There are several very environmental and economic reasons to install an
automatic irrigation system to any Landscape scheme or garden of any size.
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The water is directed to the areas of the garden where it is most Beneficial to the Plants |
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The correct amount of water is applied to the plants |
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The system can be set to operate after sunset or before sunrise this will reduce needless loss through evaporation |
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Reduced water bills |
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Helps to ensure the garden is at its best, which allows you more time for other garden Activities |
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An automatic watering system will usually consist of a storage tank – pump –
controller – distribution manifold – Lawn Sprays – Border sprays – Drip/micro
irrigation to raised beds/hanging baskets/pots. |
To achieve the best results from an irrigation system it is important to use the
correct type of irrigation sprays for your garden. Gardens continually evolve
with the changing seasons and during their life time. Any system should be
designed to be altered and adapted to suit this.
Some plants or grassed areas may be in shade for much of the day or the ground
may be contoured in such a way that collection points are created for the water
to settle in or drainage could be poor. Any of these factors could mean that the
system would be designed so these areas are on separate zones and can therefore
be controlled separately.
Shrub borders
Fixed sprays are commonly used – the choice of which would depend on the plant
type and canopy.
Soak and pressure compensating hose may also be used – care must be taken so as
not to mix spray and soak/pressure compensating together.
Lawn areas
Pop up sprays are mainly used on the lawn areas. Through our many years of
experience we have found the three main Hunter – Rain Bird – Toro to be the most
reliable and effective on the market.
The selection of the spray would depend on the size and topography of the area
to be watered. – the pressure and flow available, although when a pumped system
is installed this can be specified and therefore is not a parameter that has to
be worked to.
Soak Hose
A pourus or leaky pipe that will emit water along its length (care must be taken
over run lengths). This type of irrigation is commonly used to establish a hedge
line or annual bedding. On occasions it may be used under small areas of lawn,
however care must be taken when installing
Pressure compensating hose
A pipe that has the drippers installed along its length at pre set intervals.
This type of irrigation is commonly used when the ground undulates, as it will
emit the same amount of water through each dripper.
Drip irrigation
Without a doubt this is the most effective – environmentally friendly and cost
affective type of irrigation. The water is directly placed at the base of the
plant or next to the roots below ground level.
There are several types of drippers used on drip irrigation: -
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Standard 2 litre button drippers – available up to 8 litres |
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Pressure compensating drippers – same as above but pressure Compensating |
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End of line drippers |
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Drippers on stakes – stake allows water to travel down in to the soil |
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Drippers on manifold system |
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Controllable octodrippers 0 – 30 litres hour |
The Octodripper is the most common as it can be controlled; this allows it to be
used on the same irrigation line where the plants/hanging baskets/tubs/growing
crops have varying demands.
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