It’s not the favourite task for any residential gardener; a night spent in low light, dragging a hose around the garden after a long day at work, just to make sure the plants are watered enough. Not only can this ritual become tiring for some, but it can also significantly increase your water bill (as you might have already noticed).
Enter the DIY garden irrigation system. A well-planned system takes the guesswork out of your watering routine, keeps your plants happier, and ensures you’re reclining indoors with a cuppa while your garden is watered automatically.
If you’re looking for a way to take your garden to the next level, you’ve just found it. This guide will walk you through the basics of a DIY garden irrigation system, including what it is, why it matters, and how you can build one at home.
Why bother with an irrigation system in the first place?
Anyone who has ever tried to keep up with the demands of a thirsty bed of florals or a victory garden knows that it can be time-consuming to manually water your entire garden. Not to mention, it can also rack up your water bill. A built-in DIY garden irrigation system is an excellent way to support the long-term health of your plants and lawn while conserving water.
You will save time, conserve water, establish a routine watering schedule that allows your plants to thrive, and deliver water directly to their root systems to ensure stronger growth.
Despite the initial setup cost, you’ll also notice a dip in your water bill expenditure once you start irrigating rather than hosing. In irrigation, as in all else, a little investment goes a long way!
Types of DIY Garden Irrigation Systems
Before you begin laying out your hoses or digging trenches, it’s helpful to understand the basic types of irrigation systems available to you. Every gardener has different goals and a unique ecosystem they’re looking after. Read through the most common DIY garden irrigation system options below and consider which might be best for your space.
Drip irrigation
This is one of the most efficient systems, perfect for garden beds, borders, planter boxes, and veggie patches. It delivers water slowly and directly to the soil through small emitters, reducing evaporation and runoff. If you’re working with garden beds, hedges, or commercial plantings, this might be the system for you.
Soaker hoses
These are essentially a smaller version of drip irrigation. The porous hoses lie on the soil, slowly seeping water along their entire length throughout the day. You just connect it to a standard tap and snake it through your beds. If you’re after something affordable, low-tech, and easy to install, this is for you.
Sprinkler systems
If you don’t mind visible irrigation in the name of excellent hydration for your plants, then a sprinkler-based DIY garden irrigation system might be for you. These are more technically complex to install, but the pop-up sprinkler heads or oscillating sprayers mimic rainfall for wide-open spaces and lawns.
In other words, they’re ideal for covering large residential or commercial gardening areas, and will keep your garden looking beautifully green.
Micro-sprays or bubblers
Finally, micro-sprays are a great middle-ground solution if large sprinkler heads aren’t your style. The small heads gently spray water over a defined radius or bubble water at the base of plants. These are typically used in formal or high-visibility gardens, so if your garden is a source of deep pride or you manage a commercial property, this might be the solution for you.
Of course, multiple irrigation systems can be combined into a single ecosystem to serve your garden. The goal is to assess your watering needs and build a system that works for you, which may require some experimentation. That said, we have a few tips to help you get started.
Tips for Building a DIY Garden Irrigation System
If you’re keen to take on a DIY project, you’ll need to set aside a weekend (or two) to get everything laid out. No plumbing degree required, although some careful planning with stand you in good stead. Luckily, we have some simple tips here to help you get started.
Spend time on your layout.
You know the saying, ‘measure twice, cut once’? When it comes to building a DIY garden irrigation system, these words are golden. It pays to walk the borders of your garden, map out the different areas, and note down your specific watering needs. Consider where you might be able to dig trenches – or not – and where winding hoses or sprinklers would be unobtrusive.
This approach will keep your garden green and clean, without introducing obstacles for you to trip over every day as you head outside. The more time you spend defining your layout, the less likely you are to need to go back and start again.
Start small.
If you have never set up a DIY garden irrigation system before – even if you have – it pays to start with a small section of your garden. Tackle a single bed to assess how well your water pressure works with an irrigation system, and to identify any other problems you might need to account for before expanding.
Think seasonally.
Aotearoa has an impressive rainy season, so your watering needs will shift according to the seasons. This means your irrigation system needs to be adaptable, so don’t be afraid to introduce ways to tweak your system across summer and winter.
For example, a flow rate adjustor or pressure regulator can help reduce the amount of water used in winter and increase it in summer.
There’s no doubt about it; installing an irrigation system is an instant improvement for almost every garden. It helps you stay on top of your watering, reduces the time you need to spend dragging a hose around, and helps cut down on a ballooning water bill.
Whether you choose to install a DIY garden irrigation system or contract a professional gardener to install one for you, you’ll notice immediate benefits (and so will your garden).
Install the irrigation system of your dreams with Paramount Gardening.
If you prefer the professional route, the elite property care team at Paramount Gardening is here to help. We install residential and commercial garden irrigation systems, bringing world-class expertise to every space we work in.
Contact us today to discuss your irrigation needs with our knowledgeable team.
