Irrigation system protection device and method of use

A method of using a protection device for an irrigation system having at least one water line and at least one irrigation sprinkler head, the method comprising the steps of:

• placing a protector body around an irrigation sprinkler head, the protector body having a wall defining an interior cavity, a top rim with radially positioned upwardly projecting tabs, and a bottom rim with at least two pairs of grooves wherein a first pair of grooves has a first profile and a second pair of grooves has a second profile, the second profile being different than the first profile;
• attaching an adapter cap to said protector body, the adapter cap having an outer rim surface, an annular ledge extending inward from the outer rim surface, a bottom surface with radially positioned notches detachably connected to the radially positioned upwardly projecting tabs of the protector body, and a top surface with collar fixing elements;
• connecting a collar insert to said adapter cap, the collar insert having an outer edge, an inner edge defining a center aperture, and a lower surface with fixing elements detachably connected to the collar fixing elements of the adapter cap;
• and
• selecting placement of the protector body between a first riding engagement with the first pair of grooves on the at least one water line or a second riding engagement with the second pair of grooves on the at least one-water line, based on predetermined selection criteria;
• wherein the predetermined selection criteria includes which of the first pair of grooves and second pair of grooves, when in riding engagement with the at least one water line, places the adapter cap of the protection device closer to ground level.