Irrigation System for Landscaping

The key objective of having an effective irrigation system to install in a landscape is to alleviate the requirement of supplemental irrigation and, at the same time, maintain an attractive and healthy landscape. 

What is Landscape Irrigation?

In agriculture, irrigation is a known process that applies a regulated water flow to land, helping effective crop production. At the same time, the same system plays a vital role in taking care of the growing landscape plants and lawns. Here it is also called watering. However, the farms avoiding irrigation and relying only on direct rainfall are known as rain-fed. 

To gain a good landscape design efficiency, keeping the irrigation system at par is essential, and similar should be the story of scheduling. A competitive system will apply water as and when required for things like replenishing the moisture in the soil, which goes away due to transpiration and evaporation. A typical irrigation design system carries the kind of sprinkler system (automatic or manual) along with the layout of the sprinkler system. 

What are the Systems for Landscape Irrigation?

There are several systems for landscape irrigation, and the following are some popular ones. 

1. Lawn sprinkler system for landscaping

It is a traditionally old irrigation system and proves the best go-to for landscapes. These are effective when you use them in the evening as the optimal time to water during this remains high and not during the afternoon when water can quickly evaporate.

However, you can still use a timer during the daytime for optimal use. These are primarily used in lawns having a big size swatch of plants of a similar sort. 

The Pros 

• Suitable for diverse land sizes (both small and large) 
• Effective in directing water flow to targeted areas
• Evenly disperse all the chemical and fertilizers 
• Avoids water loss 
• Convenient 
• Consistent Lawn Hydration
• Cost-saving in the long term 

The Cons 

• Seasonal Maintenance
• Wear or malfunction with time leads to repairs 
• Pets damage the irrigation system 
• Adverse impact due to weather conditions 

The cost of installing the lawn sprinkler system for landscaping in North America can range from 1800 USD to 5200 USD. 

2. Drip irrigation system for landscaping

Drip irrigation remains the water-wise method of ensuring that every plant gets the water required. This system shows that every dripper/emitter is connected to a flexible tube. Every time the system runs, emitters mostly placed at the root zone offer a certain amount of water. 

These systems are more effective for dealing with a wide range of plants. Thus this drip irrigation system for landscaping helps the landscape get a refined quantity of water. These are the best options for landscapes with too many trees, perennials, and shrubs, as it helps get reasonable control over the plant.

The Pros 

• Simple Installation process 
• Water Conservation
• No Drift
• It saves time as the system is efficient 
• Substantial Water Bill Savings
• Save labor 

The Cons 

• High maintenance
• Frequent System flash outs
• Limited use 
• Wet foliage leads to plant disease risk 

A drip irrigation system costs around 1800 USD to 2500 USD. However, it can cost a meager amount of 50 USD for small home-based gardens. 

3. Rain catchment drip irrigation for landscaping

The system delivers water to gardens by integrating drip irrigation and rain-catchment systems. It uses simple gravity to provide the water. Hence it is not proven to be a versatile system. You find the rain barrel collecting the water and then distributing it to plants after the shower. 

Using this system does not allow you to use timers or special emitters; however, you save a good amount on your water bill, particularly during the summers when you have comfortable frequent rains. Also, before you install this system, you need to check the rainwater harvesting rules in your state. 

The Pros 

• Reduces your water bill 
• The demand for water is limited 
• No need for a large quantity of imported water 
• Promotes energy and water conservation
• No need to have a filtration system 
• User-friendly technology as it is easy to install and operate

The Cons 

• You need regular maintenance 
• Need technical expertise for installation 
• Improper installation can lead to waterborne diseases
• Has storage limitation 

The cost of a Rain catchment drip irrigation for landscaping is around 1200 USD to 2000 USD.

4. Bubbler irrigation system for landscaping

It is somewhere close to the drip system and sprinkler. Bubblers bring out a considerable volume of water; however, it comes above six inches above ground level. Their design helps them to water the plants coming from the root systems. You can efficiently operate them with the help of timers and then focus on emitters, thus allowing water to the plants you choose. These are used in places that have higher water requirements. 

The Pros 

• It offers consistent flow over many pressure ranges
• Versatile option as it is used both for fixed and adjustable bubbler 
• Less water waste as less overspray

The Cons 

• Work only in pressurized tanks 
• Installation cost is high 
• Frequent preventative maintenance

The cost of a Bubbler irrigation system for landscaping is higher than other systems ranging from 2500 USD to 6000 USD depending upon the requirements.

5. Underground System for Landscaping

It is among the most common irrigation systems for landscaping. It deals with using vast volumes of water catering to a massive area. These are ideal for huge-sized homes with tons of space or lawns. You can even upgrade to an automatic system that is simple to use. 

The Pros 

• Too convenient to use 
• Creates Healthy Landscape
• Good resale value 

The Cons 

• The installation cost is high 
• System generates Over-Watering
• Frequent Repairs
• Underground pests can damage the system 
• High Maintenance

On average, the Underground System for Landscaping costs around 2538 USD. However, typically it can range between 1699 USD to 3528 USD. 

What are the techniques that are used in the Irrigation System?

There are several techniques used in an irrigation system. We will be looking at the list of Irrigation System techniques as follows:

1. Micro-Irrigation: It is also known as a low-volume and low-flow irrigation system. As the name suggests, it deals with lower water pressure than any traditional sprinkler system. The system is used to grow crops, vineyards and orchards apart from taking care of the landscape areas. Using this system helps increase yields and reduce water, labor, and fertilizers requirements. Applying water to this system helps reduce water loss due to evaporation and deep percolation. These issues are difficult to reduce using traditional irrigation practices.
2. Flood System: In this system, water goes at one edge and then moves to the entire surface of your lawn to its opposite side. It is among the oldest irrigation systems and is still popular in agriculture and even landscaping irrigation. However, it has a few downsides. Releasing water in the yard or field can lead to extreme water loss. Around 50 percent of the total water is lost in this system.  Flood systems are of two types – Wild or uncontrolled flooding and controlled flooding.
3. Rotary Sprinkler: The rotary sprinkler is one of the critical parts of any lawn irrigation system. It carries a single or more rounded head that moves into a lawn with the help of metal spikes. All the heads rotate 360 degrees and are seen spraying water with a series of holes moving around the diameter of the sprinkler. The water enters the sprinkler from the water source. We then see the water running through a filter and flowing inside the turbine. The water flow further helps the turbine move and allows the gear to rotate. We see the water traveling through the sprinkler, finally reaching the garden.
4. Spray Irrigation System: It is one of the modern methods of applying water in a regulated form, like a rain shower. You can find water distributed like a network, which may carry pumps, pipes, valves and sprinklers. These are mainly used for agricultural purposes apart from residential and commercial use for maintaining lush green lawns. The system carries a long hose and sprinklers or a central pivot system that moves in a circle on your lawn. One of the system’s downsides is that most of the water spayed in your lawn or field evaporates with the sunlight. One of the pros is that the system effectively sprays the entire lawn with great ease.

In conclusion, the various irrigation systems for landscaping are ‒ lawn sprinkler, drip irrigation, rain catchment drip irrigation, bubbler irrigation and underground systems. 

Contact Eden today to suggest the best irrigation system for your landscape and professionally install it on your landscape or lawn.