Quick answer: A sprinkler zone that stops working after landscaping or yard construction may have a cut control wire, damaged pipe, buried or damaged valve box, broken sprinkler connection, or a new obstruction affecting the zone. The timing of the failure is an important diagnostic clue.
Digging can damage irrigation wiring
Edging, planting, fence work and other excavation can cut or nick low-voltage field wire. A damaged conductor may disable one valve or several zones if a shared common wire is affected.
Pipe damage can look like low pressure
A damaged lateral line or fitting may allow the valve to open while losing enough water underground that sprinkler heads barely rise.
Landscape changes can bury components
New sod, mulch and grading can cover valve boxes or sprinkler heads that were previously accessible.
New plants can change coverage
Even when nothing is broken, shrubs, beds or hardscape can block spray patterns and create new dry areas.
See common sprinkler problems after yard work, wire tracing for broken sprinkler wires, and our sprinkler repair service.
