When the landscaping contractor installed your sprinkler system, they set the depth of the heads according to the lay of the land at that particular time. The ground was likely softer and it settled. The sod was likely more full and lush as it just came from the sod farm. The top of the rotary or pop up sprayhead where the nozzle sprays the water particles was likely covered in part by loose top soil. What happens over time, particularly on slopes, is the topsoil erodes away and it exposes the top of the sprinkler head, leaving it vulnerable for lawnmower blades and riding mower tires. Although your yard service could be a little more careful, it is often difficult to avoid broken sprinkler heads in the situation.
If loss of topsoil in the lawn does not seem to be the explanation for broken sprinkler heads, another plausible explanation is that the sprinkler system installation was done improperly. It is important to bury the PVC mains, the flex pipe tubing and the sprinkler heads to a certain depth. The tops of the heads should typically lay just under the roots of the turf.
In either circumstance, managing the situation could call for a combination of solutions. One solution is to bring in a layer of more top soil. In addition, burying the sprinkler heads deeper in the ground could be necessary as well. The end result should be that the top of the sprinkler head recedes deeper than the turf line down into the ground.
For this and more tips on groundskeeping, Lawn Care and Sprinkler repair Columbia S.C. Lexington and Irmo, visit us online at http://www.BusyBeeLawnCare.com or give us a buzz at (803)331-5323
