Tuesday, January 21, 2014

By Judy Sullivan


It has now been determined that good landscaping designs are among the biggest value adders to a piece of real estate property. Many water conservation policies have been devised to govern the installation of landscaping sprinklers in a manner that promotes economical usage of this precious commodity. The designer has to start with appreciating the hydraulic properties of the water source that is assigned for the project at hand.

Initially, the static pressure of the fluid in the reservoir being utilized must be determined before the designer starts his calculations. Though it is tempting to assume the anticipated values, this approach may lead to design errors that have a negative impact on the system performance. The plan should try to make allowances for fluctuations in pressure values all year round or in the near future when the existing supply will be shared among more premises.

Landscaping sprinklers must be chosen carefully in consideration of the resources available for the project. If the target area is made up of wide spanning fields, rotating sprinklers with a large radius of throw are the cheapest solution. Nevertheless, they will have to be taken off when you intend to do some maintenance on the land. Popup sprinklers are flush with the ground surface when not working and will not be damaged by mowing equipment.

Sprayers are preferred where there is a pressure deficiency and slower flow, such as in the far corners of the field. Bubblers work well in restricted areas such as in shrub bushes or beneath growing ornamental trees. Younger plants will be damaged by strong water jets and are best irrigated though drip irrigation. At all times, you must apply just the right amount of water to avoid initiating runoff.

Runoff leads to wastage of agrochemicals that you may have added to the top soil as a dressing. Evaporative losses will arise if you water around midday or if your sprayer delivers the fluid in a very fine mist that is carried away by the wind. Leaving your fields wet in the night may expose some plant species to diseases. The recommended option is to do it in the morning as the plant absorption rate grows progressively from there on.

It is advisable to locate all operation valves in an easily accessible position. If they are to be located beneath ground level, consider installing them in valve boxes where they can be accessed for servicing. Where possible, manual valves should be within reach of the operator but at the same time prevent him from being doused by the sprinklers.

Installations sharing a lateral line will get a uniform distribution only if the supply is introduced midway on this pipe. Rainwater harvesting is a good practice as it will save on the water bill associated with your project. Remember to tailor your design to the watering patterns you intend to use.

Most golf courses have to be irrigated at night to avoid disrupting business the next day. The water window is a description of the watering times and is bound to differ with the applications. Landscaping sprinklers designing is an engaging activity that has to involve topology, flora and human element studies.




About the Author:



0 Comments:

Post a Comment