Soil Irrigation Installers

Irrigation is the process of supplying water to land and is one of the oldest and most important agricultural techniques in the world. Irrigation has allowed farmers to grow crops on land that would normally be unproductive due to a lack of moisture in the soil for thousands of years. In the UK, residential gardens can often do without irrigation for most of the year, but those looking to grow their own vegetables may struggle if the soil becomes too dry. Some form of irrigation system may therefore be useful for maintaining a garden throughout the year.

Large-scale irrigation can involve deliberate flooding, canals and even computer-controlled machinery, but these methods are generally confined to large agricultural developments, although horticultural settings may use scaled-down versions of the same techniques. Installation of even small-scale irrigation systems can involve a lot of work and may require an installer, although some simpler systems can be used in domestic gardens. The rate at which water passes through the ground, known as the infiltration rate, is mainly dictated by the type of soil, although plant cover can also play a part. The main categories of soil include gravel, sand or silt, and clay.

Gravel-type soil holds very little water because of the large gaps between particles, so water passes through quickly. Sand and silt soils have a medium to high infiltration rate, whereas clay soil is more compact and has a much lower infiltration rate. In general, small amounts of water may need to be applied regularly to many soil types in the UK. Installing an irrigation system can involve a lot of work, so it is worth considering during the planning stage of a landscaping project. If the garden is being created on bare ground, the area to be irrigated can be incorporated into the overall design. Before an irrigation system is installed, the garden can be divided into irrigation zones with different requirements depending on drainage, soil type, aspect and plant type.

Garden Drainage Overview

Good drainage is important in gardens for many plant types. Installing drainage on wet soils is one way to improve growing conditions. However, not every garden needs an installed drainage system. Some gardens may already have sufficient drainage thanks to nearby ditches, streams or soakaways. Drainage problems can occur when there is nowhere for excess water to go, which may leave parts of the garden waterlogged.

The first step is to identify areas with poor drainage. Surface puddling after rainfall can indicate that the soil may benefit from improved drainage. Before installing a drainage system, consider simpler measures such as digging over the beds and adding organic matter. If that does not help, simple ditches may be enough to carry away excess surface water. Where open ditches are unsuitable, French drains can be created by filling a trench with coarse gravel and topping it with a permeable membrane or upturned turf.