FAQs

Can any garden be fitted with drip irrigation?

Yes. The system connects onto an outside tap and from there, the pipes are cut and fitted to suit your garden and your plants. Different areas can be tailored to all on one system.  For example, you might be lucky enough to have a lovely herbaceous border, as well as a greenhouse and then a collection of pots somewhere all on the same system.  If one year you don’t use your greenhouse, a turn of an irrigation tap installed in the system can turn that section off.   

 

Is the water saving really much different to using a watering can or hose?

Yes, using drip irrigation significantly reduces the volume of water used for watering compared with using a hose pipe or a watering can.  Some online sources claim drip irrigation can achieve a 90% reduction in water usage and for some gardens and situations this is accurate.  For most gardens, watering via drip irrigation could consistently use 70-85% less water than a hose pipe or watering can.

 

Will having a drip irrigation system installed save me time?

Absolutely. Watering which used to take hours now just takes as long as it takes to turn an outside tap on and they you can let it do its work. Systems can be put on timers so you don’t have to do anything at all, only to check the system is running when you want it to every now and again.

 

Will my plants grow any better with drip irrigation?

Yes, very much so. Drip irrigation is great for plants. I often equate this to one of us being asked to drink all the liquid you need in a day in about 10 minutes. It would be a tall order and we might not be all that pleased to have to do it.  The same goes for plants. A steady drip is made use of very well, and the soil can retain much more water than from a dousing with a hose where most water runs away. All very efficient.  Plus, drip irrigation targets water to the soil meaning water is not left sitting on leaves of plants which can lead to more disease.  This is especially important in greenhouses.   

 

Once a system is fitted, can it be adjusted?

Yes, very easily. Whilst drip systems are considered a more permanent fixture, none of this is set in stone. Designs can be added to and altered depending on whatever your changing garden needs.

 

Will I be able to see all the pipes?

Some pipes can’t be buried due to water regulations but these will not be noticeable once a border grows and fills out. Most tubes and pipes are very well hidden.

 

Do the systems comply with water regulations?

Absolutely. Specialist anti-back flow valves are used along with high quality anti-siphon nozzles in the drip tube and drippers.  Pressure regulators are also fitted to protect the systems from spikes in mains pressure.

 

Is drip irrigation exempt from hosepipe bans?

Yes! This highlights how very water efficient drip irrigation systems are. As long as your system is on a timer and complies with water regulations, you’re fine to use drip irrigation during a ban.

 

What about the winter months?  Will the pipes freeze and burst?

No. In each system I install low point taps so in about November, a user can simply open the taps to let the water flow out. As long as there is room for expansion in the system, the pipes will be ok even during the harshest days of our British winter. If the system is on a flat area, I install relief points which can be opened to allow water to escape when it freezes. In addition, I do offer a service where I come and do a winter decommission, or I can run through this with the client so that they can do this independently.  Timers benefit from being brought inside, but everything else can stay out!

 

What if I put a spade through the pipes or chop a dripper up with my shears?

Not a disaster. Most mishaps are very simple fixes. I can either come out and repair, or often clients can repair themselves. I always leave clients with spare parts for small repair jobs. It’s hard to damage pipes. Chopping dripper tubes can happen, but the repair takes all of a few minutes and you’d just need some scissors and a spare part I will have left you with.   

 

Is there going to be enough pressure from my outside tap?

Most houses have more than enough water pressure but I always check this during the first visit. Systems run on really quite low pressure. If your system is large, there may be a need for the use of two outside taps, or the clever use of timers to turn some sections off. These instances are fairly few and far between, but all manageable!

 

How long will I need to have the water running?

It’s a good question but a few factors determine the answer.  Firstly, the weather; is it really dry, warm and windy or is it just dry and windy?  The wind can really dry plants out!  Secondly, the size, type and age of plants is a factor; more established plants might need less water if their root systems are established.  Plants in pots are likely to need some water every day in the spring and summer unless there has been a decent amount of rain.  Soil type and topography is a third major factor; light, sandy soils are prone to drying out and clays can become waterlogged more easily.  Plants on the top of a slope are at higher risk of becoming short of water.  I consider all of these factors (and more) when installing your system and also listen to your experience of how your garden behaves.  So, with these factors in mind, the answer to the above question is hard to answer without seeing your garden, but this is something can of course can be discussed before and after installation.  As a general starting off point, most clients run their systems for about 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins again at night in dry conditions and then adjust frequency from there.  You will very quickly become familiar with approximate lengths of time needed for your garden in different conditions.