looks a little to close to the rock wall/pillar. Is it always going to spray it?

[Wet_Boots]

Rocks are waterproof :)

[Lawnworks]

That rotor looks a little to close to the rock wall/pillar. Is it always going to spray it?

Where else could I put it without hitting the rock pillers? I guess I could have an mp rotator and then move the rotor. Something to tinker with I guess.

[Junior M]

why do you have a roller? ;)

or is that your ride? :laugh:

[Lawnworks]

why do you have a roller? ;)

or is that your ride? :laugh:

Believe it or not, some contractors roll their sod!

[DanaMac]

Where else could I put it without hitting the rock pillers? I guess I could have an mp rotator and then move the rotor. Something to tinker with I guess.

Without seeing a better pic from a little farther away, I can't say what I would have done. I really couldn't tell if it was a wall or a pillar. But it looks like a tight enough area that sprays would have been better around that area, instead of spraying 6' up the rocks.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

why do you have a roller? ;)

or is that your ride? :laugh:

JUNIOR JUNIOR JUNIOR

Rolling sod is the most critical factor in successful sod establishment. Please tell me you roll your sod dude?

[DanaMac]

JUNIOR JUNIOR JUNIOR

Rolling sod is the most critical factor in successful sod establishment. Please tell me you roll your sod dude?

I have NEVER NEVER NEVER seen anybody here roll sod. And it gets established just fine.

[AI Inc]

Hand roller if anything , not a pavement roller.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

I have NEVER NEVER NEVER seen anybody here roll sod. And it gets established just fine.

It SHOULD SHOULD SHOULD be rolled. Roots don't grow through air. If I ever get a sod job in CO I'm going to cause a paradigm shift.

[Stuttering Stan]

Post more pics!!! Not enough to criticize from just 2 pics.

Regarding sod- I use a hand drum roller about 300 lb for sod jobs.

[DanaMac]

It SHOULD SHOULD SHOULD be rolled. Roots don't grow through air. If I ever get a sod job in CO I'm going to cause a paradigm shift.

I'm going to build a big gate and block you out of the state, until you conform to our scrub, piker ways :)

[Junior M]

I have NEVER NEVER NEVER seen anybody here roll sod. And it gets established just fine.
He answered it for me...

[Junior M]

It SHOULD SHOULD SHOULD be rolled. Roots don't grow through air. If I ever get a sod job in CO I'm going to cause a paradigm shift.
so what your saying is when you put sod down its floats in mid air and you have to roll it to make contact with the ground? ;) :laugh:

[DanaMac]

It SHOULD SHOULD SHOULD be rolled. Roots don't grow through air. If I ever get a sod job in CO I'm going to cause a paradigm shift.

The sod grows just fine. Believe me. What do you think, the underside of the sod roll doesn't hit the soil? Or the weight of the sod and water doesn't pull it down? I guess none of our sod gets rooted here in CO.

[DanaMac]

so what your saying is when you put sod down its floats in mid air and you have to roll it to make contact with the ground? ;) :laugh:

They don't have gravity in Texas.

[Junior M]

The sod grows just fine. Believe me. What do you think, the underside of the sod roll doesn't hit the soil? Or the weight of the sod and water doesn't pull it down? I guess none of our sod gets rooted here in CO.
it grows just fine here to, I dont get the whole roots can grow through air thing, they are touching the ground!

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

so what your saying is when you put sod down its floats in mid air and you have to roll it to make contact with the ground? ;) :laugh:

Some does some doesn't. By rolling you create uniform contact across all the sod. Allows for faster establishment and takes less water to get it established. Also prevents wash out gulleys under the sod when you are doing the heavy initial waters. Also makes the lawn more level.


Jr. Go read a basic lawn care book.

[Junior M]

Some does some doesn't. By rolling you create uniform contact across all the sod. Allows for faster establishment and takes less water to get it established. Also prevents wash out gulleys under the sod when you are doing the heavy initial waters. Also makes the lawn more level.


Jr. Go read a basic lawn care book.
I work for a landscape company, we still dont roll sod, never seen anyone roll sod before, never heard of such a thing till I came here, as far as it being level, that should be done prior to putting sod down.. :laugh: :rolleyes:

But I get you...

As far as reading, I think I'll stay away from a basic lawncare book, I do to much landscaping as it is.. :dizzy:

[DanaMac]

I've heard the concept of rolling, but it doesn't get done here.

[ARGOS]

Rolling sod is the industry standard. It is recommended by the growers. We use a drum roller (plastic with rounded corners).

[Kiril]

I have NEVER NEVER NEVER seen anybody here roll sod. And it gets established just fine.

ditto

Hand roller if anything , not a pavement roller.

ditto

Allows for faster establishment and takes less water to get it established.

ditto

Rolling sod is the industry standard. It is recommended by the growers.

ditto

[Kiril]

I work for a landscape company
.
.
.
.
.
I do to much landscaping as it is.. :dizzy:


Classic ................ :hammerhead:

[hoskm01]

We roll sod, always have, everyone should. It IS recommended by growers here. I think the pavement roller could be a bit overkill, but hey, if your sod can take it, then more power to you.

[hoskm01]

6" I-20 stainless steel rotors. I got the rotors at cost and still payed $21 a piece.





Should have gone 5000 Stainless @6". I pay about 14.50, and look how much more you get!

[Junior M]

Classic ................ :hammerhead:
I dont work there by choice! Its the only job I can get!

[Mike Leary]

Should have gone 5000 Stainless @6". I pay about 14.50, and look how much more you get!

Depending on how far you want to chuck the juice. The I-20 6" Ultra is still my choice for long-range chucking.

[CAPT Stream Rotar]

good for you buddy!
Congrats great feeling on your first!

sometimes its better to put 2 heads around a hardscape like that Rock pillar..
IMHO its a waste of water, but you can easily fix that if you got the GPM...

[Lawnworks]

I usually use a hand roller for most of my jobs. I think it just makes it look a little cleaner when you finish... but I have done it without rolling and the grass will root just fine.

When golf courses install fairways, they a use a big drum roller... so I was just experimenting with this one. I really want to get everything PERFECTLY level so when my guys cut it with a reel mower it won't scalp. The grass is emerald zoysia and I plan on cutting it LOW. I think I could have used a bigger roller on this job honestly, I wasn't that impressed with it.

[Lawnworks]

good for you buddy!
Congrats great feeling on your first!

sometimes its better to put 2 heads around a hardscape like that Rock pillar..
IMHO its a waste of water, but you can easily fix that if you got the GPM...

This isn't my first irrigation system... probably #80. It is my first time plunking down $400 for a damn box of heads though!

I stubbed up the irrigation about 6 months ago and decided to install the pillars after that. As long as the grass is getting wet I am happy right now. Tinker later.

[Lawnworks]

Should have gone 5000 Stainless @6". I pay about 14.50, and look how much more you get!

That IS a good deal. I didn't even think about pricing rainbird. I mainly use Hunter everything, but I know rainbird is a very similar product.

[Lawnworks]

More pics. Sorry for some of the pic quality.

[Lawnworks]

....................................

[Junior M]

I'd do something about the wire coming out of the building, doesnt look all the great..

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Gotta remote? You need a pigtail if you do.

Also what part of the country are you in? I'm thinking SE..... GA area from the fill of things.

[Lawnworks]

All the heads are 30' apart. Some of the heads did not pick in the pics, but I think it was total of 15 I-20s for 6000 sq ft. I think it was about 20 12" pop-ups for a total of 6 zones. Also, posted a pics of my install truck. I have posted it before, but I love this truck. Hauls my Cat as well as my dingo.

http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=83055&d=1182204344

http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=83056&d=1182204353

[Junior M]

thats a nice truck Lawnworks, you put your crappy CAT on the bed of that? Prolly to haul it back to the dealership to get it fixed.. :laugh: :laugh:

Sorry, had to throw that in there..


What do you keep in the tool room?

[Lawnworks]

I'd do something about the wire coming out of the building, doesnt look all the great..

The hole was already there and I am not too fond of drilling more holes in my building. I guess I could have run it in the conduit, drilled through to the transformer, and ran it into the ground and then conduit into the shop, but then again this is my shop and that is alot of trouble for something nobody sees.

Come to think of it, my shop is in a secluded business park cul-de-sac and no one will ever see my I-20s:( or the rest of my landscaping). But I love what I do, and I got a deal on everything except the I-20s and the sod. Paid $1 or less for the majority of my plant material.

[Lawnworks]

Gotta remote? You need a pigtail if you do.

Also what part of the country are you in? I'm thinking SE..... GA area from the fill of things.

PM me on the pigtail thing, I am not as educated as I should be. Sounds like a cool toy for my shop.

I am in central GA... good guess.

[Junior M]

The hole was already there and I am not too fond of drilling more holes in my building. I guess I could have run it in the conduit, drilled through to the transformer, and ran it into the ground and then conduit into the shop, but then again this is my shop and that is alot of trouble for something nobody sees.

Come to think of it, my shop is in a secluded business park cul-de-sac and no one will ever see my I-20s:( or the rest of my landscaping). But I love what I do, and I got a deal on everything except the I-20s and the sod. Paid $1 or less for the majority of my plant material.
Nice, I woulda done something about that wire, but if no one will see it, well, its great then!

[Lawnworks]

thats a nice truck Lawnworks, you put your crappy CAT on the bed of that? Prolly to haul it back to the dealership to get it fixed.. :laugh: :laugh:

Sorry, had to throw that in there..


What do you keep in the tool room?

When it goes down for a repair, I pull it into my shop... that is why I have it. Plus a couple of my guys are pretty damn good mechanics, so I don't even have to get greasy.

I keep boxes of heads, valves, sawzall, hammer drill, other tools and occasionally a mexican or three.

[Lawnworks]

Nice, I woulda done something about that wire, but if no one will see it, well, its great then!

If you knew what a pain in the ass it was... you wouldn't have done it. But then again you don't know sh!t about irrigation so why are we arguing?

[Junior M]

If you knew what a pain in the ass it was... you wouldn't have done it. But then again you don't know sh!t about irrigation so why are we arguing?
wow, that was nice, and considering we install it and the company I work for installs?

I dont know much, but I can get by, nice assumption!

And I just like to make my work neat, I apologize..

[Lawnworks]

wow, that was nice, and considering we install it and the company I work for installs?

I dont know much, but I can get by, nice assumption!

And I just like to make my work neat, I apologize..

JR keep in mind I respect you, and I thank you for admitting you don't know much.:laugh: Now quit hijacking my thread!!

[Junior M]

JR keep in mind I respect you, and I thank you for admitting you don't know much.:laugh: Now quit hijacking my thread!!
I am not hijacking it! I was asking questions about the things you posted pics of, not hijacking! :hammerhead:

and I know you do and I dont know much about much of anything.. :laugh:

[Kiril]

When golf courses install fairways, they a use a big drum roller... so I was just experimenting with this one.

NEVER EVER DO IT AGAIN! Why in the hell would you want to compact your soil? :hammerhead:

[Lawnworks]

NEVER EVER DO IT AGAIN! Why in the hell would you want to compact your soil? :hammerhead:

Have you ever talked to a superintendent at a golf course? I watched a premier golf course being built and they used big asphault rollers. Refer to the link below.

http://turf.lib.msu.edu/2000s/2008/080101.pdf

[Kiril]

Have you ever talked to a superintendent at a golf course?

Talk to Bic on this forum all the time. :laugh:

I watched a premier golf course being built and they used big asphault rollers.

1) Are you building a golf course?
2) And they fight issues due to compaction for many, many years after. :hammerhead:

[Lawnworks]

Talk to Bic on this forum all the time. :laugh:



1) Are you building a golf course?
2) And they fight issues due to compaction for many, many years after. :hammerhead:

No I am not building a golf course!:) But I want it to look as good as the local golf courses! Their turf sure as hell looks better than 99.9% of residential lawns. They must have done somthing right. If I have a compaction problem, I will aerate.

My research from UGA and other universities indicates that rolling sod with a 2k lb roller is ideal. I think if you saw the amount of compaction that is being created is actually somewhat minimal.

[WalkGood]

No I am not building a golf course!:) But I want it to look as good as the local golf courses! Their turf sure as hell looks better than 99.9% of residential lawns. They must have done somthing right. If I have a compaction problem, I will aerate.

Better get a really REALLY deep core!

[Lawnworks]

Better get a really REALLY deep core!

Considering I am compacting at most 1"... I doubt I will need a "really deep core."

[Kiril]

Considering I am compacting at most 1"... I doubt I will need a "really deep core."

Consider how a golf course is built and how your yard is built. Not the same, not even close.

I am curious how you have determined the amount of compaction from the roller is only 1". I want to see numbers damnit!

[Kiril]

No I am not building a golf course!:) But I want it to look as good as the local golf courses! Their turf sure as hell looks better than 99.9% of residential lawns.

This is because of the intensity of the management program, which is NOT appropriate for residential or commercial turf.

[WalkGood]

Consider how a golf course is built and how your yard is built. Not the same, not even close.

I am curious how you have determined the amount of compaction from the roller is only 1". I want to see numbers damnit!


Maybe he only has 3" of loose topsoil on top of bedrock. :laugh:

[Lawnworks]

Thanks for your opinions guys, but I will stick with what the research says. Like I said this is my shop and I like to experiment. I will post some pics in a couple months.