How to map irrigation zones in your garden

Why map before you install

Designing without a map is the fastest way to build an inefficient system. Without knowing exactly where each sprinkler goes, you end up with overlapping zones where they are not needed and uncovered areas you must water by hand. The map is the reference document for trenching, laying, programming and future maintenance.

A good map accounts for three variables: garden geometry (shape and dimensions), hydrozones (groups with similar water needs — see /blog/idrozone-progettazione-giardino) and physical constraints (paths, walls, trees). These three layers combined determine where every sprinkler sits and how zones are divided.

How to measure your garden

A laser measure is the fastest tool: you can survey a 500 m² garden in 10 minutes with millimetre precision. Start with the perimeter, then measure internal distances between fixed elements. Sketch it on paper in rough scale.

For irregular shapes, break the area into rectangles and triangles. Sum the simple areas for the total. A 10% measurement error is acceptable at design stage — it is corrected by adjusting sprinkler radii during installation.

Dividing by hydrozone

Group areas by similar water need. Lawn: high demand, frequent irrigation (3–4 times per week in summer). Shrubs and hedges: medium demand, twice a week. Flower beds: often drip-irrigated. Mature trees: deep, infrequent watering.

Never mix lawn and shrubs in the same zone — the lawn needs irrigation so often it would rot shrub roots. This principle directly determines how many solenoid valves you need — see /blog/idrozone-progettazione-giardino.

Choosing the sprinkler type per zone

Lawn up to 6 m wide: popup sprays with 180° or 90° nozzles. Lawn 6–15 m wide: popup rotors. Narrow beds along a wall: spray with strip nozzle (1.2 m wide). Vegetable garden and flower beds: drip or micro-jets. For the spray vs drip comparison see /blog/irrigatori-pop-up-vs-goccia.

Adjacent sprinkler heads must overlap by at least 50% of their radius: two spray heads covering 3 m must be no more than 3 m apart. This head-to-head coverage principle ensures uniformity — details at /blog/head-to-head-copertura-irrigatori.

Creating the digital map with SprinklerMap

Transfer your measurements into SprinklerMap: draw the garden perimeter, place sprinklers on the map and see coverage of every head in real time. Add paths, beds and obstacles as separate layers.

The advantage over paper is recalculability: move a sprinkler and coverage updates instantly. Export the map as a PDF to share with your installer, eliminating ambiguity about exact positions.

Sharing the map with your installer

A complete map includes: position of every sprinkler with the chosen model, main pipe routing with diameter, solenoid valve and controller location, distances from fixed reference points.

An installer who receives a detailed map can accurately quote materials and labour, avoiding change orders mid-project. For full independent design guidance see also /blog/progettare-irrigazione-giardino-rettangolare.

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