Question
Josh, I have an inground Hunter irrigation system that is approximately 15 years old.  The whole system is properly winterized and turned back on in the late spring.  There is one area of my yard that tends to stay wet and for that reason I do not turn on this zone.  However, this year, in spite of the fact that the zone is off the entire area is like a bog...very wet, muddy and slippery.  Any thoughts how I should go about determining if the problem is being caused by the irrigation system?  How would I rectify the problem if it is the irrigation system?  Thanks for your help.

Answer
GREAT DESCRIPTION THANK YOU!

THIS CAN BE CAUSED BY SEVERAL THINGS

(1) POOR DRAINAGE OF THE SOIL AND/OR A LOW AREA WHERE WATER WILL NOT RUN-OFF. IF THAT IS THE CASE YOU CAN INSTALL A DRAIN SUCH AS A FLO-WELL (http://www.ndspro.com/files/brochures/Flo-Well.pdf)

(2) LOW HEAD DRAINAGE: IF A ZONE IS IN A SLOPED AREA AND THERE IS A SOGGY AREA NEXT TO THE LAST OR BOTTOM HEAD THE WATER WILL DRAIN OUT OF THE HEAD EVERY TIME THE SYSTEM IS RUN AND THEN SHUT OFF. THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A PROBLEM YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT RUN THE ZONE IN A WHILE. IT CAN BE RECTIFIED BY INSTALLING A SPRING CHECK VALVE UNDER THE HEAD - HUNTER SPRINKLER HEADS ALSO CAN COME WITH AN OPTION WHERE A CHECK VALVE IS INSTALLED IN THE HEAD FOR THIS ISSUE.

(3# MAINLINE LEAK: IS THERE A VALVE OR MAINLINE NEAR THE SOGGY AREA? THERE MAY BE A SMALL LEAK IN ONE OF THE PIPE OF FITTINGS... BEST WAY TO ANALYZE THIS IS TO SHUT THE SYSTEM OFF FOR A FEW DAYS #TURN THE WATER OFF FROM THE SOURCE# AND LET THE AREA DRY UP. IF THE MAINLINE IS LEAKING YOU WILL KNOW WITHIN A FEW DAYS.

#4) LATERAL LINE LEAK: THERE MAY BE A SMALL LEAK OF CRACK IN A LATERAL PIPE #A LATERAL RUNS BETWEEN THE VALVE AND THE HEADS) WHICH DRIPS WATER OUT EVERY TIME THE ZONE IS RUN. AGAIN, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT YOUR ISSUE.

MY GUESS IS THAT YOU HAVE EITHER A MAINLINE LEAK, LOW HEAD DRAINAGE, OR JUST A POOR DRAINAGE AREA. CAN YOU SEND ME A PICTURE?

ONE LAST THOUGHT - IF THE SOIL DOES NOT DRAIN WELL AND THERE ARE NO LEAKS ANOTHER OPTION IS TO PROGRAM THE CONTROLLER USING A "CYCLE AND SOAK" METHOD. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT IF THE AREA NEEDS SAY 30 MINUTES OF IRRIGATION BUT AFTER 10 MINUTES THE WATER STARTS PUDDLING THEN RESOLVE THIS AT THE CONTROLLER... HAVE THE ZONE IRRIGATE FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN REST FOR 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR IN-BETWEEN... PUT THAT ZONE ON ITS OWN PROGRAM AND GIVE IT 3 SEPARATE START TIMES - SAY 4AM, 5AM, AND 6AM. THIS WAY IT GETS THE 30 MINUTES AND YET HAS TIME FOR THE WATER TO PERCOLATE INTO THE SOIL IF THE SOIL IS CLAY.

GIVE THOSE SOME THOUGHT AND LET ME KNOW.