Are you fed up with watering your shrubs, flowers, and grass to keep them green? Everyone knows it is tiring, time-consuming, and costly to manually water plants. You might have noticed many people in your neighborhood have kept their yards lush green. What’s their secret? If you follow up carefully, you’ll notice they have irrigation systems.
By installing an irrigation system, you will save a lot in terms of cost and time. Your plants will also remain green throughout the year.
What Is Landscape Irrigation?
Landscape irrigation is a watering system used in the creation and maintenance of lawns, custom landscapes, and gardens. The system spreads the water evenly and regularly across the landscape. It also makes sure the plants only receive the right amount of water. For these reasons, many homeowners prefer this irrigation system.
Types of Landscape Irrigation Systems
Generally, there are four types of irrigation systems: micro-irrigation, flood system, rotary sprinkler, and spray irrigation. Each is unique and can only fulfill a particular need. So, before you pick an irrigation system, find out whether it will meet your needs. You must consider the type of soil you have, your yard’s size, and the types of plants in the yard.
Micro-irrigation
Just as the name implies, micro-irrigation feeds water directly into the roots of the plants. This system makes sure plants receive the right amount of water. It is mainly suitable for groundcover, shrubs, and small fruit trees.
Micro-irrigation may not work well for turf or lawns. Another issue of concern is the tubes usually remain above the ground. This exposes them to the risk of vandalism or freezing. It’s also very easy for the tubes to become damaged.
Flood System
The flood system is ideal for clay or adobe soils. It is also suitable for a terrain that’s relatively flat to avoid a runoff. The only downside is that it requires a lot of water. It is also likely to cause soil erosion, particularly when the ground is not flat.
Rotary Sprinkler
This system uses a sprinkler with a head that rotates as it spreads the water. The water can travel as far as 100 feet from the sprinkler. For this reason, this system is most suitable if you have a large area to cover.
A rotary sprinkler works well on turf. This system requires a higher water pressure for it to function optimally. The sprinkler head requires proper maintenance; otherwise, it may stick.
Spray Irrigation
The spray irrigation system is similar to the rotary sprinkler system but for small-scale use. You can adjust the extent to which you can distribute the water — a maximum of 15 feet.
The system works well even at low water pressure. If you use water containing many minerals, you will need to replace the head regularly. This method uses a lot of water and works well only if the irrigated area has a regular shape.
Benefits of Landscape Irrigation
An irrigation system is not just a luxury associated with high-end golf courses and mansions. These systems have become so affordable that anyone can install them. So instead of continuing to rely on manual watering methods, why not try landscape irrigation?
Here are the benefits of landscape irrigation.
Environmental Benefits
Because sprinklers spray water, you might think they are not environmentally friendly. But that is not the case. Modern sprinklers rely on revolutionary technologies, such as moisture sensors, water gauges, and timers, to regulate water use. This way, they do not overwater lawns. At the same time, however, they ensure the plants get just enough water. This is unlike the traditional watering systems where you have to guess the amount of water to use.
Optimizing Watering Schedules
Overwatering or underwatering plants may damage them. Likewise, watering the plants at the wrong time is not beneficial to the plants and may lead to water wastage.
For example, watering during the day when the sun is high leads to evaporation. Programmable sprinklers can eliminate all these problems. This system will only water your plants when it’s necessary.
Home Value
A vibrant and beautiful lawn will improve the curb appeal of your home. This is more important if you are planning to sell the home. You can only make your lawn green and attractive through irrigation. Just make sure you choose an irrigation technique that suits your lawn terrain and plant type.
Financial Benefits
A well-tended lawn will not only look attractive but will also benefit you financially. Since there is a calibration of the landscape irrigation systems, they reduce the water wastage. This means your monthly water bill will be lower than those who water manually.
Convenience
The benefits of an irrigation system are not only environmental, financial, and aesthetic. An irrigation system is also convenient. If you have a large irrigation area, you know the difficulties of watering it when you use traditional watering techniques.
Ensures Even Watering
Before installing an irrigation system, a landscape irrigation expert will survey your property. Then, he or she will plan the placement of sprinklers to ensure the best water coverage. He or she will place the nozzles in a way that will distribute the water evenly. You cannot achieve this result using the manual method.
Conclusion
There are many ways that you can irrigate your lawn, but landscape irrigation beats them all. Landscape irrigation systems are affordable and programmable. So, if you have to travel, you can rest assured that your plants will get the water they need. If you have decided to install an irrigation system, make sure you hire a trustworthy, reliable, and qualified irrigation contractor.