Question
I am planning on landscaping my entire front yard, and would like to do the popular figure 8 grass design with desert surrounding it, but I also need to have a sprinkler system put in.  I would like to just hire a company to come in and do the complete job, but I have had a few estimates, and I just can't afford it.  It all seems so overwhelming.  Where do I begin?

Answer
Thank you for the e-mail. I don't know what area you live in. But there should be a irrigation supply place in or near your town. They will all the parts and materials you could need and they will or should offer you some help, maybe some design help and literature that will walk you through the job. Also there are many websites that will do the same thing. I live in So. Cal and use a place could Ewing Irrigation, there extremely helpful and have a lot of training and should be able to answer anything problem that may come up. Or you can write back to me and I'll answer anything. It would be quicker to have some one in your town to help though. I know I work with some of my customers that really don't or can't spend the money on a new system. So in exchange for a price break, they come out and do some of the work that they are comfortable doing, digging, removing plant material, etc. I deduct those cost from there bill, using the normal pay scale. I would subtract the hours they put in or deduct cost of all the materials they purchased on there own. And it works out well for everyone involved. You may want to talk to some of the contractors to see if they will let you have some hands on work to cut down on the over all cost. Good luck and feel free to write again if you have any other questions. Thanks Bill

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