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Rating: 4/5
As a professional landscaper, I have managed scores of sprinkler systems, but I only recently encountered Irrigreen’s robotic sprinklers. Traditional systems rely on water pressure, flow rate, and a dizzying array of sprinkler heads and nozzles to project the spray patterns that lawn and landscape applications require. Irrigreen’s sprinkler heads are equipped with advanced electronics for an adjustable, one-size-fits-all installation approach. I spent 5 days testing an Irrigreen sprinkler head and controller to better understand its strengths, weaknesses, and the best use cases for this emerging technology.
Best Robotic Sprinkler
Irrigreen Sprinkler System
Before getting started, I used a water pressure gauge and a 5-gallon bucket with a stopwatch to ensure that my water supply was adequate. The system requires a constant water pressure of 40 to 80 pounds per square inch and a flow rate of 8 gallons per minute or higher. As with other irrigation systems, Irrigreen requires a backflow preventer, which does not come with the system. To prevent clogs, the water must be clean and free of debris. City water should be fine; wells require a mesh filter (sold separately). I downloaded the Irrigreen app and installed the controller in a location where it would receive four bars of WiFi coverage.
Installation required significantly less digging and fewer components than traditional sprinkler systems. Because the sprinkler heads can sit up to 30 feet away from the edge of the lawn (rather than needing to surround it), they require much less water supply line. Irrigreen recommends adding a shutoff valve at every sprinkler head connection because the heads will eventually need to be replaced. I consider this an essential step because without external valves, the heads are under constant water pressure. Without shutoff valves, removing a single head will drain the water out of the entire system, which is messy and inconvenient.
Each Irrigreen sprinkler head is its own “zone”, covering up to a 30-foot maximum radius. The head features a built-in valve and onboard electronics that enable the programming of a unique spray pattern. Using the app, I adjusted the pattern to different shapes by tapping and dragging points around the head. This process happens in real time while the head is spraying, so it’s easy to get accurate results.
Installation went as advertised, and the system worked perfectly during my testing. The control interface was intuitive to use. The sprinkler worked exactly as expected, delivering large water droplets that resisted evaporation and wind drift. To measure the consistency of coverage, I placed 20 pint-size containers in a grid on the grass to collect water samples. Coverage was near perfect—whether I watered in a circle or a random blob-shaped pattern, there was no measurable difference in the amount collected.
As effective as the system was, it’s not for everyone. With traditional equipment, more water power equals greater freedom to build larger zones for faster watering. Irrigreen heads can only run one at a time, so high pressure and flow rates aren’t a benefit. Additionally, the electronics make Irrigreen heads expensive: $200+ each compared to $12 to $15 each for traditional sprinkler heads and $20 to $30 per valve. This increases the cost and risk of a failure. Although the company currently backs its products with a replacement guarantee, a failure may eventually be quite costly.
The Irrigreen heads, wiring, controller, and layout differ from any other irrigation system and aren’t compatible, so Irrigreen can’t connect to an existing system. Also, the system does not integrate smoothly with other irrigation setups. The controller includes ports to connect other types of zones, but I was unable to find a way to schedule them separately. It may be impossible to set different schedules to water flower beds, shrub beds, vegetable gardens, and the lawn.
Overall, I liked Irrigreen. It’s a good solution for keeping midsize lawns green without wasting water. Irrigreen claims that the system will pay for itself in 3 to 5 years, but this really depends on layout, water costs, and usage. The setup is DIY-friendly since there are so few components to install and adjust. If you like having the latest technology and don’t mind working out the kinks as they arise, then Irrigreen might be the right option for your yard.
Where to Buy the Irrigreen Sprinkler System
