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Sprinklers

Sprinklers are the above ground alternative to subsurface drip irrigation.

 

All Perth residents are familiar with sprinklers as they have historically been part of the Australian Dream – the quarter acre block with huge lawns and grassed verges. Sprinklers have been the irrigation system traditionally used to water these large areas. 

Sprinklers

Horticultural Compatibility

Sprinklers are suitable for areas that don’t require precision water delivery.

Large lawns, low garden shrubs and ground cover species such as Dichondra thrive using sprinklers. These layouts and species lend themselves to watering from above due to their root structure and leaf shape. They become a shared system where water is transfered throughout their vascular system.

Vegetable gardens do especially well using sprinklers because the misting delivery method coats leaves and vines such as lettuce and tomatos which grow best in high rain environments.

At the Children’s Garden in  Melville their sprinkler system teaches children how plants use water to grow and

Earth & Water has a strong horticultural and agronomic knowledge base that becomes essential when installing a sprinkler system to match the plants and grasses that rely on it for water and nutrients.

By working with landscape designers andarchitects we optimise our installations to compliment their designs.

Site Parameters

Sprinklers are best used in shaded areas with run times between 2am and 7am when it is cooler.

Sprinklers are less water-wise in areas where sprayed water is able to evaporate before effectively irrigating gardens and lawns. These inefficiencies can mitigated by using an automatic water controller set to early morning run times.

These early run times also reduce competition for water pressure in suburbs where water pressure is an issue. A correctly installed and programmed sprinkler and drip system will water plants at the same time as water is consumed inside the house.

This means that a family can complete their morning routine of showers, washing and domestics that use water with the same consistent water pressure.

In the next picture you can see sprinklers in each corner of the garden bed. This is a suitable site for sprinklers because it is mainly shaded, under the cooling canopy of larger trees and the ground is mainly mulched which allows water to disperse throughout the underground root system.

The small plants to the left are young Dichondras. Over time they will grow, establish themselves and spread out across the mulch. They are the perfect example of how sprinklers can deftly and efficiently water a shaded area.

Mosman Park Sprinklers System Installation
Mosman Park Sprinklers System Installation

Site Parameters

Sprinklers are best used in shaded areas with run times between 2am and 7am when it is cooler.

Sprinklers are less water-wise in areas where sprayed water is able to evaporate before effectively irrigating gardens and lawns. These inefficiencies can mitigated by using an automatic water controller set to early morning run times.

These early run times also reduce competition for water pressure in suburbs where water pressure is an issue. A correctly installed and programmed sprinkler and drip system will water plants at the same time as water is consumed inside the house.

This means that a family can complete their morning routine of showers, washing and domestics that use water with the same consistent water pressure.

In the next picture you can see sprinklers in each corner of the garden bed. This is a suitable site for sprinklers because it is mainly shaded, under the cooling canopy of larger trees and the ground is mainly mulched which allows water to disperse throughout the underground root system.

The small plants to the left are young Dichondras. Over time they will grow, establish themselves and spread out across the mulch. They are the perfect example of how sprinklers can deftly and efficiently water a shaded area.

Technological Advances

Sprinklers face the same issues as subsurface drip line of leaks and blockages. A more common issue is broken sprinkler heads on verges; driven over by cars or vandalised when they don’t pop back down. 

With all our sprinkler and drip installations we include a pressure sensor that is connected to the water controller. When water pressure drops, that indicates there is a leak. When pressure increases abnormally, this indicates there is blockage. In both scenarios, the water controller will immediately notify the owner and Earth & Water if the owner chooses. 

We are immediately able to send out a water technician to inspect and repair the system.

Sprinkler heads used in public places such as the Perth Museum are prone to breaking more often simply because there is greater foot traffic. 

Modern sprinkler heads such the Hunter Industries Rotors have internal filters that reduce clogging and are easily adjustable for radius and height. For public areas these rotors can pop high and are installed lower so they are less exposed when not in use resulting in few breakages.

A simple pressure sensor installed on a sprinkler system

Contact Us

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Irrigation Enquiry Form

Complete the form below which will help us immediately begin diagnosing your problem and answering your enquiry.

Please give us 24 hours to respond and include your phone number if you would like a call from a specialist regarding your situation.

info@earthandwater.com.au

3/14 Brolo Ct, O'Connor 6163, WA