The
Advantages of Owning an Automatic Sprinkler System Many people say convenience is the biggest advantage
to an automatic system since they don't have to spend their
time watering by hand or moving the hose around the yard.
Others say extended plant life and lower water usage are the
most important benefits.
Still others believe a sprinkler system is one of the most
of the best financial investments they can make in their home
since appearance is a key factor in determining market value.
And guess what - they're all right!
Irrigation
installation requires more than laying piping and securing
spray heads. Professional landscapers will know how
to avoid gas lines when laying your new pipes. They
will also be aware of any restrictions in using city
or well water, and be informed of your special local
codes, for example, a professional plumber may be required
to hook the irrigation system to the main water lines,
and an electrician may also be required to review any
electrical work done in connection with the project
(automatic timers)
Ambitious
do-it-yourself gardeners should think twice before tackling
the installation of a new irrigation system.
Measuring
the property, calculating its slope, and properly adjusting
for water pressure are just some of the tasks involved in
home garden irrigation, and to do it right requires the expertise
of professionals. This doesn't mean that clients are left
out of the loop all together. The professional landscaper
will rely on you as the client to provide details of your
gardening plan (turf vs. shrubs) and your budget. To get the
most out of your relationship with your landscaper, however,
a basic understanding of irrigation systems is quite an advantage.
Four
common types of irrigation systems exist:
spray, rotary, flood and micro-irrigation.
Spray
systems are the most
popular form of irrigation for home lawns and gardens,
and are most advantageous for small yard areas. The
nozzles are easily changed to accommodate different
spray positions, and the system in general is quite
dependable, requiring little maintenance.
Spray systems are also ideal for weak pressure systems.
The spray can throw a continuous stream of water from
zero to fifteen feet. The only real disadvantage of
a spray system is the wind factor, as high breezes lift
the spray away from its target area.
Rotary
systemsare
most frequently used for large areas and are commonly
seen on athletic fields. Rotary systems throw one or
more streams of water up to 100 feet. This system is
advantageous to cover large areas in which a high number
of spray heads would be impractical.
Despite the velocity of the water from the sprayer,
rotary systems actually produce less water than spray
systems. The same-sized area on a rotary system would
have to be watered four times more frequently than with
a spray system. Also, rotary systems are prone to sticking
-- watering in one direction without rotation.
The heads used on rotary systems include gear driven,
ball driven and impact devices. As the name suggests,
gear driven heads use internal gears to rotate the head,
while the ball driven head uses a small ball rotating
in the head. Impact devices have the gear actually strike
itself to rotate the head.
Flood
systems
are those that irrigate low to the ground. Bed sprays,
bubblers and jet systems are all types of flood irrigation.
Flood systems work well for plants, such as roses, that
have adverse affects to damp foliage. Bubblers and jets
are limited to the type of soil conditions in which
they operate.
Sandy conditions would cause the water to sink on impact
rather than spread throughout the garden. Heavy clay
soil, however, would cause immediate run-off. The reduced
water flow from flood systems is not effective for large
lawn areas.
Any
system that generates a low volume of water is classified
as a micro-irrigation
system.
Typical micro-irrigation systems include
drip, trickle and some spray heads. Micro-irrigation
is ideal for small areas of plants whose foliage cannot
be sprayed. The water supply drips or trickles from
plastic tubing close to the root, never touching the
plants' leaves.
This
system is high maintenance, however.
Tubing is often covered by mulch or plant foliage and
the orifices can easily become clogged.
Even
the most diligent gardeners might not realize a clog
in their micro system until the affected plants begin
to show signs of stress.
If
not properly laid, the tubing can be unsightly and is
easy prey for mowers and vandalism. The tubes are also
known to break in freezing weather.
The
use of a professional in your irrigation project doesn't
mean that you cannot play an active role in implementing
your new system. The four irrigation systems are only
the beginning, and research on valve types and controller
options will go a long way to ensuring that you receive
the irrigation system that works best for you.
Disclaimer:
Landscapeinfo.ca & Imaginations Graphics & Web Design
take no responsibility for the work carried out by any landscapers
listed on this site.
