How to choose sprinklers for watering your garden - tips and tricks
Watering is an important part of maintaining your garden and vegetable garden, but it takes a lot of time and effort to moisturize large areas. In this case, special devices for artificial irrigation are used, but not every summer resident knows how to choose sprinklers for watering a garden, what criteria and features to pay special attention to.
What is an irrigation sprinkler
The sprinkler is very popular among owners of private houses, as it provides the necessary watering in automatic mode, moisturizes the soil and creates favorable conditions for flowering and high yields.
The main advantages of the sprinkler:
- simplifies watering and requires a minimum of effort from a person;
- imitates the natural moisture of the soil with rain;
- helps to save on water consumption in the summer;
- differs in ease of operation, reliability and durability.
Garden sprinklers create an optimal microclimate in which the soil is evenly moistened throughout the entire plot. Due to this, waterlogging and drying out of plants can be avoided.
Sprinklers also have several disadvantages. These include the high cost, the need to periodically clean the system and "preserve" for the winter.
Sprinkler types
Before choosing a sprinkler for watering a garden, you must take into account the features, technical characteristics and purpose of each type of device. A wide range of different sprinkler designs can be found in gardening stores. Such devices are aimed at both small backyard gardens and large farm fields.
Types of sprinklers for irrigation:
- watering guns;
- retractable;
- non-retractable.
Sprinklers can have different mounting methods, power, water consumption, advantages and disadvantages.
Spray guns
A watering gun is the simplest device. It is enough to connect it to a tap or plumbing system and press the lever for watering. The guns can be of two types - with a multifunctional spray pattern setting system or with a tip that adjusts the jet in the "soft-hard" range.
The body of the spray gun is made of plastic that protects the palm from the cold. Additionally, the device is equipped with a water flow regulator and a retainer to support the selected irrigation mode. Therefore, it is very convenient to use the pistol, there is no need to constantly press the lever. A regulator helps control the flow rate of the sprinkler.
Retractable Sprinklers
Pull-out irrigation sprinklers operate from a stationary plumbing system. They are mounted directly into the ground and are practically invisible when not in use. The range of such devices is 5-7 m, some expensive models have a range of up to 9-20 m.
Types of pop-up sprinklers:
- rotary;
- static (fan).
Rotary water sprayers consist of a fixed base and a rotating head. Due to this design, the devices have a large irrigation radius - up to 20-25 sq. m. Rotary atomizers can be circular and adjustable.In the first case, the water is sprayed 360 °, but there is no way to change the wetting area.
Adjustable devices have the ability to independently set the required irrigation zone - they are great for irrigating a flower bed or individual beds.
Before choosing a sprinkler for watering a garden, you need to clarify the presence of a built-in filter, since such devices are very sensitive to impurities contained in tap water.
Fan or Static Sprinklers are simple designs with no rotating elements. Spraying of water occurs simultaneously in all directions simultaneously due to the pressure of water supplied under pressure. The radius of action is up to 5-7 m. Most often, such devices are installed for irrigating individual beds, flower beds and a site with complex landscape compositions.
Fixed sprinklers
Automatic garden sprinklers of non-pull-out type differ from rotary and static models in irrigation range and greater power.
They are also divided into several types.:
- Impulse - water is supplied in portions in each sector, while during operation the radius of water transportation gradually changes. Impulse models cover an area of up to 10-12 m and are resistant to clogging.
- Oscillating or pendulum - have a tube-like structure, covered with holes and swinging at an angle of 180 ° around its axis. Such devices are excellent for irrigating rectangular areas at a distance of up to 20 m.
- Circular - a simple and reliable design that provides uniform watering at a distance of 4-10 m. The sprinkler is a fixed base and a rotating head with nozzles. The irrigation radius varies with the water pressure.
Sprinkler hoses stand out separately, differing in their affordable cost, ease of installation and irrigation range up to 3-4 m.
How to choose sprinklers for watering your garden
When choosing a sprinkler, it is necessary to take into account several main criteria - the shape, area and landscape features of the garden plot, as well as the functions that the sprinkler should perform.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Sprinkler:
- For large backyard areas and vegetable gardens, it is better to choose rotary or impulse devices, which are characterized by greater power and irrigation radius.
- For lawn or rectangular vegetable gardens, oscillating devices are more suitable.
- To water garden trees and shrubs, impulse sprinklers are more suitable. Such models of such devices have a tripod in the set, on which the sprinkler is installed.
- Oscillating sprinkler systems are great for watering a small garden or vegetable garden.
- For irrigation of individual beds, flower beds and specific areas of the site, rotary regulating or retractable static devices are recommended. Such devices make it possible to designate the required irrigation area.
Before buying, you need to correctly calculate the power level of the water supply pump on the site and the working pressure of the sprinkler, because the more devices will function from the water supply, the stronger the water pressure should be.
You also need to pay attention to the presence of filters and nozzles included with the sprinkler. Tap water has a variety of impurities, and many budget sprinkler models are prone to clogging with such precipitation.
Popular sprinklers
In specialized stores, a wide range of different sprinkler systems are presented, designed for irrigation of both large areas and small personal plots. The most popular sprinklers among buyers are Hunter, Gardena, Rain Bird and Karcher.
GARDENA 2079-32 is one of the most popular sprinklers according to customer reviews. The oscillating system is designed for uniform watering of the lawn, garden and vegetable garden. The irrigation width is 11-12 m and the range is 17 m (manually adjustable).The Garden sprinkler water flow is controlled by an integrated regulation system. The average price is 900-950 rubles.
Hunter PROS-04 is a sprinkler from an American manufacturer, the design of which provides high accuracy of spraying. The product is resistant to weather conditions and durability, as its parts are made of stainless steel. The irrigation radius is up to 10 m. The average cost of the Hunter PROS-04 sprinkler is 820-870 rubles.
RACO 4260-55 / 716C is an impulse type sprinkler made of impact-resistant plastic. The device is designed for watering flower beds, flower beds and small lawns. The irrigation radius is 9-10 m, it can be adjusted independently. Excellent functionality and affordable cost made the model popular among gardeners and gardeners. The average price of the RACO 4260-55 / 716C sprinkler does not exceed 490-590 rubles.
Garden sprinklers are a convenient and functional device that facilitates work in the garden and in the garden. When choosing a device, you need to take into account the features of a particular area, the purpose of use, range, the possibility of regulation and the number of modes. This will help you choose the sprinkler that will create the optimal microclimate for your area.