DIY garden irrigation: installing a sprinkler system
Everyone loves a lush, colourful garden, but if you want to keep it that way, you need to maintain it and to give your plants sufficient water. Sprinkler systems are ideal devices for this purpose, and are simple to install by yourself with the right materials.
Treat your plants with natural water
If you want to give your plants an even bigger treat, spray them with natural water, which is full of healthy nutrients. A water pump, such as a garden pump or pressure pump , is the best way to transfer water from a well to your sprinklers, and will save on precious tap water.
If you have a small garden, one single sprinkler will be enough, but if it is large, you usually need several. A standard water pipe does not generate enough pressure to run multiple sprinklers at the same time.
A garden pump is capable of generating a higher pressure. This device is not connected to an outside tap. It is set up next to an external source, such as a ditch or a canal. This pump draws in water through a suction hose, which then transfers it under high pressure to the sprinklers.
Step-by-step instructions for installing a sprinkler system
A sprinkler system can easily be installed by any handyman. It is important to draw up a plan beforehand regarding the best route for the irrigation tubes or hoses, taking into account any obstacles such as trees and shrubs. If your garden is on a slope, this will affect the water pressure. Determine how many hoses or you will need as well as the position of the sprinklers. Draw everything to scale.
To install the DIY sprinkler system, follow the steps below.
Dig trenches that are about 60 cm deep in order to place the discharge hose or pipe below the surface. This will protect them sufficiently against frost during cold periods.
Put the pipes in the trenches and interconnect them with connecting pieces and/or PVC glue (if you use PVC pipes). Make sure everything is watertight and connected firmly. If necessary, use a T- joint reach the locations where the sprinklers will be located. You can also opt to drill holes in the pipe. With an LDPE pipe, a few holes can be made in it to connect the sprinklers/drippers.
Place ground clamps to keep the pipes securely in place and to prevent them from shifting.
Make sure everything is tight and connect the water supply. This could be done by turning on the outside tap (for small installations) or activating the garden pump.
If there are no leakages, the trenches can be closed.
Install an irrigation controller, so that the water supply system switches itself on and off. Set the desired options.
Please refer to our accessories page for connecting pieces and other fittings.
What water pump do I need?
A wide range of water pumps is available that can be connected to your sprinkler installation. Some of these are set up on the surface and some in the water.
Garden pump
A garden pump is an excellent means of operating one or multiple sprinklers. Automatic activation and deactivation are enabled with a DAB Control-D.
More information
Water pressure pump
A pressure pump is the best option for a drip hose - situations where various spraying methods are used - and for indoor use of rainwater. It is fitted with a pressure vessel.
More information
Well pump
Because a well pump is installed under water. It will not be in your way, and it works almost silently. You will at least need this type of pump if the well water is at a depth greater than eight metres.
More informationWhat materials and tools do I need?
The following tools and materials will be needed to install a DIY sprinkler system.
Materials
Irrigation pipes: PVC pipes or LDPE pipes that are resistant to water and weathering. Their length and diameter depend on the size of the area you want to spray.
Coupling pieces/reducing pieces: For example, an elbow/bend, T-connectors, and taps to interconnect the hoses/pipes and create bends.
Sprinklers or drippers: Install sprinklers to spray your garden or drippers to supply the water directly to the plant roots.
A water source: This may be an outside tap for a small installation, or a separate source, such as a well or a canal, if a water pump is being used. If the water to be used contains gravel, twigs, or other impurities, we recommend connecting a filter to the pump. This will prevent the sprinklers from becoming clogged.
An irrigation computer: This device ensures that the sprinkler system switches on and off automatically at the times that have been set.
Ground clamps: These are used to secure pipes or LDPE pipes in place and to prevent them from shifting.
PVC glue: This is used to attach PVC pipes and fittings (if you use PVC pipes).
Mounting tape or clamps: These are used to attach the pipes securely to poles, walls, or fences.
Tools
You also need tools to install the sprinkler system. These include:
A shovel (or digger) to dig trenches;
A measuring tape to measure the length of hoses/pipes;
Cutting devices to cut hoses/pipes to size;
A drilling machine to drill holes for the sprinklers/drippers;
A PVC saw to cut the pipes to length, and sandpaper to smoothen any sharp edges (if you use PVC pipes);
Water pump pliers to fasten coupling pieces and fittings;
A rake to level the soil after the installation is complete.
Size of the DIY sprinkler system
The size of a sprinkler system depends on a number of things, such as the area you wish to spray, what type of plants or crops are being sprayed, whether the bottom is water-permeable, the amount of water pressure, and what spraying method you will be using. Determine this beforehand so that you can make the right choices.
Chart your sprinkler system before selecting a water pump!
If you intend to use a water pump, it is important to calculate the pressure (measured in bar) and the required amount of water. Before purchasing a water pump, it is important to first chart your sprinkler system. In this way, the pipe resistance can be calculated, and you can read how much pressure the sprinklers need to provide sufficient water.
Every pump has a minimum and a maximum level of performance (pump curve), which can usually be read in a graph. If the pump performs mainly in the centre part of the graph, this indicates an optimum balance between the pressure and the amount of water the pump supplies. Moreover, it also extends the life of the pump.
Make sure the pipe’s diameter is big enough to transport the desired amount of water. The narrower the , the less water can be transported to the sprinklers. Therefore, a standard garden hose (with a diameter of 13 mm) is usually not suitable. A narrow hose is one of the factors that causes pipe resistance, in addition to the difference in height between the pump and the location where the water is supplied, and the hose length.
