by Marta Meggiolaro.
There's a wide range of sprinklers available: to choose the one best suited to your garden, however, it's important to consider some basic criteria, and seek the help of a professional to ensure results tailored to your needs.
Irrigation is a fundamental aspect of garden maintenance, requiring regular, almost daily intervention and careful consideration of water and electricity consumption. The best system is one that optimally balances ease of management, energy consumption, and the needs of the plants.
The first sprinkler was invented in 1935 by the American company Rain Bird, designed specifically for agriculture. Today, the range is wide and varied, and it's possible to find the best system for your needs by following some general guidelines. However, the advice of an expert—the person at the garden center or DIY center where you'll make your purchase, or, even better, the gardener you'll entrust with its installation—remains irreplaceable.
Photo ©Akhriddin Mamadaliyev
What criteria should be considered when choosing a garden sprinkler?
- Area size: the larger the garden, the more necessary it becomes to install an automatic system.
- Type of plantsIf it's a lawn, underground irrigation is better, but if there are flowering plants, to avoid damaging them, drip irrigation is better.
- ClimateIn a region with frequent rainfall, an artificial system is almost unnecessary. In dry and very hot areas, however, it is essential, unless cultivation practices have been implemented that can avoid it.
- Characteristics of the terrain: if it is clayey it retains moisture, if it is sandy it disperses it.
- Presence of pets: they could nullify the intervention by ruining it.
- Cost: the most advanced systems are expensive and generally require significant garden work, but it should be considered that they are more efficient and increase the value and aesthetics of the property.
DRIP IRRIGATION
Drip irrigation is a system that can be added to a garden even after the plants have been established and planted , and is ideal for small to medium-sized gardens. It consists of a hose connected to nozzles that are inserted into the soil near the base of each plant. The amount of water and timing are controlled by a control unit, usually pre-programmed with various programs. Drip irrigation is the system that minimizes water waste.
Gardena's Micro-Drip-System distributes water directly to plant roots. The set contains a 20-meter hose and 15 drippers. Priced at €35. gardena.com
UNDERGROUND IRRIGATION
Suitable for large spaces, it is regulated by a control unit connected to pipes that are placed under the surface of the garden. The pipes are connected to sprinklers that protrude a few centimeters from the ground (static) or that emerge only when watering is required (pop-up). This system allows you to differentiate the flow of water depending on the area , reducing waste. Furthermore, the garden remains impeccable and cleaning is easier because there is no risk of damage.
Rain Bird In-Ground Irrigation System with Long-Range Rotating Diffusers; Single Diffuser from €21,49 – rainbird.com
RAIN OR SPRAY IRRIGATION
This is the most common system, also widely used in agriculture: the hose is connected to sprinklers that, when placed in the lawn, spray water upwards, causing it to fall back to the ground like rain. Because of this dynamic, it is not recommended for ornamental plants and flowers, which would otherwise be damaged by the drops . In the spray system, the delivery method is different, but the principle remains similar: the water is projected into the air in the direction of the plants and lawn. Their advantage is that they can be easily moved where needed.
Grüntek Automatic Oscillating Garden Sprinkler, Adjustable Nozzle and Heads for Fan or Straight Spray, from €27,90 – grüntek.de
On the cover, photo ©Maxim Tolchinskiy
