Logo of Landscape Atlas
Hero background

Find the Best Sprinkler & Irrigation for Your Business

No obligation • Fast responses • Nationwide coverage

Search providers near you

Top Sprinkler & Irrigation in Union, New Jersey Ranked

A well-designed sprinkler and irrigation system is the key to a healthy, vibrant lawn and landscape without the hassle of manual watering. These automated systems deliver precise amounts of water exactly where and when your plants need it, conserving water and protecting your investment in your property. This guide will help you understand the components, design principles, and maintenance of a Union lawn irrigation system, empowering you to make informed decisions for your home.

Heroes Lawn Care

Heroes Lawn Care

231 Herbert Ave Space E, Closter, NJ 07624

Heroes Lawn Care provides lawn fertilization, weed control, sprinkler installation, and irrigation repair services in New York, NY. They focus on eco-conscious lawn care using environmentally responsible products and techniques. Their licensed team offers comprehensive lawn maintenance, including aeration and pet waste removal, tailored to each property. Heroes Lawn Care serves Northeast Bergen County and nearby areas with a proactive approach and quality assurance on every project.

5.0
96 Reviews
Green-Way Irrigation

Green-Way Irrigation

34 Grove St, Midland Park, NJ 07432

Green-Way Irrigation is a family-owned company based near New York, NY, offering comprehensive irrigation, outdoor lighting, and yard drainage solutions. Serving multiple communities in Bergen County, they specialize in installing and maintaining water-efficient irrigation systems, low-voltage outdoor lighting, and custom drainage systems designed to protect lawns and homes from water damage. With over 35 years of experience, Green-Way Irrigation also provides outdoor audio system installations to enhance outdoor living spaces. They offer emergency services and are fully licensed and insured.

4.9
219 Reviews
Proscape Sprinkler Inc.

Proscape Sprinkler Inc.

Keith Jeffries Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016

Proscape Sprinkler Inc. provides irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions in New York, NY. They serve both residential and commercial clients, focusing on efficient, eco-conscious landscaping and lighting installations. Their services include sprinkler installation, sprinkler repair, and landscape lighting installation. With nearly 15 years of experience, Proscape Sprinkler is known for maintaining irrigation systems and ensuring proper function over time. The company emphasizes long-term client relationships and responsive communication.

4.9
139 Reviews
WJ Tree Services & Landscaping

WJ Tree Services & Landscaping

121 Helen St, South Plainfield, NJ 07080

WJ Tree Services & Landscaping is a landscape design and tree service company based in New York, NY. They offer a wide range of services including tree removal, stump grinding, land clearing, landscape design, irrigation installation, and yard drainage. Their team uses specialized equipment to handle challenging urban and suburban tree removals and provides 24/7 emergency service. The company serves both residential and commercial clients, managing projects from small to large scale with expertise in grading and brush removal.

4.9
117 Reviews
Ecosystems Total Outdoor Solutions - Dover

Ecosystems Total Outdoor Solutions - Dover

85 Franklin Rd STE 1C, Dover, NJ 07801

Ecosystems Total Outdoor Solutions - Dover provides lawn care and irrigation services in New York, NY. They offer comprehensive lawn fertilization, weed control, mosquito and tick control, fungicide treatments, and sprinkler system installation and repair. Their irrigation memberships include regular maintenance and seasonal adjustments to keep systems efficient. The company emphasizes expert care and detailed service to maintain healthy lawns and functional irrigation systems year-round.

4.8
2.1k Reviews
See more providers in Union, NJ

Understanding Your Automatic Sprinkler System

An automatic sprinkler system is more than just sprinkler heads popping up from the ground. It's a coordinated network of components working together. At its heart is the controller, a programmable unit that sends low-voltage signals to open and close valves according to your schedule 1. These valves act as gates, controlling the flow of water to specific sections, or zones, of your yard 2. From the valves, water travels through a network of underground piping to the sprinkler heads, which distribute the water across the lawn 3. A critical safety component is the backflow preventer, which ensures that contaminated water from your yard cannot flow backward into your home's clean drinking water supply 2 4.

Using quality components from reputable brands like Rain Bird, Hunter, or Toro is essential for long-term reliability and performance 5 1. A professional installation will ensure all these parts are correctly sized and installed, from the main water line connection to the placement of each individual head.

The Art of Professional Irrigation Design

A great lawn watering system starts with a great design. Professionals don't just place heads randomly; they create a custom plan based on your property's unique characteristics. The first step is dividing your landscape into zones. Zones are grouped by factors like sun exposure (full sun vs. deep shade), plant type (turfgrass vs. flower beds), and soil composition 5 4. This allows each zone to be watered for a different duration and frequency, ensuring all plants get exactly what they need without waste.

The golden rule of layout is achieving head-to-head coverage. This means the spray from one sprinkler head reaches all the way to the adjacent heads 4. This overlap eliminates dry spots and creates uniform watering, which is the hallmark of a professionally designed system. Experts often use CAD software to map out the property, accounting for elevation changes, drainage patterns, and even future landscaping plans to create an efficient and effective layout 5.

Smart Watering Schedules for Union Lawns

How and when you water is just as important as the system itself. The general goal for a healthy lawn is to provide about one inch of water per week, which is often best delivered in 2-3 separate watering sessions 6 7. This deep, infrequent watering encourages roots to grow deeper, making your grass more drought-resistant.

The best time to water is in the early morning, ideally before sunrise 6 7. At this time, winds are usually calm and temperatures are low, which minimizes water loss from evaporation and drift. It also allows grass blades to dry quickly once the sun comes up, reducing the risk of fungal diseases that thrive in prolonged moisture.

Your specific runtime depends on your system's output. As an example, typical spray heads might need to run for about 20 minutes, three times a week, while rotor heads, which cover larger areas, may need 30 minutes, twice a week 6 8. Always adjust based on recent rainfall, seasonal temperatures, and the specific needs of your lawn.

Find the perfect sprinkler & irrigation for your needs

Get personalized recommendations and expert advice

Installation and Investment

Installing an in-ground sprinkler system is a significant home improvement project. Costs are typically calculated in two ways: by the square foot of coverage or by the zone. In the Union area, you can expect an average installation cost ranging from $0.88 to $1.65 per square foot, or $590 to $1,340 per zone 5 9. The final price depends on several factors, including the total size of your property, the complexity of the terrain (slopes or odd shapes), the number of zones required, and the quality of the components selected 9 1.

A professional installer will handle critical steps like obtaining any necessary local permits and contacting NJ 811 to have underground utility lines marked before digging begins 5 1. This ensures the job is done safely and to code. Investing in a professionally designed and installed system from the start can prevent costly problems and inefficient watering down the line.

Maintenance, Repairs, and Local Services

Like any mechanical system, your irrigation setup requires periodic maintenance to stay in top shape. This includes seasonal start-ups and winterizations, checking and cleaning sprinkler heads, adjusting spray patterns, and inspecting valves and controllers for proper operation 8. Even with good care, components can wear out or be damaged.

Repair costs can vary widely based on the issue-whether it's a simple head replacement, a leak in a valve box, or a break in a lateral line. Local professionals, such as Pacific Lawn Sprinklers or EcoSystems NJ, have the expertise to quickly diagnose and fix problems, ensuring your system returns to peak efficiency 5 10. They can also help optimize your controller settings as seasons change and perform audits to check your system's distribution uniformity.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Footnotes

  1. Lawn Sprinklers System Services - New Jersey Irrigation - https://newjerseyirrigationservices.com/residential-services/lawn-sprinklers-system-services/ 2 3 4

  2. Anatomy of an Automatic Sprinkler System - Rain Bird - https://www.rainbird.com/homeowners/blog/anatomy-of-an-automatic-sprinkler-system 2

  3. How to Install an In-Ground Sprinkler System - This Old House - https://www.thisoldhouse.com/landscaping/how-to-install-in-ground-sprinklers

  4. Easy, step-by-step, underground sprinkler system layout guide - https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/a9/a9564496-8fb7-4141-8758-5f660a7a9310.pdf 2 3

  5. Irrigation Systems Design in New Jersey - https://www.ecosystemsnj.com/irrigation-system-design/ 2 3 4 5 6

  6. How Long to Run a Sprinkler for 1 Inch of Water - Sod Solutions - https://sodsolutions.com/advanced-how-to/how-long-to-run-a-sprinkler-for-1-inch-of-water/ 2 3

  7. Summer Lawn Watering Tips for New Jersey And Pennsylvania - https://organicplantcarellc.com/summer-lawn-watering/ 2

  8. Irrigation system maintenance schedule: Best 2025 Guide - https://salcorplandscaping.com/irrigation-system-maintenance-schedule/ 2

  9. How Much Does it Cost to Install a Sprinkler System in 2026? - https://lawnlove.com/blog/sprinkler-system-cost/ 2

  10. Lawn sprinkler system repair | Sprinkler irrigation services - https://www.pacificlawnsprinklers.com/Union-County-NJ