Irrigation Systems – Watering Your Lawn The Easy Way

Irrigation systems or sprinkles are one of those life hacks that make your work at home a lot more enjoyable. You know how hard it is to do it all by hand and it’s definitely not fun, that’s for sure. So, a sprinkler system at home? Here are the few things you have to know if installing one at your property.

First of all, why is the irrigation system preferable? Because it requires an exact amount of water. This way you’ll be sure that your lawn will get the right amount of water and will decrease your costs in the long run. Irrigation systems also ensure that the water is distributed evenly across your yard and all the plants get the moisture they need. Something which is impossible to achieve by hand.

How Does A Sprinkler System Operate?

Well, first of all, we will start with the basic components of a system like this. You have the electric controller which turns the system on and off and it’s basically the brains of the whole thing. It also tells the system which part of the property needs watering and when. The watering itself is done through pipes placed underground and nozzles which are near the surface. When the system is turned on, the pipes fill with pressure and the nozzles simply pop-out.

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Knowing this will help you understand just how complex a system like this actually is. And that is why a contractor should be consulted. There are numerous things which need consideration before installing garden irrigation in Melbourne. Things such as local authority permission, what material is required for the pipes, what type of valves are needed… The list goes on.

Irrigation Essentials

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Probably, the most important thing when setting up a sprinkler system is zoning. Zoning is used to determine which part of your lawn should get the proper amount of water.

For example – the corner of your property is under a tree. This usually means that it requires a smaller quantity of water. That is why your sprinkler should be set up to distribute the right amount or you could flood your lawn and damage the turf.

How To Conserve Water With a Sprinkler System?

How many of you know, a sprinkler system can save a household a lot of money? This of course doesn’t mean any irrigation system is like that. But the ones which are properly planned, installed and maintained will sure decrease the water usage while at the same time your lawn will remain greener than ever and your landscape will be blooming. So here are the seven essential tips for keeping your backyard healthy without actually breaking the bank.

Number One: Don’t Overdo It

Too much water is not good even in the hot summer days. That’s because your soil can absorb just the right amount depending on its type. This will not only make your lawn muddy but eventually ruin the turf. As an alternative, split your watering sessions into smaller portions with a pause of at least an hour between them. The good thing is that modern irrigation systems come with a built-in controller which can do everything stated above for you with just a push of a button.

Number Two: Climate and Hours

As you may know, here in Australia the climate is different and temperatures vary between 15 and 20 degrees in the winter and 30-35 degrees in the summer. With the winter coming, you should know what are the most suitable hours for watering – from 9 in the morning until noon. During this period the turf is cool and there will be no water loss through evaporation. Avoid doing it in the evening too, so diseases and pests don’t spread. Remember, this is true only for the winter. There are other rules regarding the blistering heat during the summer.

Number Three: Zoning Is Essential

As said, in the previous article, setting different zones in your garden and choosing different watering settings for them not only can save water but also help your landscape develop.

Number Four: Try Watering Only Things You Want to Grow

This means properly aiming your sprinklers so you don’t water any garden accessories, footwalks or anything which doesn’t need watering.

Number Five: Dripping Irrigation

Dripping irrigation is the use of long tubes with holes in them. These are perfect if you want to water areas of your garden with smaller plants. This type of watering reduces to a minimum any evaporation or the water going somewhere you don’t want it to go. It also reduces the risk of weeds, fungi and other nasty things.

Number Six: Every Now And Then Inspect Your Garden

Even if you’re doing everything like it’s specified in the books, there still might be a problem with malfunctions or clogged parts of the tubes of your sprinklers.

Number Seven: Be Prepared For The Season

Weather in Australia is mild compared to other parts of the world but there are still some things that need consideration. Rain is the biggest enemy of the sprinkler. What you probably didn’t know is that last year in Melbourne alone there was more rain per square meter than in London. The good thing is that automatic sprinkler systems come with a humidity detecting function and when there’s rain they turn off. Talk about technology break-through!

As you can see an automatic sprinkler system can really save you a lot of money. With this second part, we discussed some really valuable tips for reducing costs. This was the second of our three-part journey of knowing garden irrigation systems and how they work. In the last part, we are discussing prices as well as other things we haven’t mention yet, regarding sprinkler systems. Stay tuned and don’t forget to share with your friends!