Irrigation Design Planner

I R R I G A T I O N

Thank you for considering a Toro

watering system. Following the
steps in this planner will help
enable you to design, supply
and construct the most efficient
irrigation system for your yard.
Like most home improvement
projects, a little planning goes
a long way to ensuring you get
the best result.
Installing a Toro home
watering system will:
• Save you installation costs
• Provide an efficient,
economical way of watering
your yard
• Ensure you have durable,
fully featured products that
professionals use
• Add value to your home
• Give back the time you currently
spend on hand watering
Your Toro Irrigation Dealer will
be able to provide a professional
irrigation design, as well as helpful
advice and tips on installation
should you choose to install the
Front
system yourself. Lawn 4
5
6
Sidewalk

3 7

2 8

1
House Back
Lawn

Driveway
Garage
Side Lawn
Getting Started

Choosing the right product mix will help you create the land-
scape you’ve always wanted by making sure your plants
get the water they need, just when they need it. How many
times have you forgotten to water your lawn, or worse yet,
over-watered it and ended up with unsightly brown spots and
muddy puddles? You could be using up to 50% more water
than your yard needs. That isn’t good for your lawn or your
wallet. The solution is precision watering using an automatic
irrigation system which can be adjusted to the different needs
of different plantings. You will get a thicker, greener lawn and
more beautiful gardens, as you save time and save water. Full Circle
Before you begin, there are two crucial tasks that must be
done first:
1. Contact your local water company or the proper municipal
authority for information on building codes and required Half Circle
permits. They can also tell you about requirements for the
backflow prevention devices required in your area. These
devices protect your water supplies from contamination and
are required for in-ground irrigation systems. Quarter Circle
2. Serious injury may result from damaging buried electrical or
gas lines. Before digging or trenching, have your local utility
companies mark all buried cables, pipes, and gas lines!
Tools And Other Supplies You May Need
During installation, you will need several accessories and a vari-
ety of pipe fittings. The list below shows other materials you may
need:
• PVC pipe cutter
• Screwdriver
• Pipe wrenches
• Hammer
• Trenching shovel
• Line marking paint
• 1” pipe clamps (poly only)
• Teflon tape
• Duct tape
• Tape measure
• Solvent, primer, rags (PVC only — do not use pipe dope on
plastic-threaded fittings.)
• Toro flow and pressure gauge
• Marking flags
• Toro water-proof connectors or grease caps
• 18 gauge, multi-strand direct burial wire (number of strands
varies depending on the number of zones).
TIP: If you do not own a flow & pressure gauge, ask your local home center if
they have one in their rental center.


Product Selection

Controllers
The controller is the “brain” of your irrigation system that instructs the valves
to turn on and off, and subsequently turns your sprinklers on and off. Always
select a controller with more zones than needed. This gives you room for easy
expansion later on.

RainSensors
A rain sensor saves water by shutting down your irrigation system temporarily
when it rains without erasing your controller’s programs. Toro offers wired
and wireless models, and both are easily attached to roof eaves or other
unobstructed structures.

In-line Valves
In-line valves are installed below ground for out-of-sight operation. Each valve
controls one zone of your irrigation system, or typically about 4-6 sprays
or rotors.

Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB)

A pressure vacuum breaker can be used with in-line valves to prevent the
backflow of contaminated water into your potable water supply. Check with
your local Toro dealer or municipality for requirements.

Fixed Sprays And Nozzles

Radius: 1,3-5,2m (5’-17’)
Toro fixed sprays produce a precise, uniform fan of water that’s ideal for small
lawn, shrub and ground cover areas. Pop-up models disappear when not in
use. Shrub sprays mount above foliage to water ground cover and shrubs.
True matched precipitation rates and color coding by radius are just two of the
valuable features of Toro nozzles.

Multi-Stream Rotors
20mm (3/4”) Inlet – Radius: 4,6-9.2m (15’-30’)
Toro’s unique gear-driven multi-stream sprinklers are recognized by their
graceful “fingers of water.” These slowly rotating streams are not only
attractive; but their slower watering rates minimize run-off. Perfect for slopes,
medium-sized lawns and ground cover.

Single-Stream Rotors
13mm (1/2”) Inlet – Radius: 4,6-9.2m (15’-30’)
20mm (3/4”) Inlet – Radius: 5,8-16,8m (19’-55’)
Toro offers several families of reliable and durable Single-Stream rotors. Gear-
driven design provides years of smooth, quiet, and simple operation. Perfect
for medium-to-large lawn areas.

Flex Assemblies
Installing in hard-to-reach places is easy with Toro Flex Assemblies. They are for
the flexible positioning of sprinklers exactly where you want them, every time.


Design

Your Toro Irrigation Dealer will provide you with a plan of a profession-
ally designed home system for your yard.
Plan ahead and give your Toro Irrigation Dealer sufficient time to design
the most suitable system for your needs. The best planned system will Front 5

be one that you and the planner have discussed and agreed upon. Lawn 4 6

Sidewalk
3 7
8

Plan to have the design completed a few weeks ahead of when you
2

House
1

Back
actually need it. This will give you time to study the plan, discuss any Walkway
Lawn
questions you may have with the designer and make any amendments Flower Bed

as a result.
Driveway
The designer will also be able to assist you with statutory requirements Garage
that apply to irrigation systems, such as backflow prevention and con-

Grass
Side Lawn KEY:

tinually changing water restriction laws. Zone Valve

Timer

Water Source Capacity Sprinkler

Head
For the vast majority of home owners, the water source for the domestic Water Meter

irrigation system is the potable mains. Even if pumping from a well, it is

critical to ensure that the measurements you take are representative of
the time of year you will be irrigating. Pressures will fluctuate through-
out the year and are generally lowest in the peak dry months when
most people will be irrigating.
Ask your Toro Irrigation Dealer exactly where to measure the flow and
pressure readings.
The following are two reliable methods to determine the water capac-
ity of your water source. While either method is suitable, method 1 is
fast and easy. See your Toro irrigation Dealer for the hire of equipment
required to complete these tasks.
Record your flow and pressure recordings in the table on the left for
future reference.
Method 1. Using a Toro Flow and Pressure Gauge.
The Toro flow and pressure gauge is a dual purpose device designed to
measure water pressure and flow.
Complete the following steps:
• Ensure that water is not being used in the house or garden.
Method 1.
• Attach the gauge to an outside tap nearest to the water meter. Using a
• With the water supply fully open, record the static pressure (i.e.: pres- Toro Flow
sure with no flow) and Pressure
Gauge
• Open the flow gauge fully. Record both the flow and the pressure.
• Decrease the flow to approximately two-thirds of the maximum flow.
Record both the flow and pressure.
• Record flow and pressure with the flow further decreased to about
one-third of the maximum flow.
Method 2. Using a 9 Liter Bucket and Standard Pressure Gauge.
This method requires two taps. The pressure gauge is attached to the
tap (A) furthermost from the water meter and the tap (B) closet to the
water meter is used to vary the flow.
Method 2.
• Open the tap (A) fully, while tap (B) remains fully closed. Record the Using a 9 Liter
static pressure. Bucket and Standard
• Open tap (B) fully, then place the bucket under the tap. Record how Pressure Gauge
long it takes to fill the 9 liter bucket.
• Also record the pressure at tap (A) with tap (B) fully open.
Your Flow and Pressure Results
• Turningthe tap (B) handle clockwise, decrease the flow from the
Flow (Liters Pressure
tap by approximately one-third. Place the bucket under the tap and per minute) (kg/cm2
record the time taken to refill the bucket. or bar)
• Also record the pressure at tap (A) at this flow. Static
• Repeatthe process again, this time with the flow at tap (B) reduced to 1/3 Maximum Flow
about one-third of the maximum flow.
2/3 Maximum Flow

Maximum Flow


 Scale:
1 SQUARE = 1m² 1 SQUARE = 2m² 1 SQUARE = 3 ft² 1 SQUARE = 6 ft²

Date: Dealer:

Your Flow and Pressure Results

Customer Name:
Flow (Liters Pressure
Address: per minute) (kg/cm2
or bar)
City: State/Province: Postal Code:
Static
Main Phone: 1/3 Maximum Flow

Mobile Phone:
2/3 Maximum Flow

Maximum Flow
Fax:


 Scale:
1 SQUARE = 1m² 1 SQUARE = 2m² 1 SQUARE = 3 ft² 1 SQUARE = 6 ft²

Date: Dealer:

Your Flow and Pressure Results

Customer Name:
Flow (Liters Pressure
Address: per minute) (kg/cm2
or bar)
City: State/Province: Postal Code:
Static
Main Phone: 1/3 Maximum Flow

Mobile Phone:
2/3 Maximum Flow

Maximum Flow
Fax:


Tips for measuring a site

1. Before You Start

Before you start, here’s what you’ll need:
• Tape measure Front

Grass Strip Near Street

Lawn

Flower Bed
• Screw Driver or wooden stake

Sidewalk
House Back
• Pencil, note paper, eraser Lawn

Planter Area
Walkway
The stake or screwdriver is useful for locating and holding the end of the Flower Bed

tape if only one person is measuring.

Driveway
2. More Rather Than Less Garage

Grass
When taking measurements, it is always better to take more measure- Side Lawn
ments than less. Having extra information allows confirmation checks to
be performed. This is important on irregular shaped blocks where care
needs to be taken with measurements.
3. Sketch The Site First
Before doing any measurements, draw a sketch of the site as close to How to locate
the actual shape as can be done. Make the sketch large enough so that an object from
measurements can be written down alongside the various sides and a boundary.
objects on the site.
Remember the final plan should contain:
• House location.
• Sheds, garages and any other buildings.
• Concrete, paved paths, retaining walls, pergolas
and other items such as clothes lines, statues and
other fixed ornaments. Straight
sided areas
• Location of large trees and shrubs (show trunk size
and size of foliage canopy especially where this may
interrupt the sprinkler throw).
• Location of an automatic controller and where AC power
sources are available.
• Taps and water meter location.
4. How to locate an object from a boundary
Measure the distance from at least two corners. The third dis-
tance measurement is a check. If the object is a tree or shrub
note the trunk and foliage diameters.
5. Straight sided areas
Measurements G and J are from corner points and measured per-
pendicular to lines F-H and I-K. Odd
shaped
6. Odd shaped areas areas
Place one tape down the center of the area. Measure at right angles
either side of the centre line.
7. How to layout a right angle
These two lines will be perpendicular if the three sides have the lengths
(or multiples of) shown.
8. How to measure an odd shaped angle
Mark off equi-distances (A) along each line. Measure the straight-line dis-
tance (B) between. Knowing these distances will enable the angle to be
drawn accurately.
9. Elevation
Elevation differences play a critical role in the successful design of an irri-
gation system, particularly micro-irrigation systems where the operating
pressure is generally lower than most pop-up systems. Most home gar- How to layout a
dens will not have enough change in elevation to affect the operation of right angle.
the system. Variations greater than two meters within individual zones
should be noted on the site plan, especially if the control valves will be
located at the lower point and laterals made to run uphill.
How to measure an
odd shaped angle.


Installation

You have your irrigation design plan in hand, all your underground
utility lines been marked, correct tools and irrigation components
are organized and prepared... you’re ready to start your project!
There is no question that installing an irrigation system is a big
job, but it is not a difficult one. To make it easier, we have divided
Correct head-to-head spacing
the process into 10 easy steps that walk you through the job from
beginning to end.
Step 1: Mark Your Sprinklers, Risers, Valves & Trenches
Use Toro marker flags to indicate sprinkler locations according to
your design. Use line-marking spray paint to mark where you’ll
trench for pipes and wiring. Check your worksheet to make sure
you mark the lines accurately. You will be digging your trenches
along these lines.
Incorrect head-to-head spacing
Step 2: Tap Into Your Main Water Line
Determine the correct spacing using the
By cutting into your service line and attaching a compression tee, sprinkler radius. For example, if you are
you can connect your sprinkler system to the water supply without using Toro 570Z sprinklers with a radius
soldering. Please contact your local Toro Dealer to learn more about of 3,8m (15’), place your sprinklers no
this step, ensuring you meet your municipality’s code requirements. more than 3,8m (15’) apart - closer
together if you are in a windy area.
Step 3: Main And Lateral Line Trenching
WARNING: Before digging any trenches, you must have all underground
utilities marked to avoid any damage. Call your local underground locator
service or the city for information.
Dig trenches as straight as possible, following the lines marked in
Step 1. The main irrigation line is the pipe that runs from your ser-
vice line to your valve manifolds. The lateral lines are the lines that
run from the valve manifolds to the sprinkler heads.
Trenching by hand
To soften the soil, water the ground approximately two days before
you dig. Dig trenches 20-30 cm (8”- 12”) deep. Put sod on one
side of the trench and soil on the other.
Trenching using a trencher
Trenching machines are an easier, faster alternative to digging with
a shovel. They can be rented by the hour, day or week, usually from
a lawn supply store or rental equipment dealer. The person you
rent from can show you how to operate the machine properly and Trenching by hand
safely.
Note: Trenchers should not be used to dig through ground cover, flower beds,
on steep slopes or near buildings. Be sure to verify all underground utili-
ties before trenching. In colder climates a vibrating plow can be used
for pulling pipe.
Getting under obstacles
To tunnel under brick and concrete sidewalks, attach a piece of
Schedule 40 PVC pipe to a hose with a hose-to-pipe adapter. Cap
the end with a PVC cap and drill a 4mm (1⁄8”) hole in the end of
the cap. Point the end of the pipe to where you want to tunnel.
Turn on the water and push the pipe under the concrete. The high-
pressure water will wash away the soil to form a tunnel. Tunneling Getting under obstacles
requires care to avoid damage to sidewalks and driveways.

Trenching using a trencher


Step 4: Install The Irrigation System Main Line
WARNING: Do not use polyethylene pipe as the connecting pipe between
the service line and the control valves. Surge pressure may rupture the poly
pipe. Be sure to check local codes for correct type of pipe to use.
Attach the main sprinkler line to the service line. Run it along the
bottom of the trench from the house to the first set of valves, and if
required, to the second set. Place the valve wires under the pipe in
the bottom of the trench whenever possible.
Working with PVC pipe
1. Cut pipe with a PVC pipe cutter.
2. Brush on a primer to clean the pipe surface and the inside of
the fitting.
3. Brush glue on the outside end of the pipe and lightly inside the
fitting.
4. Slip the pipe into the fitting and give it a quarter turn.
5. Hold in place for about 15 seconds so the glue can set.
6. Wipe off excess glue with a rag.
NOTE: Wait at least one hour before running water through the system. (Check
manufacturer’s recommendation.)
Working with poly pipe
1. Cut pipe with a PVC pipe cutter.
2. Slip a stainless-steel clamp over the end of the pipe.
3. Insert the barbed fitting into the end of the poly pipe, past the
barbs.
4. Slide the clamp over the barbs of the fitting.
5. Tighten the clamp.
TIP: Save time by using the Toro Self-Tapping Saddle for poly pipe with a pres-
sure rating of 5,6 to 7,0 bar (80-100 PSI). No more sawing, drilling or
gluing! Self-Tapping Saddles are available at your local home center.
TIP: To relax poly pipe, expose it to sunlight. Never expose poly pipe to
open flame.


Installation (Continued)

Step 5: Build Valve Manifolds

A group of valves running off the same supply line is called a manifold.
We recommend grouping your valves into manifolds based on their
use or location. For example, one control valve manifold to operate
front yard zones and one to operate backyard and/or side yard zones.
Use flags to mark the location of the valves, as indicated on your work- Pressure Vacuum Breaker
sheet. should be installed 30cm
(12”) above the highest
In-line Valve Installation sprinkler, or according to
local codes.
In-line valves are installed below ground and should always be installed 25mm
(1”)
in a protective valve box. Dig out the area where in-ground valves are Schedule
40 PVC
to be installed, and add several inches of gravel to the bottom of the Valve Manifold

hole. Place the top of the valve box so that it is even with the surface
of the ground. When you buy a valve box, be sure to find out how
19mm (3/4”)
many valves fit in each box so you know how many to buy. In some Class 200 PVC
cases, you will need more than one valve box per manifold. 25mm (1”)
Schedule 40
NOTE: If one of the valves will be used for drip irrigation, leave enough room PVC from
water source Valve
between the valve and the sides of the valve box for the filter and pres- Box

sure regulator that are part of your drip system. It may be a good idea to 25mm (1”)
Slip x Slip x
25mm (1”)x
19mm (3/4”) Slip
install those parts on the valve, then, install the valve in the valve box. Thread Tee Female Adapter

TIP: When putting together your valve manifolds, always include one or two
extra connections in each manifold. This makes it easier to expand your sys- Automatic In-Line Valve Assembly
(25mm valves shown)
tem at a later date.
TIP: Look for valves with the flow control feature. It saves water!
Step 6: Install Lateral Downstream Pipe
Start from the valves and move outward, laying the connecting pipe
along the bottom of the trench. At each flag, install a tee or elbow fit-
ting, and if needed, a riser for sprinkler attachment. We recommend
that you use flex assemblies for all your sprinkler head installations.
Step 7: Flush The System To Clear Debris
After the pipe has been connected and the glue has dried (PVC pipe
only), turn on the water, open valves one zone at a time and flush until
the water runs clear.
TIP: It is suggesed to wipe the fittings dry and seal them (duct tape works well)
to keep dirt out until the sprinklers are installed.
NOTE: Don’t backfill your trenches until your final system operation check
is complete.

10
Step 8: Install Your Sprinklers Zone-by-zone
Install one sprinkler zone at a time. Remember to refer to your plan-
ning worksheet.
1. Placing a sprinkler in a trench as a guide, measure from the connect-
ing pipe fitting to the bottom of the sprinkler and cut and attach
a flex assembly. Place sprinklers at least 75mm (3”) from sidewalks
and curbs and 150mm (6”) from fences and buildings.
Torowith
used Flex
anyAssemblies
sprinkler with can
3/4” or
3. Connect the appropriate flex assembly to the sprinkler and to the be used
1/2” with
male or female any
NPTsprinkler
(National
withThread)
12mm or 19mm
pipe fitting. Pipe inlet.
(1/2” or 3/4”) male or
Installing in hard-to-reach female inlet.
4. Position the sprinkler in the trench so that the top of the sprinkler is places is easy with Toro
flush with ground level. Stabilize the sprinkler with soil without filling Flex Assemblies.
the entire trench.
5. Verify that the sprinkler is vertical for optimum performance.
6. Repeat this process for each sprinkler.
Step 9: Install Your Controller
1. Install the controller in your garage or another convenient place. If Its easy to position pop-up
sprinkler heads at ground
an outdoor location is desired, use an outdoor cabinet to protect level using Toro Flex
the controller against the effects of weather. Make sure an adequate Use a 20-30cm (8”-12”)
Assemblies.
power supply is available. Toro controllers require only a standard flex assembly on new
installments. Just place the
outlet. (See instructions included with the controller for details.) sprinkler head on either side
of your water line and adjust
2. If you haven’t already done so, lay the valve wires in the bottom of as necessary.
the trenches, beneath the pipes.
TIP: Installing more wire strands than your system currently requires can be a
real time saver. Adding them now is simple; adding them later–after all the
dirt is back in place and the grass is growing–is not. Flex assemblies let you
install heads at the correct
3. Connect the valves to the controller using the valve wires. depth without the cutting
and gluing needed for
rigid pipe.
a. Take one wire from each valve and connect them to a common
wire (For ease of identification, use the white wire as the com-
mon).
b. At the controller, connect the common wire to the common
terminal on the controller. Display
Programming Dial
c. Take the other wire from each valve and connect them to the Valve Wire Connections
Transformer
controller terminals in sequence. Grease Cap/
Wire Connectors
Jar-top Valve
4. Connect your RainSensor. Spray
RainSensor
5. Plug in the controller.
WARNING: All outdoor electrical connections must be waterproofed.
Step 10: Check Your System Operation
1. Slowly turn on the water, then manually open an irrigation valve.
2. Adjust the sprinklers to ensure proper coverage. (See sprinkler instal-
lation instructions for details.)
3. If you don’t have complete head-to-head coverage, follow the steps
below:
a. Make sure the control valve and shut-off valve are fully open.
b. Turn off any water being used in the house (washers, showers,
faucets, etc.).
c. Fine-tune sprinkler spray positions and spray patterns to match
your coverage area.
d. Ifcoverage is still not complete, go back and check your system layout
against the plans.
e. When you see that the coverage is satisfactory, fill in the trench.
4. Once you are satisfied with your installation you can move on to
installing any low volume drip irrigation required.

11
System maintenance

CONGRATULATIONS!
When properly installed, your Toro automatic irrigation
system will help keep your landscape green and healthy
for years of recreation and enjoyment.
System Maintenance
Home garden irrigation systems need little
maintenance. Regular checks on the system will keep
your system operating efficiently and consistently.
• Manually operate each zone from the controller to
verify the automatic process.
• Visually check that the start times, run times and
programs are as you set them.
• Ensure RainSensor is activated.
• Check the valve and fittings for leaks.
• Manually open the valve using either the bleed
screw or lever. Visually check the performance of the
emitters and adjust the flow control setting on the
valve if required. Look for leaks and blown fittings.
• Visually check that the valve box is not exerting
pressure on the valve or pipe work.
• Check emitters for blockages. Check that arcs are
adjusted and directed towards the intended area. Total Solutions
• Ensure all emitters are correctly aligned and raise any
sprinklers that may have dropped. Golf
• Clean wiper seal and replace if necessary on any
sprinkler where the turret is sticking. Home
• Remove screen from the filter and manually clean.
• Inspect screen for damage and repair or replace if Cities
necessary.
• Check the filter and associated fittings for leaks. Parks
• Ensure clamps are intact on all fittings.
• Flush all tubes by removing end caps or by opening Sportsfields
flushing valves.

For a more detailed guide (offered in English only),

please visit:
www.toro.com/sprinklers/pig.pdf Products depicted are for illustration purposes only.
Actual product offered for sale may vary in design,
required ­attachments, and safety features. Not all
products are sold in all countries.

Dealer Stamp

Worldwide Headquarters
The Toro Company
8111 Lyndale Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55420
Phone: 952-888-8801
Fax: 952-887-7265
www.toro.com

GB Form Number: 200-3128

©2006 The Toro Company – All Rights Reserved.