If you’re tired of watering your garden by hand or you’re starting a new garden it’s a great time to think about a reticulation system. In this article, we’ll take a step by step approach to the basics of what it means to set up and run a reticulation watering system so that you can have a garden that waters itself. The good news is if you like us and live in Perth, our Perth reticulation systems can be set up and maintained by professional landscapers with years of experience.
Step One – Map It Out – First things first you’re going to need to measure your yard and garden. This will give you a good idea of the kind of system you’ll need to buy. This will also help you know what kind of coverage you’ll need from each sprinkler.
Step Two – Find The Right System For You – Once you know the area you’re system needs to cover start looking into the different systems available in your area. How high tech do you want to go? Professional grade systems will let you adjust everything from timing to water pressure, often from a mobile device.
Step Three – Start Digging – Once you’ve got your ed out it’s time to break ground. Most reticulation systems these days are buried under the ground. Although some soaker hose systems won’t need to be buried it’s still a good idea to bury as many of the components as possible to avoid damaging them.
Step 4 – Install the System – While this will be different for each system, mostly it’s going to require laying the pipes into the ground and securing their connection. This might take you longer than you realize, having a few friends or hiring a professional to help can make the job much easier.
Step 5 – Test and Bury It – Before you go ahead and bury the system it’s a good idea to run it through some tests. This way if there are any leaks, cracks or malfunctions they can be dealt with, without having to dig it all up again.
Step 6 – Optimization and Programming – Once you’ve been running you’re system for a while it’s time to start to make the most of it. A simple example is setting the system to water automatically in the early morning to avoid water loss due to evaporation. It’s at this stage where you will really start to see the time and money being saved.
Step 7 – Monitor and Repair – Less of the last step and more of a continuous stage. Keep an eye on your system to make sure it’s operating at peak efficiency. If you start to notice issues in your garden it might be time to get a professional out to take a look and maybe even repair it.
There you have it, a quick crash course in how to set up a garden that waters itself. If these seems like it might be more of a task than you’re comfortable with DIYing, that’s ok. It can a good idea to bring in an expert, especially if this is your first time working with reticulation. Perth has some great companies that specialise in everything from installation to repair.