For the annual harvest to enjoy its abundance, it is necessary to take care of your garden and seedbeds all year round. This cannot be achieved without regularly moistening the soil and creating a normal microclimate which is conducive to the development of all plants. The natural supply of moisture is provided by precipitation. But they may not always be enough, and in some periods they are simply not enough.
In this case, artificial irrigation with a variety of sprinklers and sprayers is required. But not all gardeners can correctly determine which sprinkler to choose. Our article is designed to help with this.
Article Summary:
Purpose and Structure
The purpose of using garden sprinklers is to provide the necessary irrigation that is sufficient to moisten the soil. This creates the conditions for the best possible yield.
In its most general form, the design includes a water hose that attaches to the nozzle. The spraying is done through the nozzle. But now there are many types of devices that give the best results depending on the characteristics of the site and the requirements for the irrigation mode.
For example, if a lawn is heterogeneous in topography and plantation types, it should be divided into several zones. In each of them a different type of sprinkler is installed.
Sprinklers are designed to create conditions such that the flow of water into the soil becomes uniform over the entire area of the site. It is then possible to minimize areas that are not irrigated or receive excessive amounts of moisture.
Structures can be retractable and non-retractable, have different ways of fixing – on pegs, tripods or directly on the ground. Each type has its own characteristics, scope of application, advantages and disadvantages.
Types of irrigation devices
Before you buy an irrigation system for your garden or vegetable garden, you need to determine which type is right for you.
Watering guns.
This is the simplest design that can be used in watering. All you have to do is connect a hose to a water pipe or faucet and push the lever to sprinkle. Such fixtures can have:
- A tip that sets the jet in the “hard-soft” range;
- A multi-function atomizer that sets the spray pattern.
For convenience, the design includes a latch that allows you to set the spray pattern. So you don’t have to push the lever all the time. There is also a liquid regulator. The body is made of plastic, which protects the hand from the cold. For cleaning, you can use improvised means.
Static-looking designs
This equipment can be used to irrigate both lawns and shrubs and trees. The feature is to ensure uniform distribution of moisture in the absence of rotation of the nozzles. Most often they are part of automatic systems.
Static sprinklers can be deepened into the ground or have a portable design. Deeper versions have a cylindrical body, from which the inner unit extends. The irrigation range is not too long – up to 6 m.
Application is limited to an area of up to 10 m2, but in the case of more extensive areas the combined use of several devices of this type with connection by a common water pipe is allowed.
The presence of a limiter makes it possible to effectively set the sprinkling area. Among the well-known brands Karcher, Gardena, Hunter, Rain Bird are popular and in demand.
Circular models.
This design will be useful when watering lawns and rounded areas. Non-adjustable circular sprinklers consist of statically located on stands heads equipped with nozzles. The movement of water is cone shaped, and the jet can be made up of small drips and larger droplets.
Sprinklers can be placed on pegs or stands. The first method of attachment is more reliable and gives a stable support, but is used in conditions of soft ground.
There are also steerable circular type systems. The distribution sector here can be adjusted to the specific features of the site and vary between 0-360 degrees. The type of jet also varies.
For more efficient irrigation on the lawn, you need to put more than one of these elements. And you can use an ordinary hose to connect them in a cycle.
Programmable circular models give even greater area coverage – up to 380 m2. An important advantage of this option is the ability to adapt the sprinkling to specific terrain and site specifics by changing the flow range. If you have correctly divided your plot into zones, a different range is set for each zone.
Rotary Systems.
The design features a fixed fixed base with a rotating unit on top. The upper part rotates axially and resembles propeller blades. Water under pressure comes on them and then sprays at an angle.
The rotation of the atomizer screw itself also depends on the feed pressure. The number of blades varies depending on the product brand – 2-4 pieces.
In adjustable rotary sprinklers, it is possible to control the type of jet and the size of the sprinkling sector. This type of device can cover an area of up to 30 m2. There are also non-adjustable technologies.
Using the sequential irrigation principle allows the radius to be gradually increased, resulting in a larger covered area. Smooth and step-by-step adjustment of the spraying angle provides greater performance of the entire unit.
Modern and more expensive devices are equipped with special heads or drums of the rotary type, which set the droplet size and the irrigation area. At the same time, they can operate at pressures from 1 atm.
The disadvantage of rotary devices is their susceptibility to clogging by impurities. In this case, it is not possible to repair them. Therefore, you need to choose models that have a set of special filters, or put filter blocks for the entire water supply system. We recommend paying attention to the brands Hunter and Rain Bird.
Retractable sprinkler.
These devices are mounted in the ground, but not exactly on its surface, but slightly recessed. When the water is automatically turned on, the nozzle slides up and provides sprinkling. When the water is turned off, it slides back in.
Water delivery range is short – up to 4-5 m, but the quality of humidification is ensured by the frequency of placement. It is used for irrigation of lawns and lawns.
Pulse action models
Their operation resembles that of rotary designs. However, irrigation does not occur continuously for a given time, but at certain intervals. Irrigation is carried out in reverse order – from the distant areas to the near ones. At each radius the entire area is covered. The jet can be delivered over a distance of up to 20 m.
There are pulse sprinklers in which the rotation of the head and the angle of the nozzle can be adjusted.
The crushing function of the water flow and the ability to feed it vertically provides a higher performance. Gardena and Karcher brands are in demand in this product group.
Oscillating systems
Their use is suitable for the treatment of rectangular areas with approximate dimensions of 30×17 m. There are several models available. In the simple version, the tube made of metal or plastic is mounted on a stand.
There is an impeller in the tube, which starts to act together with a gear when the liquid is supplied. As a result, the tube begins to rotate with the holes clearly in a row. The resulting thin streams and drops are distributed over the lawn.
Some models are equipped with notched brass nozzles. They give a rotary motion to the water flow to form a finely dispersed fraction.
An oscillating sprinkler can also have a plastic tube whose nozzles are multidirectional. They have nozzles made of a more plastic material. As a result, the direction of the jet is effectively controlled.
The jet delivery range is adjustable in almost all models, but the width can be set only in expensive equipment. The swing angle is fixed between 0-180 degrees. By limiting the flow of water to the holes located on the edge, you can change the width of the irrigation belt. At the same time, the direction of sprinkling also changes.
How to choose the right one
There are many brands and modifications of irrigation devices on the market. The photo of sprinklers demonstrates only some of them. How to choose the right design for irrigating the area?
First, you have to study the shape of your property. If it is close to rectangular, then you need an oscillating device. It’s great for small lawns, too.
Large lawns should be watered with impulse or rotary models. For complex geometric lawns, it’s best to use varieties with a sector irrigation option.
For example, for a triangular lawn, you can put three of these devices with a sprinkling angle of 5-360 degrees. And if necessary, a circular sprinkler is mounted in the center.
Second, it is important to consider the operating pressure. Most models work within 2-4 atm, maximum – 6 atm. Depending on the pressure required by the data sheet, you should select the system.
The preferred brands are those that allow you to adjust the force of the jet and have special tips with a regulator of the liquid ejection angle.
If the set includes a set of nozzles, this is also a reason to opt for the device. The option that allows you to mount the sprinkler on a tripod is also effective – it is convenient when watering tall shrubs.
Among the manufacturers are popular devices from Gardena, Karcher, Rain Bird and Hunter. However, be guided by the purpose and technical parameters of the purchased system.
A sprinkler is a very useful device in a gardener’s arsenal. The right choice of the model, the right installation will ensure the quality of soil moisture and create optimal conditions for the growth of plants in the garden.
Sprinkler photos
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