Irrigation Guide
Everything you need to know about marking irrigation heads before aeration — so your system stays safe and your lawn gets the best treatment possible.
Why Marking Irrigation Heads Matters
When it's time to aerate your lawn, one of the most important steps is marking out your irrigation heads. Aeration equipment can damage sprinkler heads if they aren't clearly flagged beforehand. Taking a few minutes to mark each head protects your irrigation system and ensures the aeration process goes smoothly.
How to Use the Manual Start & Station Advance Setting
On most irrigation clocks, you can use the OneTouch manual start and station advance setting to cycle through each zone. Here's how it works:
Step 1
Bring the clock to the "Run" setting and press the arrow button. Station one will begin running for 1 minute.
Step 2
After 1 minute, the clock automatically advances to station two, then three, and so on until all stations have been run.
Step 3
As each zone activates and the heads pop up, go out with an irrigation flag and mark the location of each head.
Marking the Heads Outside
Once each zone is running, head outside and place a flag near each irrigation head as it pops up — try to stay as dry as possible! Work your way through each zone: front yard, back yard, and any side zones. The goal is a clear, visible marker at every head so the aeration equipment operator knows exactly where to avoid.
What About Underground Irrigation Lines?
Unfortunately, there is no great way to mark underground irrigation lines. Typically, they run below the aeration depth, so the risk is low. However, if any lines are installed closer to the surface — perhaps due to a rock, stump, or other obstruction — there is a possibility they could be nicked during aeration. If this happens, a repair will be needed. It's not always possible to have the lines run deeper, so this is a known risk to be aware of.
Need Help? We've Got You Covered.
If marking out your irrigation heads isn't something you feel comfortable doing on your own, you can contact your irrigation company — or contact us. This is something we are happy to help with. That said, you are absolutely able to do this yourself by following the steps above.
After Aeration: Mesotrione Treatment
Once the irrigation heads are marked and aeration is complete, the next step is a mesotrione treatment. There are very few products that can be applied at the same time as seeding — mesotrione is the one we choose to use. It allows us to control weeds while still achieving good seed germination, which is rare among weed control products.
Weed Control During Seeding
Mesotrione is uniquely able to suppress weeds without preventing grass seed germination — a combination that very few products can achieve.
The "White" Side Effect
Mesotrione works by cutting off chlorophyll production in weeds, which turns the lawn temporarily white. Don't be alarmed — this is normal and short-lived.
Back to Green
Sequential mowings will remove the affected tissue and your lawn will return to its normal, healthy green color in no time.
Watch the Full Irrigation Guide Video
See the full walkthrough — from running each zone on the irrigation clock to flagging the heads and applying mesotrione after aeration.
