Landscape & Garden Irrigation

There are several very environmental and economic reasons to install an automatic irrigation system to any Landscape scheme or garden of any size.

The water is directed to the areas of the garden where it is most Beneficial to the Plants
The correct amount of water is applied to the plants
The system can be set to operate after sunset or before sunrise this will reduce needless loss through evaporation
Reduced water bills
Helps to ensure the garden is at its best, which allows you more time for other garden Activities
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: -
Standard 2 litre button drippers – available up to 8 litres
Pressure compensating drippers – same as above but pressure Compensating
End of line drippers
Drippers on stakes – stake allows water to travel down in to the soil
Drippers on manifold system
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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