When it comes to landscapes, lawns, and gardens, there’s no denying the power of automated irrigation. With the right configuration and fixtures, an underground irrigation system can be adapted to handle every green space with ease and efficiency.
Turf Sprinklers v. Landscaping Sprinklers
For best results, landscaped property areas utilize sprinkler heads that deliver water at varying heights to avoid damaging plants or creating excess runoff.
Many homeowners and inexperienced sprinkler installers make the mistake of outfitting landscaped areas with turf-specific sprinkler heads. While it may seem convenient to just extend the radius of lawn sprayers to cover landscape beds, this approach can lead to inefficient watering, plant stress, and water waste.
Turf sprinkler heads are designed to deliver water across a large, relatively flat area. They disperse a significant volume of water in a short period of time, which works well for watering grass, but not so much when it comes to plantings. Shrubs and trees benefit from slower, more targeted watering that allows the soil to fully absorb the moisture and let it reach these plants’ deeper root systems.
Additionally, turf sprinkler heads do not account for the varying heights of landscape plantings. The types of plants in a landscape bed obstruct the spray of traditional sprayers, leading to uneven watering. Sprinkler heads designed for lawns but used instead on landscape beds often over- or under-water, increasing the chances of plant damage and even costly replacement. Also, the high water pressure required by turf sprinklers may cause water streams to “overshoot” the plant, landing on the side of the home or nearby sidewalk. In more delicate landscape beds, excess water can lead to runoff and eroded soil, exposing plant roots and leading to increased landscape maintenance and repair.
Best Sprinkler Heads Options for Landscape Beds and Gardens
Today, top sprinkler manufacturers, like Hunter and Rainbird, offer sprinkler head options specifically designed for a wide variety of landscape plantings. These are excellent options that simplify customizing an irrigation system to specific plant beds and gardens – protecting plant health and reducing water waste.
Drip Irrigation
Because drip irrigation lines lie on the surface, they are much more prone to damage than underground lines.
Do-it-yourself “drip” irrigation systems are a popular choice for landscape beds. Drip systems typically consist of surface-level hose or other tubing that runs throughout the landscape bed or garden and releases water through evenly spaced holes (emitters). This type of setup delivers water directly to the base of plants at a low flow rate to avoid runoff.
While these systems can be an effective option, there is a drawback: a lack of visibility that makes it difficult to tell if a plant is actually receiving the proper amount of hydration. Also, over time, drip lines can become clogged with dirt and mineral buildup, leading to unseen blockages that disrupt the flow of water. Drip irrigation can be useful under the right circumstances, but keep in mind that these systems require more maintenance and upkeep throughout the year and must be taken in from the cold once the weather turns to avoid freezing and cracking the components.
Micro Sprayers and Micro Rotors
A Hunter Industries Micro Sprayer at work.
Micro sprayers and micro rotors are small-scale sprinkler heads designed to provide low-volume overhead watering. They typically emit a fine, mist-like spray in a circular or fan pattern over young plantings, annuals, or shallow-rooted groundcovers. Since these are low-precipitation heads, they are gentle enough to use on flowering plants, and their adjustable spray patterns can be customized to provide even coverage, based on the shape and size of the landscape bed and the type of plants within. Micro sprayers and micro rotors can be added to an existing system and designated as an independent zone, making it possible to adjust watering schedules based on plant type and seasonal conditions.
Bubblers
Hunter Industries Bubbler Nozzle
Bubblers are best suited to larger landscape plantings that require deep, infrequent watering, such as trees and shrubs. Instead of delivering water as a mist or spray, bubblers release a stream of low-pressure water directly into the soil at the base of the plant. Larger plantings typically require longer watering sessions that promote long-term health, stability, and encourage deep root growth. The low pressure of bubbler sprinkler heads helps reduce soil disturbance while keeping water directly above the roots of the intended planting.
Professional Irrigation System Design
From flower beds bordering walkways, to newly planted shrubs or established ornamental trees, the appropriate irrigation setup can keep most any landscape installation healthy and thriving. With over 35 years of hands-on experience designing, installing, and maintaining irrigation systems throughout the greater Kansas City area, the sprinkler professionals at Heinen have the expertise to design and install the irrigation solution best suited to each individual owner’s property. No matter the size or complexity of a property’s irrigation needs, Heinen can design and install a new system or even upgrade an existing system for better performance.
