WAMURAN CO-OP |
Story by Peter Mack (with assistance from PPI)
Part 2: THE HOME IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Benefits obtained in installing a home irrigation system are similar to those the commercial operator receives, only on a smaller scale:
The thought that goes into planning a successful home irrigation system is no different to thinking about how you would go about watering with a hose and a sprinkler.
You would normally leave a sprinkler on the lawn for a good soak and you would probably only do it once a week. Whereas the vegie garden would get a light soaking every day. The hanging baskets do not get too much water as they tend to overflow. Nevertheless, it is necessary to top them up regularly because they do not hold much water.
So the first design step is to consider the different watering needs of your garden. Generally, there are three plant groups - Gardens, Lawns and Pots & Hanging Baskets. However, it is important to recognise certain subtleties like the different watering needs of gardens with shrubs compared to gardens with flowers, or areas of full shade compared with full sun.
Usually you will find our recommendation is that each area within your garden that has a different ‘watering need’ should be watered by a separate irrigation line. This is a fundamental step and once it is understood the rest of the irrigation plan will fall into place.
The watering methods available
There are 3 main methods of watering available for around your garden. Each method is best suited to a different group of plants. There are Micro Sprays for gardens with shrubs, flowers or ferns. Drippers for watering pots, hanging baskets and some garden areas. And there are Pop-ups for lawns.
The Micro Sprays are available with different types of nozzles. Apart from the 2 piece Sprays, there are Jets, Sprinklers and Misters. The Micro Sprays and Spray Jets are best for small garden beds, flowers and around the edges of larger garden beds. They are available in different spray patterns.
The Micro sprinkler is best for larger garden beds where a larger full circle spray is needed. The Mister spray pattern is similar to an aerosol can and these are excellent for green house environments and maintaining humidity.
It is a good idea to use stakes and risers with Micro Sprays and Sprinklers to raise them above the foliage of shrubs.
There are 2 general types of Drippers, the Snap Dripper and the Adjustable Dripper. Drippers are useful in pots and hanging baskets as they apply water direct to where it is needed. Drippers can also be used in gardens where they can apply water directly to the plant’s root zone. This method enables less evaporation to occur and reduces wind losses often experienced with Micro Sprays.
The main features of Pop-ups are the large area they cover and that their spray nozzle is hidden when not in operation.
RESPONSIBLE WATERINGWe live in a dry continent and water needs to be treated as a precious commodity. If we become responsible irrigators we can probably halve our watering and still have a healthy green garden.
Ask the irrigation experts at the Wamuran Co-op for an Installation Planner. Your notes, sketches and diagrams will help the staff suggest the most effective plan for you. While you are in the store why not familiarise yourself with the different forms of emitters, risers and accessories available.
Once you have installed your home garden irrigation system you will alleviate one huge, often time consuming chore, from your daily list. This can be replaced by a simple turn of a tap. We have many ways of making life easier for the farmer and the home gardener at the Wamuran Co-op. Why not call in and see us?