Auto Garden Watering Recommendations please?
Discussion
As title says really...
I'm looking for a timer watering system for a smallish garden. Trying to find one that does a few hanging baskets / planters / plus a 5m circular lawn. Looking for a reliable system that will do all via one timer. Not on water meter. Outside tap is present. May have to bury some pipes for the lawn or can direct sprays from borders ?
Any reasonably priced suggestions please?
I'm looking for a timer watering system for a smallish garden. Trying to find one that does a few hanging baskets / planters / plus a 5m circular lawn. Looking for a reliable system that will do all via one timer. Not on water meter. Outside tap is present. May have to bury some pipes for the lawn or can direct sprays from borders ?
Any reasonably priced suggestions please?
Have a look at the Hozelock and Gardena automatic watering systems. I've got the Gardena system and it's pretty reliable. The timer is about 10 years old and still working ok but the drippers do get clogged up by hard water and need replacing every now and again but that's just maintenance of the system I suppose. I don't have the sprayers so I don't know of they will cover a 5m lawn; incidentally is that length diameter or what?
After coming back to desiccated plants in pots in the summer in previous years we got the standard Hoselock system this year - it worked well, watering 40+ pots around the patio over 2 weeks. When we returned they looked the best ever as a result of a sizzling 2.5 weeks away and regular watering from the watering system. We leave it on now we're back so we don't have to remember / spend 15" watering in the evening (though that can be a pleasure and a winding-down period after work if you've got time). Initially we had it on for 2" twice a day but have dropped that to once a day. Make sure you have a screw-on tap connector - there are horror stories of people who had plug-on connectors, the control unit came off early in their holidays and then the tap ran full pelt for several weeks. However you're not on a meter so less of a direct blow, only when the local reservoirs run dry! The hoselock system has an over-ride to allow you to turn it "on" for conventional watering but with a 60" auto turn-off to stop water running ad infinitum if it has been forgotten.
It uses two medium sized alkaline batteries which are said to last a year+.
Will consider extending the system to non-potted bits of the garden next year.
It uses two medium sized alkaline batteries which are said to last a year+.
Will consider extending the system to non-potted bits of the garden next year.
The Gardena system I have supports micro and slightly larger bore tubes and pipes. I believe you can add pop-up sprinklers for lawns and flower beds and 5m isn't too large. I suggest you get a brochure/catalogue from a decent garden centre and do some research. It's all a bit like Lego once you get started on it 
p.s. My timer controller is batter powered but has a solar recharge capability so it stays charged for the summer. I've got it properly fitted to a water supply controlled by a stop valve rather than using hose connectors. As has been said, my neighbours pressure hose pops off every now and again!
p.s. My timer controller is batter powered but has a solar recharge capability so it stays charged for the summer. I've got it properly fitted to a water supply controlled by a stop valve rather than using hose connectors. As has been said, my neighbours pressure hose pops off every now and again!
The systems are all pretty much the same and you can mix and match the components. Many different options for watering different things, drippers, misters, mini sprinklers, soaker hose, etc.
The basic concept is you lay a 13 mm black plastic supply hose around wherever you need the water to go and then tap into it at various points with 4mm pipe to your drippers / sprinklers etc. The drippers are quite clever in that they regulate so you buy them that do 1/2/4/etc. litres per hour depending on what your watering.
You then hook the whole lot up to a timer via a pressure reducing valve, this bit is important as irrigation systems are designed to work at low pressure. Too much pressure and connectors will get blown off etc.
We bought a Hozelock starter kit for doing the greenhouse some years ago but have added to it over time. Saves a lot of trouble with respect to watering over the summer months and it's not bother to go away for a few days as it works reliably so not returning to a greenhouse of dead plants.
The basic concept is you lay a 13 mm black plastic supply hose around wherever you need the water to go and then tap into it at various points with 4mm pipe to your drippers / sprinklers etc. The drippers are quite clever in that they regulate so you buy them that do 1/2/4/etc. litres per hour depending on what your watering.
You then hook the whole lot up to a timer via a pressure reducing valve, this bit is important as irrigation systems are designed to work at low pressure. Too much pressure and connectors will get blown off etc.
We bought a Hozelock starter kit for doing the greenhouse some years ago but have added to it over time. Saves a lot of trouble with respect to watering over the summer months and it's not bother to go away for a few days as it works reliably so not returning to a greenhouse of dead plants.
Edited by C0ffin D0dger on Tuesday 29th July 12:19
C0ffin D0dger said:
The dripper are quite clever in that the regulate so you by them that do say 1/2/4 litres per hour depending on what your watering..
Meant to but I've always found they block up or drip too much after a while so I replaced all mine with adjustable drip nozzles. You can also get an automatic selector which, for example, allows the drippers to drip for 30 mins, then moves on to put the sprayers on the lawn for 30 mins and so on in different zones if you don't have the pressure to cover it all at once.
Bear in mind that your lawn sprinkler range will be determined by pressure and flow from the tap. That'll be affected by your other sprinklers, so you may find you can't run everything at once.
I have four sprinklers for the lawn, but can only run one at once, so I'm looking for some suitable valves that can be opened and closed with a relay. I'm going to hook these up to a Rasberry Pi and control that from an App on my phone, I think I can get that to work with some apps that are out there.
I'd also consider putting the valves in some sort of box that is drained to the main drain in case you're away and something fails. You could add an emergency shut-off vlave to that if you're on a meter too.
I have four sprinklers for the lawn, but can only run one at once, so I'm looking for some suitable valves that can be opened and closed with a relay. I'm going to hook these up to a Rasberry Pi and control that from an App on my phone, I think I can get that to work with some apps that are out there.
I'd also consider putting the valves in some sort of box that is drained to the main drain in case you're away and something fails. You could add an emergency shut-off vlave to that if you're on a meter too.
RichB said:
paulrockliffe said:
I'm going to hook these up to a Rasberry Pi and control that from an App on my phone, .
Now you're just showing off 
Would something like this do the trick? I imagine Hozelock do an very similar product.
http://www.gardena.com/uk/water-management/water-c...
http://www.gardena.com/uk/water-management/water-c...
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff