Landscape Irrigation Design Process

“How do you eat an elephant?: One bite at a time.”  Irrigation design can be an intimidating task, but it doesn’t need to be.  Explore the design process through a logical set of steps written to simplify irrigation design for beginners and experienced designers alike.  The key to the popularity of this course is its hands-on approach; Participants are given opportunities to perform practical exercises in irrigation design using an in-class site plan. (Note: A Rain Bird product catalog is provided in class, but students may bring any manufacturer’s catalog they wish to use)

Course Outline

Unit 1 Course introduction and classroom safety

Unit 2 Gather site information

Unit 3 Determine water supply

Unit 4 Measure Hydrozones

Unit 5 Select and place emission components

Unit 6 Total flow per hydrozone

Unit 7 Lateral pipe selection and placement

Unit 8 Valve selection and placement

Unit 9 Mainline pipe selection and placement

Unit 10 Pipe sizing

Unit 11 Electrical system component selection and placement

Unit 12 System function verification (Hydraulics calculations)

Unit 13 Final irrigation plan

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Obtain accurate site information

2. Identify and lay out hydrozones

3. Select and lay out irrigation system components

4. Use hydraulic principals to establish zones and pipe layouts

5. Prepare a final irrigation design plan

Suggested Prerequisites

  • Working knowledge of basic irrigation system hydraulics

  • Understanding of basic irrigation system components

    • Location Information and Class Registration

    October 22, 2026
     October 22, 2026
     October 29, 2026
     October 29, 2026
     November 5, 2026
    Claremont, CA     November 5, 2026
    The Villages, FL     November 19, 2026
    Chula Vista, CA     November 19, 2026
    Marietta, GA     December 3, 2026
    Thornton, CO     December 3, 2026
    Cleveland, OH     December 10, 2026
    Lansing, MI     December 10, 2026
    Mohegan Lake, NY     December 17, 2026
    Henderson, NV     January 7, 2027
    Indio, CA     January 7, 2027
    Modesto, CA     January 7, 2027
    Reno, NV     January 14, 2027
    Downers Grove, IL     January 14, 2027
    Norfolk, VA     January 28, 2027
    Sacramento, CA     January 28, 2027
    Boston, MA     January 28, 2027
    Detroit, MI     February 4, 2027
    Meridian, ID     February 4, 2027
    Portland, OR     February 4, 2027
    Haven, UT     February 11, 2027
    St. Louis, MO     February 11, 2027
    Gulf Shores, AL     February 11, 2027
    Hudson, WI     February 18, 2027
    Orlando, FL     February 25, 2027
    Sioux Falls, SD     February 25, 2027
    Nashville, TN     February 25, 2027
    Seattle, WA     March 4, 2027
    Columbus, OH     March 4, 2027
    Raleigh, NC     March 4, 2027
    Houston, TX     March 11, 2027
    Tucson, AZ     March 11, 2027
    New Orleans, LA     March 11, 2027
    Charleston, SC     March 18, 2027
    Savannah, GA     March 18, 2027
    Springville, AL     March 18, 2027
    Tampa, FL     March 25, 2027
    Bozeman, MT     March 25, 2027
    Tulsa, OK     March 25, 2027
    Colorado Springs, CO     April 1, 2027
    Little Rock, AR     April 1, 2027
    Daytona Beach, FL     April 1, 2027
    Wichita, KS     April 8, 2027
    Memphis, TN     April 8, 2027
    Columbia, MO     April 15, 2027
    Tuscaloosa, AL     April 15, 2027
    Shreveport, LA     April 15, 2027
    Jackson, MS     April 22, 2027
    Leawood, KS     April 22, 2027
    Louisville, KY     April 22, 2027
    El Paso, TX     April 29, 2027
    West Palm Beach, FL     April 29, 2027
    Clearwater, FL     April 29, 2027
    Rock Hill, SC     May 6, 2027
    Gilbert, AZ     May 6, 2027
    Midland, TX     May 13, 2027
    Durham, NC     May 13, 2027
    Eugene, OR     May 20, 2027
    Chico, CA     May 20, 2027
    Dallas, TX     May 27, 2027
    Redmond, OR     May 27, 2027
    Redding, CA     August 17, 2023