How do I set up irrigation zones for my yard?

Setting up irrigation zones correctly from the start saves you money, water, and headaches — but in New Brunswick, there are some critical local factors that make this more than a generic DIY project.

The core principle of zoning is simple: group plants and lawn areas with similar water needs, sun exposure, and soil type onto the same zone so every head on that zone runs at the same time and delivers the right amount of water. Getting this wrong means some areas are constantly soggy while others stay dry.

How Zones Are Determined

The first step is calculating your water pressure and flow rate at the source — this determines how many sprinkler heads you can run simultaneously. Turn off all water in the house, attach a pressure gauge to an outdoor hose bib, and record the PSI (most NB homes run 40-70 PSI). Then time how long it takes to fill a 5-gallon bucket to calculate your GPM (gallons per minute). These two numbers define the maximum load per zone.

From there, you divide your property into logical zones based on four factors: plant type (lawn vs. shrubs vs. garden beds), sun exposure (full sun areas need more water than shaded spots), soil type (NB's clay-heavy soils in the Fredericton and Saint John river valley areas absorb water slowly, while sandy coastal soils near Shediac or Miramichi drain fast and need shorter, more frequent cycles), and slope (sloped areas need lower precipitation rates to prevent runoff).

A typical NB residential property might have 4-6 zones: front lawn, back lawn, foundation shrub beds, garden beds, and possibly a drip zone for trees or a vegetable garden.

NB-Specific Considerations

New Brunswick's climate adds a few non-negotiable requirements. Frost depth runs 1.2–1.5 metres across most of the province, which means your mainline must be buried at least that deep, or you need a reliable manual drain valve at the lowest point of the system. Every system in NB needs a blowout winterization each fall — compressed air is forced through each zone to evacuate all water before freeze-up. This is typically done in mid-to-late October, and skipping it means burst lateral lines come spring (a costly repair).

You'll also want a rain sensor or smart controller — NB gets roughly 1,100–1,200mm of rainfall annually, fairly well distributed, so running irrigation during a rainy Maritime summer wastes water and promotes the fungal diseases (brown patch, powdery mildew) our humid climate already encourages.

Practical Tips

Start by sketching your property to scale and marking sun/shade areas, existing plants, and soil observations. Note any slopes or drainage problem areas. This sketch becomes your zone map. For lawn zones, rotary heads work better than fixed spray heads on NB's heavier soils because they apply water more slowly, reducing runoff. For beds, drip irrigation is far more efficient and keeps foliage dry — important in our humid summers.

When to Hire a Pro

Zone layout and planting is something a motivated homeowner can plan on paper, but the actual installation — trenching, pressure calculations, backflow preventer installation, and controller wiring — is best left to a licensed irrigator. Improper backflow prevention can contaminate your water supply, and an undersized mainline causes pressure problems across every zone. Expect to pay $3,000–$6,000 for a full system on an average NB lot, with annual winterization running $75–$150.

New Brunswick Landscaping can match you with a local irrigation specialist for a free estimate — getting a professional assessment of your property's pressure, soil, and layout before you buy any equipment is well worth the time.