There are numerous advantages that come with adding an irrigation system to your yard. It ensures efficient watering while also being cost effective and doesn’t require manual labour. It can help you save a huge amount of your time. Installing an irrigation system within your lawn is a home improvement project which is sure to make your life much easier. You won’t have to worry about watering your lawn when you are too busy or have to be away for an extended period of time. If you are thinking about purchasing a new irrigation system for your lawn, there are a few things you should know which can help you select the correct one.
Here are a few key factors you should consider that can help you make the right decision.
Lawn topography
Think about the type of topography your lawn has. Is it located on a slope or a flat piece of land? Gardens and lawns that are situated on slopes or hills are usually a challenge when considering a drip irrigation system as there is a possibility for the water to run-off. There may be a need for you to adjust the run time of the system to account for this. So, make sure that you choose a fully adjustable irrigation system. Also remember that the different zones of your lawn need varying amounts of water, for example, native plants need less water compared to vegetable plants.
Type of soil
The precise constitution of the soil in your lawn affects how it soaks up water. Like clay soil has the ability to absorb much more water than sandy soil. Hence, it is important for you to find out about the kind of soil you are dealing with as it will greatly affect the irrigation method you will choose and its runtime. Typically, all irrigation systems segregate into two categories. Drip irrigation is one of them which distributes water to the roots and the second are sprayers, which send the water into the air.
Plant types
Apart from the size and dimension of your lawn, the types of grass and plants you have also determine the number of sprinklers you will require. A different type of irrigation system will be needed for an herb garden than a lawn. Factors such as whether or not you have hanging baskets, vegetable beds, containers, shrubs, trees, seed beds or annual beds will also help you determine the kind of irrigation system that is required by your lawn. Certain plant types are more susceptible to various problems that can be caused by incorrect irrigation, like fungal issues from overhead watering. Also, certain types of plants, as they grow, can block the spray pattern or even impede the water completely from reaching some areas of your lawn.
Weather
Sprinklers are ideal in areas which are particularly windy, arid areas which have low humidity and places which are sunny and hot. This is due to the fact that a lot of the water will go to waste due to evaporation or strong winds. In these situations, the best method of watering a lawn is using drip irrigation. Additionally, depending on where you live, you should install an irrigation system which also accounts for rainfall as they can be adjusted according to the weather.
A homeowner’s life can become much easier once they install a suitable irrigation system on their lawn. But not all of them will suit your lawn. Furthermore, as irrigation systems often require high levels of investment, make sure you choose the appropriate one after consultation with experts.