Irrigation Systems Help You and Your Landscape

The summer heat can really take a toll on plants if they do not receive sufficient water. However, taking out the old garden hose time and time again can also take its toll on the gardener.

Installing irrigation and sprinkler systems was once considered only a remedy for the rich or the lazy. They were expensive, cumbersome, and besides, if you were going to brag about a lush, green lawn, you had better put some sweat and muscle behind your boasts.

Today, most of us are too busy with careers, families and social obligations to consistently water. No one has the time or the desire to water their lawns and gardens as often as they should. An efficient watering system has truly become a time saving necessity.

Once you have invested in a properly landscaped home, then you must consider installing a small amount in maintaining its appearance and health. Basic irrigation systems begin at approximately $1,800 depending on the size of the system to be installed.

Twenty-five years ago, I would tell people that irrigation systems were a joke and nothing but trouble. Now, I strongly recommend building a watering system into a landscape right at the beginning. The valves, lines, drainage procedures, and electronic timers on today's systems are dramatically improved over older models.

One of the biggest improvements has been in the development of watering zones, whereby a property is divided into distinct areas, each with separate valves that are turned on by a timer. For example, the sprinkler on the east side of the home could be turned on as early as 4:00 a.m. and shut off some time later. Then the timer could immediately signal the south side to begin.

Watering different zones in sequence creates less water pressure strain during the system's watering cycle. When the irrigation system is not in use, the sprinkler nozzles are flush with the soil, and can be mowed over. When a zone is activated, the nozzle pops us above the ground. Also, you can and should irrigate the shrub beds and trees separately, and still leave watering times to the timer.

If you are handy around the house, you can install an irrigation system yourself. However, I highly recommend hiring a professional. Get two or three estimates, and choose someone with a horticulture background who understands how and why plants need water, and is sensitive to the complexity of your landscape.

Once installed, you will need to occasionally conduct your own inspection. Check to see if all the zones are receiving water. If not, call the professional to inspect the lines; it doesn't necessarily mean the system is faulty. Sometimes calcium deposits or other obstructions can block a water line and need to be removed.

Your plants need water and you need convenience. Therefore, do yourself, your lawn and your plants a favor and install an irrigation system as a necessary addition to your landscape.