How to make automatic watering in the country with your own hands? Do-it-yourself drip irrigation to give at no cost. Do it yourself! Do-it-yourself autonomous watering

In the dacha community, there are a variety of opinions about what should be the irrigation system in the country, how much water and at what time should be supplied to the beds, to the root zones garden trees, greenhouse crops, flowers and ornamental plants. In all these cases, there are rules and recommendations about the time of watering, the average daily consumption and the method of water supply. The first two factors, as a rule, are selected based on agrotechnical practices, average daily temperatures, the number of sunny days and the severity of climatic realities. Another thing is the arrangement of the irrigation system, it is built according to their own capabilities and features of growing certain crops and plants.

How to choose the method of watering plants

The only thing that the vast majority of summer residents and lovers of organic products, vegetables and fruits agree on is that the garden irrigation system must correspond to the specifics of the plants grown. For example, it is impossible to use the irrigation system for fields and lawns for capricious and whimsical eggplants. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the availability of water reserves, the size of irrigated areas and even the geometric shape of the site.

To provide plants with a sufficient amount of water, several basic irrigation schemes are used:

• Sprinkler systems, both manual and mechanized or even automatic. In this case, the flow of water, cut into separate streams, is directed along a hinged path, so that drops of water fall on plants like rain;
• Distribution of water in the beds using a system of pipelines, canals and ditches, a system of collectors and tanks. This is the most ancient and proven method in practice. The flow of water, as a rule, does not come into direct contact with the root system of plants, but saturates the soil layers adjacent to the roots with moisture;
• The most modern of the existing ones is the drip irrigation method. Spot irrigation provides for precise dosing of liquid that enters the root zone of plants.

Today, drip irrigation systems are used in hot arid climates with limited water resources.

Important! The average capital intensity of drip irrigation is about 3-4 times higher than other methods, therefore, point water supply is resorted to on lean and stony soils. In this case, in addition to water, it is possible to bring an accurately dosed amount to the root system. nutrients, salts and fertilizers.

Drip irrigation works ideally in conditions where water is either scarce or cannot be used in in large numbers, for example, with excessively humid and warm air in greenhouse and greenhouse conditions.

How to water in greenhouses

A closed, and often isolated greenhouse room imposes its own characteristics on the way water is supplied to the plants. The greenhouse irrigation system is chosen depending on the purpose and method of growing plants:

• Dosed drip water supply is used for plants and crops grown and fruiting in greenhouse conditions. In this case, all irrigation equipment is controlled by automation or a self-watering mechanism. To a large extent, spot irrigation makes it possible to protect plants, for example, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, from possible damage by infectious diseases, acid rain, pests, including those present in the soil and in water;
• With the help of a streaming sprinkler method of water supply, a significant amount of moisture is produced in a relatively short period of time. Typically, large greenhouses are equipped with such irrigation systems, in which seedlings are grown, intended for planting in the ground;
• It is clear that sprinkler irrigation systems are used for growing seedlings of mass crops, for which point water supply is not applicable due to large areas of beds and structural features of crops. In this case, plant seedlings are deliberately accustomed to periodic moistening by vertical water flows. It is in this way that plants will be watered after planting in open ground.

In addition, seedlings are always grown in portable soil boxes, disposable pots, bags in very dense plantings, on which it is difficult and expensive to install a drip irrigation system, and this is useless if the plant goes to the beds in three to four weeks. Another thing is if vegetable crops go through a full cycle of growth, vegetation and fruiting in a greenhouse. In this case, there is practically no alternative to drip irrigation systems.

DIY greenhouse watering

Can be assembled the simplest option do-it-yourself irrigation systems for a greenhouse from a dozen polypropylene water pipes soldered into several longitudinal threads of the water pipe. Each thread is equipped with 3-5 centrifugal water sprayers similar to those used in backpack or balloon sprayers. Irrigation lines are installed under the ceiling of the greenhouse and connected to an underwater main with a low-power pump.

Here, in the greenhouse, a container is installed for several hundred liters of water. The electric timer is taken out of the greenhouse and installed at the connection point power cord pump to the power line.

Important! It is clear that it is necessary to correctly calculate the operating time of the irrigation system and the point of switching off the electric pump by the timer before the water tank is completely empty.

The use of centrifugal atomizers will make it possible to obtain a mist from finely dispersed water droplets that will settle on plants and perfectly moisten the surface without any negative consequences. Such an irrigation system for a greenhouse will provide the most efficient irrigation with microdroplets of water, regardless of what exactly will be grown - seedlings or fruiting plants.

Of course, if it is planned to grow vegetables, for example, tomatoes or early cucumbers, in addition to the irrigation system, it will be necessary to make larger products to ensure normal air flow and removal of excess water. early spring drip irrigation warm water will protect the greenhouse industry from severe frosts, and in the period of July-August from acid rain and pest invasion.

What to choose for a summer residence

Oddly enough, but the organization of watering beds, shrubs, plants and trees in a summer cottage has always been and remains one of the most difficult and time-consuming tasks. It takes a lot of effort to ensure that water is supplied to the plants at the right time of the day and in the required amount. At the same time, for shrubs, mature trees and beds, water must be supplied in completely different modes. Therefore, you have to combine and assemble an individual irrigation system with your own hands:

• For trees, drip or channel irrigation is used, the system is designed to supply water for 2-4 hours in the evening;
• For shrubs, seedlings and young trees, the use of channel irrigation systems is recommended;
• Seedlings, strawberries, lingonberries, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, carrots are watered in a canal way. For tomatoes, young shrubs, it is recommended to use drip irrigation systems;
• Perennial grasses, potatoes, pumpkins, zucchini, any plantations with dense plant mass can be flooded with water by sprinkler systems, provided correct selection dissecting nozzles.

It is often necessary to resort to drip irrigation because of the high sensitivity of plants to various bacterial and viral forms of diseases. In this case, the irrigation system allows you to avoid getting water on the leaves, respectively, reduce the risk of disease. No matter how carefully the water is prepared and filtered, excessive wetting of the leaves always causes the appearance of powdery mildew or phytophthora.

Open watering systems for plants

Choosing a specific irrigation system for own site in 90% of cases it depends on the growing conditions of plants. For the proper organization of water supply and plant nutrition, three main factors must be taken into account:

Farmers, seasoned gardeners, and seasoned gardeners with tens to hundreds of acres often use towed systems to irrigate their fields. It is possible to provide water for seedlings, vegetable crops, onions, peas, beans in an area of ​​800-1000 m 2 only with the help of a special mobile sprinkler system.

Structurally, such a system is a trailer for a mini-tractor, on which a frame with installed sprinklers is fixed. The water flow is supplied by a flexible hose laid along the track. During the movement, irrigation is carried out with a strip of at least 10 m wide. The water pump is driven by the tractor engine.

Note! The inconvenience and complexity of using such structures lies in the fact that a person has to directly participate in the irrigation process. On average, one watering of 100 m2 requires at least one hour of time.

Despite the primitiveness and extreme simplicity, in fact, this is the most effective method watering in such conditions, especially if, in addition to irrigation, it is necessary to carry out top dressing, protection from weeds and pests, plowing beds and annual plowing of the land. It is clear that such irrigation systems are used only in conditions of unlimited water supplies, for example, from the nearest river or pond.

Sprinkler installations for summer residents

Most summer cottages, due to their location, size and layout, are not suitable for irrigation with towed installations; on 6-10 hundredths of the land, it is easier and more reliable to install several portable water spraying and spraying installations. The efficiency of such irrigation systems is lower than that of drip structures, but the simplicity and reliability of irrigation equipment made raincoats and sprinklers, or, as they are also called, sprinklers, the most popular with an ordinary summer resident or gardener.

Irrigation system options:

More powerful pivots are a design that resembles a fire hose mounted on a steel support with a circular hinge. An aluminum cheek or blade with a counterweight is installed on the side surface of the metal barrel. Under the action of the counterweight, the blade rotates, falls under the pressure of the water jet and is thrown to the side. As a result, the irrigation trunk rotates through a small angle of 1-2 degrees. For 12 hours of continuous irrigation, the irrigation system turns to 180-270 o and covers an area of ​​150-200 m 2 .

The operation of the irrigation system does not require constant human intervention. It is enough to set the automatic shutdown of the electric pump and ensure the proper functioning of the water intake in the well or the nearest water source.

An example of an effective scheme for country watering

An example of the most sophisticated and fully functional sprinkler system is the Gardena irrigation system. Today, the installation includes more than a dozen special devices and mechanisms that ensure efficient water supply, both by sprinkling and dripping.

What is her secret? In versatility and high adaptability of water supply to any conditions. The irrigation system includes:

1. Powerful and at the same time light vortex pump capable of taking water from a depth of up to 5 m without immersion in a well;
2. A set of hoses of various diameters and lengths with connectors, splitters and adapters. In 15-20 minutes, a system up to 100 m long can be assembled from hoses;
3. System of tips and sprays of water;
4. Electronic devices for dosing water and fixing the irrigation time;
5. Water tapes and drippers - tips for organizing spot irrigation.

In fact, this is a kind of constructor for adults, which allows you to assemble an irrigation system of any complexity and power.

Channel irrigation systems

Somewhat forgotten channel irrigation systems are now getting a chance to regain popularity. This scheme uses the features of the terrain, the flow of rainwater flowing down from the territories and areas located higher up the slope is collected in a long and wide mini-pool. From there, along channels dug in the ground and lined with concrete, the flow of water is directed to beds, shrubs, and trees.

As an irrigation timer for gravity systems, the simplest device from a pair is used. plastic bottles mounted on a swinging chute. As the water is used up, the float lowers and the chute, through which the excess water from the pool overflows, stops the supply of moisture to the channel system.

To reduce water loss, in the hot season, the channels are covered with gratings knocked down from a slab or a wooden plank. A simple system of aqueducts in the manner of Roman water pipelines is now wildly popular in suburban and suburban areas. Although, in addition to the fashion for a new landscape element, the aqueduct has very real advantages:

• Absolute independence of the irrigation system from the presence of electricity on the site and the proper operation of automation;
• Highly simple circuit regulation of water supply by means of scraper dampers. In the same way, excess water in the pool during rain is switched to rain drainage channels;
• Efficient use of water that rivals drip irrigation, without the risk of increasing weeds in the beds due to thoughtless water spills, as is the case with sprinklers;
• The service life of a canal irrigation system built according to all the rules will easily exceed 40-50 years, and when lining aqueducts with sandstone, the service life can be doubled or tripled. Some villages still have a garden watering system built over 150 years ago from fired tiles.

The channel irrigation system has one drawback - for the effective use of water, the gardener has to directly participate in the distribution of water flowing from the channel along the beds. As a rule, due to the skillful overlap and redirection of the flow, it is possible to water beds and trees without interference even in the most hellish heat.

Most of the water enters the underground layers of the soil along the periphery of the root system of plants, the upper loosened layer remains almost dry. When mulching, the material remains in working condition for almost the entire season. In the same way, you can water gooseberries, currants, seedlings and even mature trees without creating swamps and weeds on the site.

There is a more modern channel irrigation system, in which, instead of channels, perforated polyethylene pipes, with a diameter of 50 mm. Such a gravity irrigation system no longer requires the presence of a person, but is sensitive to clogging of holes in the walls. Sometimes the pipes are wrapped with plaster plastic mesh and geotextiles, but still regularly, once a season, the irrigation system has to be flushed with a high-pressure water stream.

by the most beautiful option is the use of a gravity channel irrigation system with water intake from a well based on a windmill. To fill the pool with a daily supply of water, a tower 4 m high with a paddle wheel span of up to 2 m is sufficient. A gentle wind of 4-5 m / s allows you to raise water from a depth of up to 4 m with a flow rate of 150-200 l / h. This is enough to water the beds on 2-3 acres of the garden.

Drip or spot irrigation systems

The organization of drip irrigation at their summer cottage allows, as they say, to get by with "little blood". For example, if spring-summer were not too dry, then it is quite possible to use the stored rain water, but this will require building an entire plantation from a film to collect rainfall.

Typical device for spot irrigation of a summer cottage

A point or drip water supply makes it possible to manage by an order of magnitude less moisture, only due to its correct supply to the roots of plants. It is clear that the best results can be obtained by using branded components and assemblies.

In the simplest case, a domestic Zhuk irrigation system is bought for $120-160, which is customized according to the size and characteristics of your site. The “dropper” includes a set of tape hoses, a main conduit, a lot of tees and 20 pieces of droppers. This is enough to water and feed one tomato plantation of 20 bushes.

From several sets of Zhuk, you can power the entire summer cottage, but you will need to additionally acquire an automation system, a pump and a water tank, since they are not included in the kit.

For country houses with a large lawn, a huge vineyard, a garden and a vegetable garden, you can buy an American Hunter irrigation system. In this design, automation is abundant, there are humidity sensors, there is a timer and an automatic irrigation control, and even systems that monitor air humidity, solar radiation and evaporation.

All parts of Hunter, from containers to dividers and solenoid valves, are made of impact-resistant polypropylene. He is not afraid of temperature changes, frost, clogging. Hunter's service life is almost two decades. The cost of an irrigation system depends on the area to be irrigated. For an irrigated area of ​​1 hundredth, you will have to pay almost 700 dollars, for 11 hundredths - only 1,500 dollars. The larger the cottage, the lower the cost of irrigation with a one-hundredth system.

The advantages of the system include its high autonomy. For example, you can leave the garden in the country for a week and not worry that the vegetation will die due to lack of water in the irrigation system.

Hunter is ideal for very large plantations where automated control of watering and plant nutrition is required, in small gardens it is easiest to water manually or using the Zhuk system.

What is better from droppers

Despite the obvious technological gap between the Zhuk and Hunter, the demand for the simplest drip irrigation systems is much higher than for the automated version. There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this. During the vegetable garden season, it is not so much an automated, but a reliable water supply that is required. Any drip irrigation system is unusually sensitive to water quality.

The more suspension and clay particles, the stronger and more often the thin holes of the arrows in the system are clogged. Water has to be defended and passed through sand filters, but all the same, salts and clay microparticles clog irrigation equipment.

Despite some distrust on the part of gardeners, drip irrigation systems are ideal for watering shrubs and garden trees. In the summer, the roots need water in small quantities, but constantly. This allows, in addition to the influx of nutrients to the root zones, to provide increased humidity in the crown of a tree or shrub. As a result, plantings easily survive even the hottest weather and drought. Sprinkler irrigation systems in this regard are much less effective.

For spot irrigation, a small overpressure of 1.5-2 atm at the inlet and 0.5 atm in the working line is sufficient. In some cases, the point irrigation system works successfully without any pump, it is enough to raise the water supply tank to a height of 4-5 m above the ground level.

Individual plant watering option

Droppers have several small but significant drawbacks, namely, moisture is supplied to the roots of plants at almost one point. For the system itself, this does not matter, since capillary forces "stretch" irrigation moisture over an area of ​​4-6 cm. Plants suffer first of all - a wet spot on the roots becomes the main source of disease.

For example, after the operation of the sprinkler irrigation system upper leaves tomatoes, eggplants, strawberries, cucumbers, shrubs remain moist for a maximum of 30-50 minutes. Even if some microflora is present in the water droplets, the sun and wind remove and destroy most of the pathogens. In spot irrigation, everything is different - wet soil and shading create conditions for decay of the upper part of the root mass.

Therefore, spot irrigation is often supplemented individual systems glaze. What it is? Structurally, these are individual containers mounted on racks or wooden planks next to the plant. Usually it is a plastic bottle with a cut off bottom and a hole in the cork. A solution with top dressing or fertilizers that the crop needs is poured into the liter capacity of the irrigation system.

The most advanced and sophisticated irrigation systems provide water supply to the root system using an underground tank with perforated walls. Usually, when planting seedlings, an empty plastic bottle with holes in the side wall is buried in an upright position next to the plant. It is enough to make 2-3 rows of holes from the side of the plant with a nail. So that the irrigation system is not contaminated with liquid soil, sometimes the bottle is put on an old nylon stocking or sock. This is not difficult to do, especially since there is always plenty of material for a home-made irrigation system.

At the first stages, while the seedlings take root in the garden, a small amount of water is added to the bottle every two days, but without fertilizers. After the seedlings begin to grow, they add top dressing and after a couple of weeks they transfer to a drip irrigation system. The cap is removed from the bottle and left open. Such an irrigation system begins to work as a ventilation pipe, providing a constant flow of air and removing excess moisture.

At the fruiting stage of tomatoes and eggplants, the dug-in bottles are simply connected through a cork to an additional tape conduit from drip irrigation. This is easiest done with a needle from a blood transfusion system. As a result of a modified watering system, plants receive sufficient moisture even in the driest periods of summer.

In approximately the same way, you can organize the watering of shrubs and garden trees. To do this, 3-5 bottles are buried in the root system, through which most of the water gets under the rhizomes. But it is worth remembering that in the summer, shrubs and trees receive most of the moisture through the crown, therefore, such a design is not able to completely replace the sprinkling or drip-point irrigation system.

Conclusion

Watering garden and horticultural crops has always been and remains a difficult task that requires accuracy and patience, so it makes sense to shift most of the work to sprinkler and drip installations. A complete transition to automatic irrigation systems today is possible only in greenhouses and greenhouses, where it is critical. For everything suburban area the use of fully automated irrigation systems is still quite expensive. And most importantly, water supply systems do not provide adequate reliability. One accident in the summer heat can cause the death of the entire crop.

Kirill Sysoev

Calloused hands do not know boredom!

Content

It is not so easy to take care of a summer cottage of an impressive size, especially if there are not enough workers. Watering takes a lot of time in the hot season - this procedure has to be performed every day. A do-it-yourself automatic watering system will take some of the worries off your shoulders.

How to arrange automatic watering with your own hands

The main condition for irrigation is the presence of running water. If there is none, it is necessary to install a large container at a distance of at least 1.5 m above the ground. Another alternative to plumbing is a small reservoir. There are three schemes for automatic irrigation of a summer cottage:

1. Drip. Water flows to the rhizome of plants, so that the stems and leaves remain dry. The system is suitable for humidification vegetable crops provides economical water consumption. It is made of plastic / polypropylene pipes, which are installed between the beds at a close distance from the ground. Special droppers are mounted along the entire length, through which water enters directly into the ground.
2. Rain. A feature of the system is the uniform spraying of water over a certain area. Installing a sprinkler is relevant for lawns, flower beds, gardens. It is necessary to ensure that moisture goes into the ground, because when it is oversaturated with water, puddles form. After drying, the earth cracks, which prevents free air exchange.
3. Intrasoil. A complex system that is not easy to do with your own hands. Used to automate the irrigation of decorative and fruit trees, shrubs, some herbaceous plants. Such automatic watering of the garden is similar to a drip system, but small holes are made on the pipes through which water oozes. The pipes themselves are dug into the ground close to the plantations.

Automatic watering of the site according to the scheme

It has been described above which irrigation systems it is advisable to use in different cases. The easiest to implement automatic watering in the country with your own hands is drip. It is better to start work on arranging the system at the end of winter, when preparations begin. land plot. To lay pipes in close proximity to plants, you must know where your beds will be located. Draw a site plan on a piece of paper, indicate the places that need automation. Plan to scale so you know the distance between plants.

Think carefully and apply the tracing of future droppers and plumbing. If the site is sloping, give the pipes a horizontal direction, draw the hoses at an angle. Mark the places where the irrigation pipes will connect and branch: this will make it possible to count all the fittings and their varieties. Designate where it will be located pumping station(better in the central part of the garden).

Do-it-yourself irrigation system for a summer residence

When the plan for automatic watering in the country with your own hands is ready, you need to transfer it to the site. To complete the task, you will need the following materials and tools:

• large capacity (minimum 200 l) - needed if there is no running water;
• stop valves (faucets, at least 2 pieces), filters;
• pipes - rigid (for main pipelines) and soft (for drip irrigation);
• tees;
• drip nozzles or drip sleeve;
• sprinklers;
• controller;
• pump;
• hoses, valves, precipitation sensors;
• tools: shovel (shovel and bayonet), tape measure, square, adjustable wrench, screwdriver, pliers, screwdriver, adjustable wrench.

These devices are needed for complex engineering works. The main stages look like this (depending on the type of irrigation system, they are modified):

1. Digging trenches under highways. Depth - 40-60 cm.
2. Laying pipes, connecting them with fittings.
3. Installation of sprinklers (for rain watering system);
4. Bringing peripheral highways to the main one.
5. Fastening of the main line to the nozzle of the accumulative tank.
6. Burying pipes.

DIY drip irrigation system

Your attention is presented to a simple scheme of plastic bottles. Drip irrigation in the country can be arranged as follows:

1. Take a lot of plastic bottles with a capacity of 1.5-2 liters. For moisture-loving plants, a larger container will be required.
2. With a nail, make several holes in the walls at a distance of 3 cm from the bottom.
3. Bury the bottles upside down between green spaces at a depth of 10-15 cm.
4. Add water through the neck as needed.

How to make drip irrigation with your own hands of a higher level? At a minimum, you will need minimal engineering knowledge and tooling skills. If you can calculate the working pressure, dig trenches, lay pipes at the right angle, connect them, set a timer, filters, etc., then it makes sense to take on the job. Otherwise, it is better to invite the masters.

Rain system for automatic watering in the country

Installation of such a sprinkler is not particularly difficult to implement. Stages of work:

1. Replace the irrigation hose with an extensive network of pipelines that will cover the entire garden, household plot or a greenhouse.
2. Install nozzles at the end of each stub pipe. different models can be found in the economic departments.
3. Replace the standard faucet you need to turn on the water with an automatic valve. Equip the device with an on timer.

Intrasoil irrigation system for summer cottages

Do-it-yourself automatic watering in the country of this type is the most difficult to implement. If we describe the construction scheme very primitively, then we get the following plan for building the system:

1. Dig trenches 20-30 cm deep. The distance between them is 40-90 cm.
2. Lay porous polyethylene pipes in trenches through which water will ooze.
3. Lay tape under the pipes. They do not allow water to go deep.
4. Install a solenoid valve/drain valve/precipitation sensors for the irrigation system to operate automatically.

Video: do-it-yourself automatic watering

The device of different types of automatic watering systems may seem very complicated to you. However, if you watch the videos below, you will understand that everything is realizable. Tips from experienced summer residents will help automate the process and make it easier to care for plants. You will see how the elements of the system look like, how to arrange and connect them to get a well-functioning sprinkler.

The owners of summer cottages take on an overwhelming burden, because they have to look after not only the garden, but also the greenhouse, garden, lawn and flower beds.

It takes a lot of time and effort to keep them up to date. After all, each object needs constant monitoring, as a result of which many different activities have to be carried out. Irrigation is especially time consuming. But this work can be simplified if you automate it.

Characteristics of automatic watering systems

There are a lot of advantages to such a solution: the gardener not only gets more free time, but will also be able to save on water consumption, which will only benefit the plants, as it allows you to increase yields and improve the appearance of plants.

However, success in this matter largely depends on how often and how evenly watering will be carried out. Realizing the usefulness of such an invention, many gardeners turn to specialized companies offering automatic irrigation systems.

However, summer residents who have “golden hands” often decide to make automatic watering with their own hands. The use of automatic irrigation systems is most relevant for those owners who own large country plots.

Those of them who had experience using automatic irrigation systems note many pluses at autowatering:

• Selection of the watering time for which you can set the desired operating interval.
• Proper installation of the system gives confidence that after the next watering, a crust does not form on the ground, and this will provide the root system of plants with a sufficient amount of oxygen.
• With the correct determination of the placement of irrigation circuits, the summer resident can be sure that even the most inaccessible areas will be provided with moisture.

Among all the advantages that a humidification system provides, the main one is that when using an automatic irrigation system, water consumption is reduced.

Indeed, thanks to it, water is delivered directly to the roots of plants, so the summer resident does not have to pour water on empty plots of land. Competent organization of watering plants allows several times increase the harvest, which can be noticed already in the first year of using this system.

Disadvantages of an automatic irrigation system

However, such irrigation systems cannot be called ideal due to the presence of certain disadvantages. Of course, you will save money if you decide to do all the work yourself.

However, you still need to spend some money to purchase special equipment and materials. The cost of individual components, as a rule, is lower than ready-made automatic irrigation systems.

However, it is possible to properly assemble these elements only if the person has experience as a mechanic and electrician.

A serious problem can be for a summer resident malfunctions plumbing system or its complete absence on the site. But here, too, a solution can be found - to repair the water supply, and if this possibility is not considered, then alternative sources of water can be used.

Automatic watering: types and possibilities

On sale today there are quite a lot of systems for organizing automatic irrigation in the country, which you can make yourself. All of them differ in the purposes of application: drip irrigation; sprinkling; subsoil irrigation.

Drip irrigation. The drip irrigation system is advantageous in that it allows you to achieve a minimum water consumption. As the main elements for its manufacture, polypropylene and plastic pipes, rubber hoses that are installed between rows of flowers, plants or beds.

They are placed as best as possible. closer to landings in order to ensure the maximum amount of water that will flow to the root system when used. To supply water to the ground, special droppers are provided, which are built into the entire length of the pipe.

As a result, with this method of watering, the leaves and stems remain dry, and this is undoubtedly a plus for the plants, since they will not get burned in the sun.

Minimum water consumption in use automatic system drip irrigation is provided due to the fact that water flows directly to the place of irrigation.

As a result, it is not spent on irrigating another unnecessary territory. All this goes only into the hands of the summer resident, since this extends working life system, and also saves on water consumption.

Sprinkling

Automatic irrigation systems that work on the principle of sprinkling are also often used by many summer residents. When used, moisture enters the plants in the form of splashes covering evenly the entire area.

The effectiveness of this system is ensured by the fact that not only the soil receives a sufficient amount of moisture, but also manages to maintain an optimal level of air humidity. Under such conditions, plants are provided optimal conditions development, so they easily restore leaf turgor in extreme heat.

But when using this method of watering, the summer resident will have to keep an eye on so that the moisture goes into the ground. Uncontrolled use of the method can lead to the fact that after sufficient soil moisture, puddles begin to appear on its surface, and after they dry out, an earthen crust.

As a result, the plants will receive much less oxygen. You also need to consider that it is best to use this method evening or early morning when the sun is not as hot. This will help protect the plants from burns.

This method of watering attracts the attention of many gardeners and the fact that, along with watering, carry out liquid feeding. Because of this feature, such automatic irrigation systems are most widely used in lawn care.

Subsoil irrigation

A less common option is the subsoil irrigation method, which also differs great difficulty in implementation. Most likely, an ordinary summer resident will not be able to make it on his own.

After all, this system refers to specialized options for automatic irrigation, which is used to irrigate specific plantings or ornamental trees. When using this method, moisture enters in the same way as in the case of drip irrigation systems.

The difference lies in the use pipes with fine perforation, ensuring the flow of water into the soil, which are buried in close proximity to the plants.

Therefore, if this irrigation system is properly organized, then all plants will be provided with sufficient moisture, while the soil surface will remain dry all the time.

This, in turn, excludes the appearance of an earthen crust, which will provide the root system of plants and oxygen in sufficient quantities throughout the summer season.

When thinking about which type of automatic irrigation system to choose for your site, it is very helpful to first study information about which plants are most effective to use specific method glaze.

For the care of flowers, trees and lawns, it is recommended to use sprinklers. In this case, water to the irrigation site will come from special sprinklers.

Watering with drip systems is most effective when caring for shrubs, flower beds, alpine slides and hedgerows. You can also use them while growing seedlings in greenhouses, as well as when caring for plants in the garden.

Installation of a drip system - what is needed for this

Only those owners who have running water on the site will be able to use the automatic irrigation system. In its absence, for these purposes it is possible to adapt any capacity, which will have to be installed at a height of at least 1.5 meters above the ground.

If you cannot fulfill this condition, and you do not have the opportunity to install them yourself, however, there is a small reservoir next to you, then you can turn it as an alternative to plumbing.

A standard automatic irrigation system is equipped with the following main components:

• drip tape;
• pressure regulator;
• controller;
• distribution pipe and various fittings.

Drip tape, as a rule, is made in the form thin wall pvc pipe, which begins to round off at the moment when water flows through it.

From the inside to her droppers are connected placed at an equal distance from each other. When determining this interval, take into account the type of plants that need irrigation.

In cases where the water comes from a municipal water supply, it may be necessary to pressure regulator. If the water flows with drops, then this can lead to deformation of the pipe, and when the pressure rises, there is a danger of its rupture.

The controller is made in the form of an electronic unit, and its main task is to provide automatic adjustment of the system operation.

This element greatly simplifies the operation of automatic irrigation systems, since thanks to the available programs, you can determine the optimal time intervals and automate the activation process system at the specified time without requiring human intervention.

In cases where a do-it-yourself automatic watering system needs to be made to irrigate several areas, say, flower beds located at a certain distance from each other, then to use the system you will need distribution pipe.

The owner can choose one of the following laying methods - above ground or under it. As a rule, pipes with a cross section of 3.2 cm or more are used for such tasks.

In the process of assembling automatic irrigation systems as a connecting element fittings are used. They are necessary for the installation of each site, starting with the place of water supply and ending with the place of irrigation.

The device of the automatic watering system

You can automate the irrigation system for a summer cottage using a controller that can work from the network or batteries. Using the last option of energy supply is not very unprofitable due to the limited resource of work.

Therefore, it is advisable to purchase More expensive models working from direct current. Their installation is recommended to be carried out in places where they will be provided with special conditions. It can be, for example, a basement or a barn.

The main thing is that they are as close as possible to the supply tap or water tank. If speak about technical equipment installation location, here you will need to install special mounting box, in which all valves and electrical appliances will be located.

However, not all summer residents are ready to spend big money on buying an expensive system to water flowers in the country. In this case, you can save money and make it yourself. Then you have to turn off the supply valve at the right time.

As a result, the water will begin to flow by gravity, however, for this you will have to do some work:

1. You will need a fairly large tank, which must be installed at a height of at least 1.5-2 meters above the ground.
2. The automation system will be replaced by the law of physics, when water from the tank begins to flow under the influence of pressure.
3. In cases where it is difficult to organize the flow of water by gravity, you can install a pressure regulator.

Automatic irrigation system can be equipped certain control devices, with which you can set a schedule for automatic watering of plants throughout the summer season.

So, you will save yourself from unnecessary laborious work, as a result of which you do not have to go to the dacha every day to water the beds and flower beds. Instead, it is enough for you to come to your site 1-2 times a week to make sure that the system is working and that there is enough water in the tanks or that there are no problems with the plumbing.

Each summer resident personal experience knows how difficult it is to maintain a personal plot. After all, you have to solve many issues, including regularly watering garden crops.

However, you can save yourself from this time-consuming work if you organize a do-it-yourself irrigation system. There are several such systems, and each has its own advantages.

Therefore, in order not to make a mistake with the choice, you need to decide on which plants you need an irrigation system for watering. After that, if you have certain skills, you will need to purchase the necessary components and build an irrigation system at the cottage with their own hands for operation.

Watering the garden by hand is inefficient, inconvenient, and it takes a lot of time. Different crops need to be watered in different time days, due to which the presence of a person is required almost constantly. It is easier to use automatic irrigation systems in the country.

Multi-jet lawn sprinkler

Before you go to a specialized store, you need to accurately plan the site, determine the source of water and calculate the pump power. We also need a breakdown of the land into zones according to the plants planted on them, so that separate irrigation can be organized.

Two types of systems are used - simple, non-automated, and complex with an automatic controller.

Water sources

First, a water source is chosen, since the type of equipment and its set depend on its characteristics. Source types:

Water source, photo:	Description:
Central water supply	A convenient way, but not available at every site, and the cost of irrigation is more expensive, although a pump is not needed. If gardening extensive or often drought in the region, such a source is unprofitable, based on the volumes needed for irrigation and the cost per cubic meter of water.
Water intake from a well	At the site, it is necessary to drill a deep well for direct water intake from the bowels (read about in the article). The system can be connected to the one that provides water to the house, or installed separately. For installation, you will need to hire drillers and install pumping equipment (described in the article). As a result, an almost unlimited supply of water is available. The remaining costs are associated only with the maintenance of equipment and electricity.
	Almost the same as a well, only the system includes a caisson. The well can not be deepened much - it is enough to provide a sufficient water level for irrigation.
Autonomous sewerage	Yes, water for periodic irrigation can be taken from the sewer, but not everyone. Autonomous usually consist of several containers, the water in which is settled and purified. Separate systems provide a level of purification up to 95% - such water can be drained even into natural reservoirs without the risk of damaging the environment. The main thing is to correlate the performance of the septic tank and the volume of water needed for irrigation daily. It happens that a part will have to be obtained from another source. Advice! Aerotanks (bioseptics) work with the help of special bacteria that convert feces into peat, which can be used to fertilize plants. Such a symbiosis is the most productive.
PVC water storage tank	When organizing a profitable and energy-efficient economy, one should not neglect any sources of water, even rainwater, which can be collected in tanks and barrels. Such a source will not give much water, but as an additional one it will do.
Natural or artificial reservoir	If there is a pond near the site or it is a village on the site (read the article), it will be a good capacity for water accumulation. Another such source is the swimming pool. Regular filling of the reservoir can be organized by a borehole pump. The natural pond is fed by ground water and does not need additional filling.

Automatic watering system - drawing up a plan

When you know where the water source will be, you can begin to draw up a water supply plan. It's not that difficult even with minimal drawing skills.

• Knowledge of the time and volume of watering for specific plants makes it possible to separate garden plot into zones in which plants with similar requirements will be grouped.
• A plot is drawn to scale on a sheet of paper. In the figure, the mentioned zones are distinguished and the points of location of the watering heads are determined so that they cover the desired area.

Advice! Before this stage, it is necessary to already know what equipment will be installed in order to understand what pressure will be in the system and how far the water scatters from the sprayers.

• A similar approach is with drip irrigation systems, only on the plan they mark out point plantings of plants that need to deliver water to the roots. These include, for example, tomatoes.

• Then on the plan indicate the route of the water supply. This will help to accurately calculate the total length of the hoses.
• Lay the hoses so that they all have almost equal length, which will provide the same pressure.
• Sprinklers are placed at the corners of the site at 90 degrees and their radius of action is also noted.
• Sprinklers are placed along the boundaries of the site by 180 degrees. Near structures - at 270, and circular in the middle.

Irrigation zones are distributed so that the radii of neighboring sprinklers intersect. This will allow you not to miss a piece of land.

When designing, the most powerful irrigation heads are placed first, and then they fill the rest of the space. Where rain irrigation is not possible for various reasons, drip irrigation is installed.

Once planning is complete, a cost estimate is prepared.

Irrigation systems for summer cottages and gardens - the choice of irrigation method

Usually choose one of two types of irrigation - drip or rain. Preference is given to what is suitable for specific plants on the site.

drip irrigation system

Drip irrigation systems for summer cottages are suitable for free-standing plants that do not require water to fall on the foliage. It is very efficient and economical, since all the water is supplied directly to the roots.

Its plus - the system does not require the creation of high pressure - often they do not even use a pump. It is enough to install a barrel of water at a height of 2-3 meters.

The principle of operation of such an installation is simple - a water supply network is connected to the main tank, which is assembled from hoses, tees, splitters and other equipment. The connection is made through a crane, which is controlled manually or automatically.

AT open form water fills the system and begins to flow out drop by drop through small holes in the hoses or special devices.

Pressure in the system is also created by a pump that is connected through a diaphragm accumulator, but such a scheme is not recommended, since the pump will often turn on for a short time, which will lead to wear on the electrical part.

It is better to install a float in a large tank, which will turn on the pump when the water level drops to a critical level.

A big disadvantage of such a system is the need to use fine filtration units, since small impurities quickly clog irrigation holes.

Drip irrigation systems can be built from improvised materials or purchased ready-made.

Rain irrigation system

The second method of irrigation is rainwater, as water is supplied to the heads for irrigation through hoses under pressure, after which it is sprayed through nozzles in a certain direction.

To organize such a system, much more serious equipment is required. For example, the system may use automatic rotary sprinklers, which, after completion of work, automatically hide in the ground so as not to remain visible.

Here, a controller is needed, and solenoid valves and a powerful pump that will provide sufficient pressure in all parts of the water supply.

Advice! If the size of the area to be watered does not exceed 2 meters, and the plantings on it are too high, it is not advisable to use sprinklers, as they have a decent range and can cause a lot of inconvenience.

If the area is very large, oscillating sprinklers are used, capable of capturing an area of ​​up to 250 square meters.

Checking the system for the level of drawdown

Drawing up a drawing is half the battle. It happens that the power of the pump is incorrectly selected or the diameter of the selected hose is not enough to pass the required amount of water.

Therefore, you need to perform a preliminary check. To do this, calculate the maximum throughput of all sprinklers used, correlate them with the throughput of the hose and the pressure that the pumping equipment will create in the system.

For calculations, you need to know the total length of the water supply and the diameter of the hoses. This will allow you to find the desired parameter according to the tables that can be found on the network. Performing calculations without them is problematic. An example of such a table is shown below.

Advice! The flow rate can be measured independently by filling a ten-liter bucket with a ten-meter hose. Further, it will not be difficult to make a calculation for any length.

The pump should always be taken with a power reserve, since it is necessary to take into account the pressure loss after each draw point in the system.

The difference in speed from the first measurement will show the pressure drop. If the pumping equipment is powerful, when the sprinklers are connected, the pressure will not drop very noticeably.

The choice of pumping equipment for a summer cottage

The pump must provide the required pressure in the entire water supply so that the sprinklers cover the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe land calculated for them. However, the types of pumps are also important.

Surface pump

Self-priming equipment that can be used for reservoirs, wells and wells, however, they are not capable of lifting water more than 10.3 meters in height, due to the maximum pressure drop in our atmosphere. In reality, this value rarely exceeds 8 meters, taking into account power losses.

These pumps are of two types - centrifugal and vortex. The former are considered more reliable and stable in operation, but the latter can instantly create high pressure, which is important for irrigation of large areas.

Submersible pump

The second type is submersible. They do not pull water, but push, they can be used at great depths. Used in wells. They are very productive and efficient, although they are more expensive and more difficult to repair.

The undoubted advantage of a deep pump is that it does not need to install a caisson, the equipment is hidden deep in the casing.

The difference between irrigation pumps and water supply equipment is small, but there are:

1. Firstly, a hydraulic accumulator is not required for irrigation, which eliminates the drop in jet power - the equipment simply turns on for a while and works.
2. Secondly, you can immediately buy programmable models that can automate watering without additional controllers.

Popular garden pumps are those manufactured by Gardena.

Irrigation automation

Far from all pumps have "brains", therefore, special controllers are used for automatic control, like the one shown in the photo.

Depending on the type of system, different devices are used. Some work like a timer, including watering at the time set on them. Others have devices for determining the water level in the main tank;

The controller is an electrical device that must be installed in a protected place - a caisson, a special box or a room. Naturally, an electrical point is provided for its connection.

It can control the pump, solenoid valves and pop-up sprinklers. Valves are used to cut off selected branches from irrigation and turn them back on. With sprinklers, everything is clear and without words.

All electrical equipment in the garden must be connected through the SBPU armored signal cable. It comes in 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12 and 16-core. All important blocks installed in boxes, which are then masked.

Interesting to know! The system may include pressure reducers to supply water to the same drip irrigation systems.

From electrical equipment a rain sensor is also required, which will not allow the pump to turn on if everything around is already wet.

Drip irrigation is a method when water is dispensed in small portions, evenly, constantly and in the right place. Typically, this method involves moistening the root system of the plant and nearby soil. Not a single drop of water is wasted, and the plants do not dry out and do not rot from overflow.

To install the system, you will need pipes or plastic bottles. Choose for yourself what is more convenient and easier. But usually the bottle method is chosen for small gardens with crops that are recommended for root watering. For a large area with a variety of plants, it is better to use pipes.

General requirements for all gardens - should be located in parallel, and the plants - close to each other.

The choice of a mechanical or automatic system is a matter of personal taste and material possibilities.

How to make a drip irrigation system in the country from pipes

For automatic pipe irrigation, you will need a water tank, a large PVC pipe, several thin polyethylene pipes with a diameter of 10-15 mm (depending on the number of beds), nozzles (plastic elements of droppers), as well as plugs for thin pipes. PVC and plastic perfectly tolerate high and low temperatures, therefore ideal for watering and irrigation systems for the garden.

Lay a large pipe perpendicular to the beds, connect it to the water tank by drilling a hole just above the bottom. Make holes in the "main" itself according to the number of thin pipes. Lay thin pipes between the beds parallel to each other, cut and bring them on one side to the "main" using fittings, and close the other end with a plug.

Now you need to drill holes in thin pipes - according to the number of plants. Water from the country "water supply" will flow to the roots of plants through the plastic elements of droppers. Thin plastic pipes can be replaced with a special drip tape or a rigid hose, and it is better to make holes with a red-hot awl.

If you do not want to clean the pipes too often, install a filter in the tank that pre-purifies the water from dirt and sand. Before starting the irrigation system, remove the plugs and run water through the pipes. So you can see all the shortcomings of the system and correct them in time.

Do-it-yourself watering system in the country from plastic bottles

Photo from the site: https://samodelino.ru

Evgeny Ukhtomsky

Experienced gardener

“This is also a drip design, however, it is much simpler - from ordinary plastic bottles that can be hung upside down over the beds or dug into the ground. The bottles are fixed on a frame made of timber and wire with twine stretched through the holes. In the lid, several punctures should be made with a red-hot needle. Adjust the system so that drops do not fall on the leaves, otherwise there will be a burn. In my experience, liter bottle enough for five days, so if you're away for 10-15 days, use 3-6 liter bottles."

To organize a root system for watering the garden, you will need a 1.5 liter bottle. Just pierce the bottle in several places and bury it in the ground to the depth of the length of the roots of the plants. Pour water into a bottle, and it will ooze drop by drop, irrigating the ground. One bottle is usually enough for 3-4 days. You can bury the bottle upside down. In this case, you will have to cut off the bottom of the container, and put special dispensers for root watering on the neck.

How to organize a rainwater irrigation system in the country

The rain garden irrigation method refers to the automatic watering method. It imitates natural precipitation, and such a system has its advantages. During rain irrigation, not only the root soil is irrigated, but also its upper layer, which reduces the evaporation of moisture from the surface of the earth. Plants are naturally cleaned of dust and dirt, which improves their growth and increases yields. In addition, at correct installation these structures are visually invisible.

For a rain irrigation system, you need to purchase special sprinklers that are available different types. Rotary designs have a rotating head that sprays water within a radius of 30 meters. Fan sprinklers do not rotate and are able to water the ground at a distance of 18 meters. They are less convenient and have a higher water consumption.

To install a rain irrigation system, you need to dig trenches, lay pipes, install sprinklers and connect the entire system through a programmable controller to a water tank that is connected to a well or water supply. With their own hands, only experienced gardeners who know how to work with equipment can do this. In all other cases, it is better to call specialists. It would also be nice to connect a soil moisture sensor, which will block the operation of the system during rain.

underground system watering for the garden

This method of irrigation resembles drip irrigation, only the pipes do not run on the surface of the earth, but directly in the soil. Previously, such a system was very complex and was used only on a large scale, for example, on state farm fields. Now, thanks to the appearance of polyethylene pipes, subsurface irrigation has become.

Igor Popovtsev

garden engineer

“The essence of this system is that water is supplied directly to the roots of plants through tubes with holes. Since the pipes are laid at a sufficient depth, the upper part of the soil is not moistened, so a crust does not form on it. This means that it is not required to additionally loosen the ground and remove weeds, because for the germination of their seeds, moisture on the surface will obviously not be enough. To install such a system, you will need polyethylene tubes up to 4 cm in diameter, in which at a distance of 20-40 cm you need to make round holes 2-3 mm in diameter. Pipes are laid in the soil to a depth of 20-30 cm at a distance of 40-90 cm from each other. The distance between the humidifiers is determined by how often the garden needs to be watered - in strawberry beds pipes can be laid more often, but in an apple orchard there is no such need.

Lay humidifiers on plastic film strips to prevent moisture loss. The underground irrigation system is designed as follows: a hose is laid from a barrel of water to an irrigation tank, which is installed directly into the ground. The tank must be equipped with a water dispenser to regulate its supply to the roots of plants. Polyethylene pipes supplying moisture to the soil are connected to this tank.