Neighbors landscaper keeps breaking my lawn sprinkler

[birdawg]

Well it’s the third time he hit my sprinkler this time he ripped out of the ground any suggestions?

[Pondboy]

So I’m assuming you can’t lower the head into the ground more?

Anyway…..

Make it so they won’t want to go near the heads.

Pound some rebar into the ground around the heads. I’d recommend painting the tops with a high viz color (red/orange/yellow) so that it’s more noticeable.

[Bassdeer]

You can try a guard donut. I think the rebar is a better idea.

[Stu from NYC]

Have you spoken to your neighbor about this?

[CarlR33]

Was it stuck up after running? One does not hit a sprinkler unless it’s above the ground? Is it buried enough? How are they on your property? A simple survey flag might help mark it. The rebar idea is a little much.

[bagboy]

I suggest calling Joe Tucker 352-430-5615. He can go through your entire system and adjust/replace anything that isn't right. There is no good reason for the irrigation heads to be vulnerable to mowers, much less needing donuts or rebar sticking up.

[Number 10 GI]

Do not drive rebar into the ground, you will be creating an intentional hazard on your property! The damage to the equipment and possible injury to the operator would be something Dan Newland would be all over in a second. If you had a friend visiting and they tripped over that rebar resulting in a fall or fell on top of it injuring themselves, you made Dan your worst nightmare. Have you attempted to talk to the lawn care individual/company? That would be the logical action to take.
Don't think you can be sued? A friend was participating in an archery competition on privately owned property. One of the competitor's young son was running around like all kids do and tripped over a tree root breaking his arm. They successfully sued the land owner for having a hazard on his property that resulted in an injury.
As has been previously stated, apparently your sprinkler head is either defective and not retracting or too far above the ground. Get a professional to look at it and remedy the problem.

[villagetinker]

It sounds like your sprinkler head is not retracting, I have 3 like this in our garden. The repair can be a DIY project, but you need to make sure the head is at ground level and retracting correctly. If you go DIY ACE hardware is very helpful in getting the correct replacement spray heads and aimed these correctly. I also agree with using Joe Tucker.

[retiredguy123]

If this is a popup sprinkler that does not retract after watering, this can happen from time to time and I don't think you can always prevent it from occurring. One thing you can try is to spray the stem with WD-40 or a spray lubricant.

[vintageogauge]

Do not drive rebar into the ground, you will be creating an intentional hazard on your property! The damage to the equipment and possible injury to the operator would be something Dan Newland would be all over in a second. If you had a friend visiting and they tripped over that rebar resulting in a fall or fell on top of it injuring themselves, you made Dan your worst nightmare. Have you attempted to talk to the lawn care individual/company? That would be the logical action to take.
Don't think you can be sued? A friend was participating in an archery competition on privately owned property. One of the competitor's young son was running around like all kids do and tripped over a tree root breaking his arm. They successfully sued the land owner for having a hazard on his property that resulted in an injury.
As has been previously stated, apparently your sprinkler head is either defective and not retracting or too far above the ground. Get a professional to look at it and remedy the problem.

I had a similar situation, my heads were low enough but the riding mowers were turning their wheels on quick turns that were destroying them, talked with the landscaper and let him know that if it continues I'll be blocking his access to my lawn for turning, he figured it out all by himself lol.

[kkingston57]

Was it stuck up after running? One does not hit a sprinkler unless it’s above the ground? Is it buried enough? How are they on your property? A simple survey flag might help mark it. The rebar idea is a little much.

And if a bare footed person steps on the re bar, expect to get a letter from Morgan and Morgan or Dan Newlin.

[kkingston57]

It sounds like your sprinkler head is not retracting, I have 3 like this in our garden. The repair can be a DIY project, but you need to make sure the head is at ground level and retracting correctly. If you go DIY ACE hardware is very helpful in getting the correct replacement spray heads and aimed these correctly. I also agree with using Joe Tucker.

Sand on the stem is usually #1 culprit. New body costs around $3

[Arlington2]

Sand on the stem is usually #1 culprit. New body costs around $3
and you can just unscrew the top to replace the innards. No need to dig down and replace the entire body.

[retiredguy123]

Forget the rebar. A couple of well-placed boulders will solve your problem.

[Velvet]

And if a bare footed person steps on the re bar, expect to get a letter from Morgan and Morgan or Dan Newlin.

Why would someone barefooted be on his property? Wouldn’t that be trespassing? Just asking. Workers wear shoes/boots.

[Topspinmo]

I’ve repaired or replaced lots of Popups, popup shafts gets scored over time causing them to stick especially if Sandy soil? You can remove assembly cap as suggested pull guts out and emery cloth or scotch bright the popup shaft and light grease it up to keep from sticking for awhile. Or you can buy same popup and just replace the top and guts using same spray nozzle. Now it it’s sticking up too high when it retracted you can easily dig it up see what size it is (a usually 4”) is so you can buy 2” and use adapter extension pipe to maybe get it right height (which will probably not work with tall thick grass?) If all this too much call someone. As far as contracted landscaper/neighbor IMO they are responsible for the damage. Good luck getting satisfaction from them if had conversations of the problem.

[fdpaq0580]

Why would someone barefooted be on his property? Wouldn’t that be trespassing? Just asking. Workers wear shoes/boots.

Maybe picking up the poop from the dog he brought over so it wouldn't poop in it's own yard?

Making sure the sprinkler head is below ground when retracted and protected by concrete donut and (possibly) marked with a flag or protected by a boulder. Might want to FYI your neighbor that his employee is negligent and responsible for damage to your property. The 3rd time was the charm and he should warn his guys not to let it happen again.

[fdpaq0580]

I’ve repaired or replaced lots of Popups, popup shafts gets scored over time causing them to stick especially if Sandy soil? You can remove assembly cap as suggested pull guts out and emery cloth or scotch bright the popup shaft and light grease it up to keep from sticking for awhile. Or you can buy same popup and just replace the top and guts using same spray nozzle. Now it it’s sticking up too high when it retracted you can easily dig it up see what size it is (a usually 4”) is so you can buy 2” and use adapter extension pipe to maybe get it right height (which will probably not work with tall thick grass?) If all this too much call someone. As far as contracted landscaper/neighbor IMO they are responsible for the damage. Good luck getting satisfaction from them if had conversations of the problem.

Keep receipts, copies of written communications, reports to BBB (where appropriate), small claims court to recover expenses (professionals cost money).

[Babubhat]

Cease and desist letters with documentation sent certified mail. Don’t need an attorney to draft one. Creates a record for further action. Small claim filing fees are high.

[thevillagernie]

If this is a popup sprinkler that does not retract after watering, this can happen from time to time and I don't think you can always prevent it from occurring. One thing you can try is to spray the stem with WD-40 or a spray lubricant.

I used to spray a little silicone once in awhile and thay slide up and down better.

[KenLee100]

Well it’s the third time he hit my sprinkler this time he ripped out of the ground any suggestions?

Why not contact the landscaper? They should have liability insurance.

[Babubhat]

Multiple instances of property damage are not accidents. File a police report. They will send an investigator to take the report. No different than landscapers shooting rocks into windows with string trimmers. This should generate a quick response. Landscaper should be reimbursing you. Landscaper should be warned not to trespass on your property

[Miboater]

I had a problem with Dean's who cut my neighbors lawn. Between our houses there are the cable posts that that are too close together for the mower to fit between and he has a raised wall landscaping. Instead of turning around the mowers would go on my side and drive over my concrete curbing and landscaping scraping and gouging the curbing with the mower deck. I spoke with the mowers who said they would not do that again but naturally it kept happening. I ended up calling Dean's who had to repair my curbing and I put up landscaping flags to mark my property line. It's been about a year and hasn't happened again.

[dlspiess]

I put reflector sticks a couple inches before the sprinklers. No problems.

[Danube]

Why would someone barefooted be on his property? Wouldn’t that be trespassing? Just asking. Workers wear shoes/boots.

If a trespasser gets hurt, barefoot or not, you can still be sued and lose. And even if you win in court defending yourself will still cost you time and money.

It's the American way aka lawyers gotta eat.

[MollyJo]

Have you spoken to your neighbor about this?
Go straight to the source, landscape guy.

[BPRICE1234]

So I’m assuming you can’t lower the head into the ground more?

Anyway…..

Make it so they won’t want to go near the heads.

Pound some rebar into the ground around the heads. I’d recommend painting the tops with a high viz color (red/orange/yellow) so that it’s more noticeable.

I like the rebar idea but I must have forgot to paint the rebar sorry I busted your blades.

It will stop, I guarantee it. I would also call the company and demand they fix it asap.

[coffeebean]

Do not drive rebar into the ground, you will be creating an intentional hazard on your property! The damage to the equipment and possible injury to the operator would be something Dan Newland would be all over in a second. If you had a friend visiting and they tripped over that rebar resulting in a fall or fell on top of it injuring themselves, you made Dan your worst nightmare. Have you attempted to talk to the lawn care individual/company? That would be the logical action to take.
Don't think you can be sued? A friend was participating in an archery competition on privately owned property. One of the competitor's young son was running around like all kids do and tripped over a tree root breaking his arm. They successfully sued the land owner for having a hazard on his property that resulted in an injury.
As has been previously stated, apparently your sprinkler head is either defective and not retracting or too far above the ground. Get a professional to look at it and remedy the problem.
Wasn't the original rebar idea a joke? Hyperbole? Just my take.

[BlueStarAirlines]

We have a similar issue with the Villages mowers that mow the common areas next to our property. Besides destroying our sprinklers, their mower deck is set very low so that they don't have to mow as often. Looked like a dust storm every time they mowed. We bought "driveway markers snow stakes" off of Amazon and that that keeps them off our grass. Its working so far!

[Lottoguy]

Spraying WD40 inside the shaft of the sprinkler will help it retract back.