Components of landscaping

Irrigation is one of the most important considerations when designing a landscape. No matter which style of landscape design or theme you decide upon, you're going to want a system of irrigating your new landscape that provides ease and efficiency while conserving as much water as possible.

The goal of any landscape irrigation system is to give the plants in your landscape enough water without wasting any of it. Some areas of your landscape may have a higher concentration of water loving plants, while other areas may have less. Sunny, breezy portions of your landscape will also require more watering than shady, cooler areas. The goal of any landscape irrigation system is to give the plants a sufficient amount of water without waste. A properly designed landscape irrigation system can be varied to supply just the right amount of moisture where it's needed most in your landscape.

There are two types of irrigation systems commonly used in landscape designs. Sprinkler systems and drip systems, or a combination of the two, will deliver enough moisture to meet the individual needs of any area within your landscape design. Let's take a closer look at each system.

The Sprinkler Landscape Irrigation System

A sprinkler landscape irrigation system is commonly found in most home landscaping, and comes in two basic types, hose attachments and automated systems. The typical sprinkler attachment for the end of a garden hose is the choice of many home owners because it is a quick and simple way to water lawn and garden landscapes. This method will get the job done, but has a few disadvantages to the automated system. First, uneven watering will be a problem unless you are prepared to watch the clock and keep moving the sprinkler around from area to area within your landscape. If you are busy and forget to move the sprinkler, some areas may actually be over watered, leading to waste. Other areas may suffer from under watering when you run out of daylight.

Why is daylight required? Because when moisture is left dripping from your plants during the night, it becomes an invitation for mold spores to move in, ruining the landscape you have so painstakingly designed. Lawns and landscape plants should have sufficient time to dry off before nightfall, which means you should finish watering well before twilight.

Permanent underground landscape irrigation systems consist of PVC piping laid underground with a series of sprinkler heads attached. This system can be automated and set on a timer to provide even watering and reduce waste. This landscape irrigation system is becoming increasingly popular with busy homeowners who don't want to spend the time and effort monitoring regular hose sprinklers.

The Drip Landscape Irrigation System

A drip landscape irrigation system uses a system of pipes or hosing to deliver a low pressure water flow directly to the soil around landscape plants. This is probably the most efficient landscape irrigation system because water is not wasted through air evaporation, and the entire plant is not left wet in the process. Most drip irrigation systems are also covered with mulch to hide the piping and provide extra protection from evaporation.

Overall landscape irrigation systems can provide a more efficient way to deliver water to your landscape while cutting back the amount of time and work it takes to keep your landscape in the green. And conserving water will help keep you wallet in the green when your next water bill arrives in the mail.