Garden irrigation systems

[rex]

I am just planning a garden irrigation system and have been reading around the subject. A lot of the sites are USA based and discuss the need for back flow prevention. I have looked on out water companies website but I has no mention of requirements of back flow prevention.

Any landscape pros on here that can point me in the right direction for the UK. If one is required I can mount it above the highest sprinkler level with no problem.

Also any recommendation on the best makes. Hunter seems to be the quality leader but would be nice to get a pro opinion.

Lawn is about 200 sqm

Edited to say 200 sam

Edited by rex on Sunday 17th April 23:21

[Toyless]

As far as Im aware,all of the available outdoor tap kits that the sheds sell have a built in valve to prevent back flow due to some bylaw.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Any tap/irrigation system attached to the mains must be protected against backflow by a double check valve located indoors to protect from freezing, although if replacing an existing combined exterior fitting, it may be replaced like for like providing there is a servicing valve to enable it to be drained of water in freezing weather conditions.

[fulham911club]

What are you wanting to irrigate? Lawn, hedges, flowering plants, etc?

I've put in a fairly extensive system in my garden (in France as its hot and required). What you need really depends on the types of plants you have...

[rex]

Irrigation will be for lawn and boarders. I want to set it up so I don't have to do any more than set up a control unit and sit back and relax. I like having a nice garden to sit in and use but hate gardening.

[Simpo Two]

Though if you irrigate it everything will grow more, including the weeds.

[Mermaid]

Best systems from Gardena & Claber - much better than Hoselock

[fulham911club]

rex said:

Irrigation will be for lawn and boarders. I want to set it up so I don't have to do any more than set up a control unit and sit back and relax. I like having a nice garden to sit in and use but hate gardening.

I've used Gardena for all fixings including the controllers - they have a wide range of different options and it lasts well.

[Chrisgr31]

Just as a warning if you are using a timer for the irrigation system, and there is a length of hose between the timer and tap, it will eventually complain about witholding the pressure of the water when the timer isn't watering. The outcome is water everywhere, and not good if you are out at the time and on a water meter!

[Matt Harper]

I have a Rain Bird modular system, which is a multi-zone (I have 5) set-up with pop-up rotators for grass areas and both pop-ups and pylons for shrubs and borders. I'm pretty certain you can buy these systems in UK. They are good, because they are ifinitely controllable and very durable. No hoses, or dicking around with connections - all welded pvc pipe - though I would imagine it would need to be buried quite deep in UK to avoid frost buggering it all. Where I am, it's less than a foot below the surface. I absolutely must have a back-flow valve and syphon for local ordinance - even though I'm sucking my irrigation water out of a lake, rather that feeding off the city water supply.
It also has a rain sensor, so if it's pissing-down, it shuts off.
This is the controller:

[rex]

Thanks for all the replies. Nice rainbird set up and control panel. I have been reading more on the web and as I have rain water harvesting tank I can get a submersible pump and not worry about the main water supply.

I have spent hours on www.irrigationtutorials.com and what he talks about seems to make sense. I have decided on hunter equipment but have not sourced a pump yet. Even choosing a pump is an involved process. Unfortunately a V8 pump may be over kill but as this is pistonheads I had to consider it. I will have to see if the neighbors want their garden watering