There are some specifics that need to be adhered to if your reticulation is going to be successful especially if you plan to do it all yourself.

1. Calculate your water pressure. If you plan to use your mains for the source of your water then you need to calculate the pressure that is available. This is crucial because 1). If you use too many sprinklers on a specific channel the water flow will be reduced and your reticulation will be ineffective, and 2) If you don't have enough sprinklers per channel then you will end up wasting money for excess piping and an oversized reticulation controller.
2. Make a detailed plan. Many reticulation outlets will draw up detailed plans for DIY'ers for free in the hope that you will reciprocate and purchase your materials through them. If you don't want to be obligated by this arrangement then drawing plans can still be quite easy with many online businesses offering free kits.

   The key to drawing up the plans is knowing how many sprinklers you will need and what size controller will perform to these expectations.
   



3. Separate lawn and garden bed channels Your lawn and garden beds will have very distinct watering requirements so it is a good idea to separate these channels. This will allow you to program lawn watering for every second day during summer while some of your garden beds will need to be moistened daily.
   


4. Use appropriate sprinklers While it may seem that reticulation companies are keen to sell you more stuff than you require there is some sense in purchasing appropriate sprinklers. Each have their own specific flow-rate and may have different watering patterns that are more effective in reaching certain shaped areas.

   Also, the height you locate your sprinklers will make your reticulation more efficient as well.
   



5. Lay your solenoid cables below your main arterial pipes. Your main pipes are where your solenoids will be attached anyway so run your low voltage cabling below these. It saves money on purchasing more conduit and will still be protected from wayward gardening shovels.
   


6. Connect you pipes above ground As much as possible try to keep most of the pipe out of the trenches while you connect them. It makes your work much easier and will aid in keeping sand out of your pipes. Once they've been connected then you can place them into the trenches - but test them before replacing the dirt.
   


7. Test your pipework and solenoids There are two tests you will need to perform. Firstly, test the pipework to ensure that the water is flowing through correctly and any sand has been removed. Take the sprinkler heads off as you test this one otherwise they will clog up with organic material and sand and the test will fail. Once all the debris has been cleared, try it again with the sprinkler heads back in position.

   The second test is for your controller. You need to test that all the solenoids are responding correctly and the controller program is correct.
   



8. Sit back and relax Well not just yet. It may take a couple of days to iron out any teething problems but once your reticulation is working it's just a matter of maintaining their operation.