Garden Areas

Irrigation of garden beds - the options

Micro sprays are popular, do-it-yourself systems but are mostly very inefficient (less than 50%). The fine sprays are very susceptible to wind drift and evaporative loss, the risers and nozzles are exposed and subject to damage or displacement and the spray pattern is frequently interrupted by plant growth. Micro sprays are generally not recommended. Variable output drippers tend to be somewhat inaccurate as their output varies with pressure. If a line of variable emitters is adjusted one at a time, by the time the last one is correct all the others are out of adjustment. Fixed output emitters provide a more accurate option. To minimize variation of pressure, the emitter lines should be looped back to the supply line with no dead ends. This way the pressure is better evened out over the system.
...90% efficiency and the cheapest!!












Micro sprinklers (not to be confused with micro sprays) are best suited to mass planted areas, or to single planted large trees. They were originally designed as under-tree sprinklers for orchards and plantations and there is a comprehensive range available. These sprinklers are best suited to watering individual trees in gardens and usually come with a diffuser and spinner option which allows a smaller area to be covered while the tree is small.







There are a range of commonly used irrigation options that are either grossly inefficient, difficult to use or have limited use.

...all can be replaced with integrated dripper.