The best time to water the garden in the summer is in the morning between four and six o'clock. At this time the soil is well cooled down after the night and the water hardly evaporates. But who wants to get up so early every day?
The remedy is an automatic garden watering system that allows sprinklers and sprayers to turn themselves on and off. Thanks to smart technology, it can even detect whether rain is expected in the next few hours. If so, the water tap will of course remain turned off.
From what garden size is an irrigation system worthwhile?
An irrigation system can make sense from 600 square ft of garden area. The larger the garden and the lawn area are and the more beds, hedges, and useful plants are on it, the more recommendable an automatic solution is.
Otherwise, you would have to stand in the garden for hours to water it sufficiently. Well, maybe no one but me : ) I find watering the soil one of the most relaxing gardening pleasures. However, I am laying the hose down, pointing it in the direction where most water is needed. This way I don't need to 'stand'. The following principle applies: It is better to water less frequently, but more abundantly. Then the water also reaches deep-lying roots.
How do you install an irrigation system?
First of all, garden owners need to be clear about which plants they want to water and in which places. Not every plant needs the same amount of moisture. Plants in shade might require less than some of those planted in sunny areas. But as always: read the labels or search the Internet or gardening books! The key is to have a watering schedule. You can often create that online on the irrigation manufacturers' websites. But garden professionals can also help.
Important questions:
How long are the paths from the watering hole to the plants? Where can vigorous watering be used, where is drip irrigation more sensible? Can a central control system manage this or do you need a decentralized solution?
What information is important before making a purchase?
I need to know how strong the pump and garden water pipes are and how many liters per hour pass through. Based on this value, it is possible to calculate how many sprinklers and valves you can connect to the line. This applies to all systems. It doesn't matter whether the irrigation is controlled by a timer or an app.
Is it worth it to run the hoses underground?
It's not worth it to run hoses underground in every case. It's better to lay drip hoses or drip pipes above ground and then cover them with a big layer of mulch. This protects them from sunlight and reduces evaporation. However, if it does get below freezing in the winter, you will need to bury it below the frost line. To find out the depth of the frost line, you should consult your local government agency that handles building permits.
If garden owners want to avoid tripping:
Distribution lines are usually laid 20 to 40 centimeters (12-24 inches) below ground level. Then they are not in the way.
What do you need in addition to garden hoses?
That depends on how sophisticated you want the irrigation system to be. For the simplest option, a timer mounted between the water connection and the garden hose is all that's needed.
The timer controls the flow through a valve. This allows you to set when and how long to water, for example, every twelve hours for 30 minutes. Or much better: one hour every three days.
A sensor can help to target the plants more precisely. You install it at a reference point in the garden. It measures the soil moisture and sends corresponding signals to the control center. After extensive rain, the water doesn't come back on until the set value is reached.
You still might enjoy the pleasure of hand-watering the soil of your flower baskets, window flower boxes, and planters. But not please not overhead the blooms and leaves! And don't forget to fertilize them from time to time in spring and early summer.
Read more:
https://heartlandhoses.com/can-you-bury-a-garden-hose
https://housecaravan.com/should-you-bury-drip-irrigation-lines/
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