Drip irrigation or sprinklers: How to choose?

Drip irrigation or sprinklers

Drip irrigation or sprinklers - how to choose the right irrigation system?

The automated irrigation system is the most important engineering installation in the modern yard. Without it, maintaining perfect ryegrass and lush decorative beds is practically impossible, especially during the summer heat. When it comes to designing the system however, owners often ask themselves the question: which technology is better - drip irrigation or sprinklers?

In professional landscape construction, these two technologies do not compete, and complement each other. The choice between them depends entirely on the type of vegetation, which will be watered and the specifics of the terrain. Използването на грешния тип поливане на грешното място води до огромни загуби на вода, прекомерна влага и болести по растенията. Here's the professional guide on how to choose and combine the two systems correctly.

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Spreaders: The ideal solution for lawns

The sprinklers (роторни или дефилиращи/спрей дюзи) са проектирани да имитират естествен дъжд, by distributing water evenly over large open spaces.

  • Where are they used?: They are the only correct choice for watering classic ryegrass and lawns. Because grass has a shallow and dense root system, it requires complete and superficial wetting of the terrain.
  • Advantages: They cover huge areas quickly and effectively. Modern systems use "pop-ups" (pop-up) spreaders, which remain hidden underground and emerge only under water pressure, when the system turns on. This allows the mower to pass over them safely.
  • Cons: They have a high rate of water evaporation, especially if it is watered in the hot hours or in strong winds, which blows away the water jets.

Drip irrigation: Accuracy and economy for shrubs and beds

Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the base of each individual plant through drip hoses or individual drippers. The water drains slowly, in drops, directly into the soil to the roots.

  • Where is it used: A must-have solution for hedges (wedding, cherry laurel), flower beds, rock gardens, vegetable gardens and trees.
  • Advantages: Close to 100% efficiency. Because the water soaks right into the soil under the mulch or soil, there is no evaporation. The leaves of the plants remain dry, which sharply reduces the risk of fungal diseases. The system works perfectly even with very low water pressure.
  • Cons: Hoses are at risk of mechanical damage when shoveled or accidentally stepped on with a sharp tool.

The golden rule: Никога не ги свързвайте в един поливен кръг

The biggest technical mistake, which can be done, is to connect sprinklers and drip hose to the same valve (highway).

  • Why is this harmful?? Sprayers require high pressure (over 2.5 – 3 asks) and pour out a large amount of water in a short time (For example 10-15 minutes). The drip hose requires low pressure (about 1.5 asks) and it should work at least 40-60 minutes, to water deeply. If you run them together, or you will drown the grass, or you will leave the bushes completely dry.

A professionally built irrigation system always divides the garden into separate zones (circles) – several circles with spreaders for ryegrass and separate circles with drippers for hedges and beds, managed at different times by a common programmer.

Frequently asked questions

1. How often should drip irrigation work in the summer?
Unlike grass, which is watered every day, drip irrigation for shrubs and trees is more efficient, when working every other day or every other day, but a longer time (For example 60 minutes). The goal is for the water to go down to a depth of 20-30 cm, where the highly developed roots of the bushes are.

2. Does the drip hose need to be buried underground??
There are specialized hoses for underground drip irrigation, but the common practice in landscape design is to lay the hose on top of the soil and then cover it with geotextile and a thick layer of pine bark (mulch) or decorative stones. This hides it visually and protects it from the sun.

3. How to protect sprinklers from freezing in winter?
At the end of autumn (October/November) the irrigation system must be winterized. The water from the pipes and sprinklers is completely blown out with the help of a powerful air compressor, to prevent cracking of the plastic bodies at sub-zero temperatures.

Обобщение на темата

In a modern garden, it is not about drip irrigation or sprinklers, but how to properly design the two systems together. Through smart zoning – sprinklers for fresh green carpet and drip hoses for perennials – you ensure optimal health for your plants and minimize water bills.

You need to design or repair an automated irrigation system in your yard? You can contact us at CONTACTS!

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