Your landscape requires sun, nutrients, optimum temperatures, air, and water to thrive. While most of the above elements remain out of our control, you can take measures to ensure your landscape is getting the right amount of water. Investing in an irrigation system provides your landscape with supplemental water when rainfall is insufficient. An irrigation system will provide more H2O when it’s necessary, as well as manage the watering schedule and distribution of your sprinklers. The effectiveness and efficiency of an irrigation system in supplying the proper amounts of water to the different kinds of plant life in your garden highly depends on how well-designed the system is. The quality of parts and accessories that were used to build it also matters significantly.
An automatic irrigation or sprinkler system is the method of applying water in a controlled way similar to rainfall. The water is distributed through a network that may consist of pumps, valves, pipes, and sprinklers. Irrigation sprinklers can be used for residential, industrial, and agricultural usage where sufficient water is not available. The pipes, having rotating nozzles on top, are joined to the main pipeline underground at regular intervals. When water is pressurized through the main pipe it escapes from the rotating nozzles. Home lawn sprinklers vary in their size and cost. Automatic garden watering systems may often operate on timers or other automated processes. They can be installed with retractable heads for aesthetic and practical reasons, reducing damage during lawn mowing. These types of systems can be programmed to start automatically on a set time and day each week.
An Impact Sprinkler is the most common form of irrigating sprinkler. They are designed to rotate back and forth. The sprinkler head is driven in a circular motion by the force of the outgoing water. This force causes the sprinkler to pivot on a bearing at the top of the threaded attachment nut. They can be controlled to affect the overall water pressure increasing or reducing the distance the water goes. They have significant range capabilities and can have a spray radius up to 150 feet. They can however require more maintenance and are much noisier than other sprinkler systems.
If you are looking for an affordable sprinkler but not one that is going to require maintenance or break in less than a season, then an oscillating sprinkler system might be the one for you. It’s the 2nd most common type of sprinkler and is used by many homeowners to successfully irrigate their lawns. It has a base with a single pipe in the middle with many holes and with the pressure of the water the sprinkler oscillates back and forth creating a large rainbow style pattern from left to right. It connects to a garden hose at one end and is controlled with a knob at the other end to adjust the water pattern and can reach between 20 and 30 feet of good solid coverage and then more limited coverage on the edges and further distances.
Drip irrigation or trickle irrigation is a type of micro-irrigation system that has the potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either from above the soil surface or buried below the surface. The emitters slowly drip water into the soil at the root which improves plant quality and productivity. This type of irrigation requires no land grading and saves water by minimizing evaporation; therefore, plants lose less nutrients due to leaching. The drawbacks to using drip irrigation can be things like, the emitters becoming clogged and due to the exposed system, insects and rodents can chew on the tubing causing leaks.
An underground sprinkler system is a series of underground pipes that are connected to a water source like a well or city water supply. The pipes are fitted with sprinkler heads, which pop up from the ground and release water onto your lawn or garden when turned on. They are an efficient way to keep your landscape looking beautiful without the hassle of having to remember to water your lawn every day or several times a week. They can be programmed to run on a schedule so you can control how often and for how long it runs and can even save you money on your water bill. Once installed, they require little to no maintenance and because they go back underground after the watering schedule, they can’t be damaged or run over by a lawn mower. Because underground sprinkler systems are just that – underground, it’s recommended to hire a professional who knows what they are doing to install your system and will ensure your landscape is in good condition when they are finished.
Doing it the old-fashioned way. This tried-and-true method of watering your lawn and gardens just got a face-lift. These systems are now available that work and look somewhat like an underground system, only they are totally exposed and sit right on top of the lawn. Simply attach to an outdoor spigot and position in any area of your lawn. Sprinkler heads with different settings water everything it can reach. They are easy to transport and stake securely in place wherever you put them. Portable sprinklers come in a vast array of configurations, from the length of the hose, the amount of sprinkler heads to the number of available settings. This system is cost effective and a DIYers dream but the other edge of that sword is the inconvenience of having to move it when you mow the lawn, and they aren’t the most efficient system when it comes to water consumption. They are also highly visible and somewhat unsightly.
Whichever automatic plant watering or sprinkler system you choose for your home or business, be sure to select the right one based on your needs and the consideration of time, convenience, money, and the impact on the earth and its limited water supply. At Tree Amigos Landscaping, we are both experienced in the different automatic sprinkler systems and their installation processes. Give us a call or head over to our website and get a quote on the installation for your property.
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