How to Know If Your Lawn Needs a New Irrigation System
Maintaining a lush, green lawn in Billings, Montana requires more than regular mowing and fertilizing—it also depends heavily on efficient irrigation. If your lawn looks patchy, water bills are unexpectedly high, or you’re constantly adjusting sprinkler heads, it may be time to take a closer look at your irrigation system. A poorly performing system can not only waste water but also damage your turf and landscaping over time.
At Horizon Landscape & Irrigation, we help homeowners across Billings evaluate, repair, and replace irrigation systems with smart, sustainable upgrades. Here’s how to tell when your current system just isn’t cutting it anymore.
1. Uneven Watering or Dry Spots
One of the most obvious signs of irrigation trouble is inconsistent water coverage. If parts of your lawn are thriving while others are dry or yellowing, your system may have clogged nozzles, misaligned heads, or poor layout design. Over time, these issues can cause root damage or even soil erosion.
2. Skyrocketing Water Bills
In Billings, where water conservation is increasingly important, an unexpected rise in your monthly water bill could mean your system is leaking underground or running inefficiently. An aging system may overwater or fail to account for local weather changes, leading to significant waste.
3. Outdated Technology
If your system is more than 10–15 years old, chances are it wasn’t designed with smart irrigation practices in mind. Today’s systems offer weather sensors, zoning, drip irrigation options, and timers that help conserve water and boost lawn health. Upgrading to a modern system could save both money and maintenance headaches.
4. Frequent Repairs
Are you regularly calling someone to fix broken heads, cracked valves, or faulty controllers? Repeated breakdowns are not only frustrating—they’re a sign that the entire system might be on its last legs. Rather than paying for patchwork fixes, it’s often more cost-effective to invest in a replacement.
5. Soggy or Oversaturated Areas
Too much water is just as harmful as too little. Pooling water or swampy areas may indicate broken lines or poor drainage design. If your lawn feels squishy after every cycle, your system may be applying more water than the soil can absorb, especially if it’s on a slope or has compacted soil.
6. Seasonal Headaches
A well-designed irrigation system in Billings should be easy to winterize and restart in the spring. If you’re struggling every season with broken lines, buried components, or outdated backflow devices, consider upgrading to a more durable, weather-appropriate setup.
Partner with Local Pros
Every yard is different, but irrigation issues often come down to age, wear, and outdated technology. If you’re dealing with any of the problems above, Horizon Landscape & Irrigation can inspect your system and provide honest recommendations.
From custom designs to smart controllers and water-efficient layouts, we build systems made to withstand Billings’ unique climate—from dry summer spells to deep winter freezes.
Ready to take control of your water use and lawn health? Contact us today to schedule a system checkup or talk about an upgrade.
