Watering system

I've got a fairly large backyard. I dread every time summer comes around as I'm sure to lose some plants. Either that or I spend my entire evenings out their with a hose / moving the sprinkler around.

So if I want to put an irrigation system in what do I need to think about? Is it just a matter of measuring it out, then buying some hoses and connectors and a timer? I'm happy to put the hours in peicing it all together though be good to know what else I need to consider.

Thanks!

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Comments

Jason

Welcome to Workshop @Brian. It's fantastic to have you join the community.

It's certainly a challenge to keep the plants alive at this time of year. I'll also be keen to hear advice from the Workshop community on this topic as I've been contemplating a similar watering system installation. At the moment we're just using soaker hoses and manual watering, but find with the latter we're often savaged by mozzies in the twilight.

Looking forward to hearing about some of your other projects.

Jason

Isobel

It's a good DIY project but it does require some planning. I would recommend you carefully draw a plan as well as doing a flow test. Testing your water pressure is particularly important if you're going to try to cover a big area.

Bunnings has a video series on it - http://www.bunnings.com.au/diy-advice/garden/water-and-irrigation/how-to-plan-a-garden-irrigation-system

Here's the first video in the series about planning...

Branchy249

There are a number of things that you need to consider when installing an irrigation systems. the most important is getting an understanding of your water pressure as this will dictate how many sprinklers or sprayers you can run on your system.

You should also consider what type of sprayers or sprinklers you would like to install and where the irrigation system is being installed. This will also determine what size poly pipe you would use.

Generally any lawn irrigation system will use 19mm poly pipe and garden beds will use 13mm.

If you are installing pop ups or sprinklers in your lawn, you need to ensure that you space them at the right distance. Ideally each sprinkler should be spraying to the other sprinkler - this will ensure an even coverage and will stop dead patches appearing in your lawn.

Garden beds can feature a variety of different sprinklers, sprayers or drippers - it will be dependant on whether you want to water each individual plant or water the whole area. Watering each individual plant is far more water efficient, but can be cumbersome during the installation process which is why sprayers may be a better option.

Hope this helps...Good luck with it!

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/395#Comment_395

Fantastic advice, many thanks @Branchy249. I'm sure @Brian really appreciates you sharing your knowledge and experience.

Let me also extend a warm welcome to Workshop. It is fantastic to have you as a member of the community. Please continue to share your advice and I hope the community will also inspire and inform you.

Jason

Shane

Every summer I say I'm going to do this. Must get around to it.

karenspatch

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/992#Comment_992

I've used the brown hose with inbuilt drippers under newspaper and lucerne mulch throughout my both my flower and veg garden. I get up to 45* summers and it has all stayed alive, generally 2 hours every second or third day in summer.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62726#Comment_62726

Many thanks for sharing @karenspatch. Sounds like a great system!

Let me also extend a very warm welcome to Workshop. It's great to have you as part of the community. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your posts soon.

Please let me know if you ever need a hand getting the most from the site.

Jason

Nailbag

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/93826#Comment_93826

Don't forget to get a water tank if you haven't got one already! It's fantastic to have a well planned working automatic irrigation system until you get your first water bill! If you don't have a water tank already, then research looking into that first. If you already have one, think about if its going to be big enough? Then the connected pump/s need to be suitable for the applications its connecting to. It's not until you rely on tank water for watering that you really start to appreciate when it rains and just how much water you go through just to keep the lawn green. Over summer I sacrifice areas of lawn that doesn't have much traffic to direct the water to areas that do and of course particular garden beds, especially the veggies. Bunnings can help you out with tanks, pumps and watering systems.

Jason

Any community members planning on installing a watering system in the lead up to summer?

Jason

GardenerJohn

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/2327#Comment_2327

Yep, me, Jason. Keen to install a water irrigation system, but not sure what to do with the water flow test information? Presumably it dictates how many sprinklers and drippers I can have on a certain length of 19 cm polypipe. Do you know how this calculation works?

Thanks

GardnerJohn

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/64078#Comment_64078

That's great @GardenerJohn. I see you have also started a new discussion on this topic. I'm sure that Workshop community members will be happy to assist once you have done your water flow test. You might also like to share a sketch of your garden area. Please let me know if you have any trouble uploading a photo or getting the most from the Workshop site.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/94603#Comment_94603

How is your garden surviving in the hot weather?

Remember that when it comes to watering in February, do it first thing in the morning if you can. And a deep drink for your plants twice a week is better than more regular, shorter watering.

Jason

buccarasta

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/2327#Comment_2327

Hi Jason and other members...

I am just about to lay 100m of lawn, and want to retic it from a 40,000 litre water tank. The dimensions are 7m x 14m, and I have read heaps of articles on testing water flow, and how that dictates the number of sprinklers you can tun at one time, BUT I have not found a chart or table that shows the number of sprinklers related to the flow rate. IE if the flow rate is XX litres per minute (or hour) then you can run Y sprinklers.

Looking at pop ups not the driven ones. Could anyone point me in the right direction please for this info?

Thanks:)

BIM_Engineer

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65020#Comment_65020

Hi @buccarasta
I wish sprinkler Fluid Dynamics was that simple

Start here

Sprinklers require a min of 200Kpa pressure

How to convert Litres per minute to KPa

TheSaltyreefer

@Brian we have just finished installing a cheap irrigation system on our property for 32 fruit tree's and 2 taps in 2 of our 4 paddocks, very cheaply done and works a treat, we run it 2 wats manually and or a timer, if you need a hand with parts etc let me know

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/65020#Comment_65020

Hi @buccarasta,

Just checking in to see how you are going with your watering system. Do you need a hand with anything? We are looking forward to seeing how your project progresses.

Welcome to the community,

Jason

RohanMelb

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95206#Comment_95206

I wanted to install sprinkler heads on a 13mm poly main trunk.

There are multiple types of heads that say say micro jet of full etc. How do I know how far the head will spray?

I have a square area and was thinking of running a main trunk across the top and then t pieces and down into about 4 rows. The total area is about 5m x 5m. Not very large but we just planted and don't want them to die

Thanks

EricL

Hello @Brian

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about building an irrigation system.

I suggest having a quick look at this discussion - How to build a lawn reticulation system? by @Malcolm12. I also recommend having a look at the DIY guides - Pope Irrigation and the Pope Irrigation Planning Site. There is also the Sprinklersystem planner GARDENA. Both these sites can guide you through the general steps you need to take to build an irrigation system.

For a more economic drip system here is a handy step-by-step guide: How to install a drip irrigation watering system by @Adam_W.

Generally speaking, your irrigation system will be tailor made to fit the plants you currently have in your garden. This could include your lawn, small shrubs, climbers and trees. I propose drawing your garden on paper first identifying the plants that are present and identifying what type of watering it will need. There is drip irrigation, micro jet watering and pop-up sprinkler systems. It should then make it much easier to put the data into the irrigation planners.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

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