Top Tips for Saving Water through Irrigation

With the whole industry praying for a break from the relentless rain that has covered the UK for what feels like a lifetime we’re going to take a closer look at the products that can help save water when our long awaited spring arrives!

When looking for irrigation that will use water most efficiently then in-line drip pipe is a great option. Drip irrigation has been widely used in the growers market for years due to it’s direct, consistent watering. In recent years it has also become the most commonly used product in the residential market. Our ‘go-to’ is always Techline Professional In-line Drip Pipe.

Techline is the world’s leading pressure-compensating, continuously self-cleaning in-line drip pipe. It is manufactured from dark brown UV resistant PE pipe, with a clever patented labyrinth dripper built into the pipe every 300mm. With each dripper emitting exactly 2.3 litres per hour, Techline is a very efficient system, and is particularly suited to watering large areas of permanent planting, especially if the water pressure or flow is poor.

It might seem far too simple but the best way to save water is to use less! It always amazes me how many systems are installed without any rain or weather sensors. Check out our top water saving sensors...

The Claber rain sensor is easy to fit and simply plugs into the Video-2 Plus, Video-6 Plus or Duplo timers, saving water by overriding the programs when it is raining, or if there has been high rainfall and the internal level reaches 5mm. When the water in the sensor evaporates, it automatically resumes to the pre-programmed settings.

The Gardena smart sensors can be used to measure the soil moisture levels at the roots of the chosen plants, as well as the light intensity and the temperature at the surface.

This data automatically gets sent back to the gateway and the Gardena app, where it can be used to adjust the planned schedules to suit the current weather and soil conditions.

Hunter's Mini Clik rain sensor provides the simplest, most effective way to prevent sprinklers from running during or after any level of rainfall. It easily installs on any automatic irrigation system. The Mini-Clik stops scheduled irrigation when it detects a pre-set level of rain has fallen. This automatic process ensures landscapes aren’t watered during a storm. Once the storm passes, the Mini-Clik allows the controller to resume normal irrigation. Mini-Clik is compatible with all Hunter controllers, and once plugged in, it ensures that a system doesn’t water during the rain.

With built-in Quick Response technology, the Hunter Wireless Rain-Clik can command a controller to shut off right when it starts to rain. The Rain-Clik can be mounted on an eave or any flat vertical surface like a wall or fence. A gutter mount is also available that allows for easy installation of the Rain-Clik on the edge of a gutter.

The Soil-Clik simplifies soil moisture sensing. The Soil-Clik probe uses proven technology to measure moisture within the root zone. When the probe senses that the soil has reached its desired moisture level, it will shut down irrigation, preventing water waste.The Soil-Clik has two components: A moisture sensor probe, which is placed in the soil, and an electronic module, which communicates with the probe and the controller. The probe is easy to install – simply bury it to the correct root depth for your plant material. It can be placed up to 300 metres from the controller. Easy push button operation allows adjustments to the desired moisture level, with an immediate update of actual measurements.



All of the above offer simple, effective solutions that will adjust your irrigation system depending on rainfall and will in-turn save water. However, there is now a much more accurate way of doing this with the introduction of Smart Systems. At Landscapeplus we have smart options in both tap based and mains manifold based systems as well as large decoder systems!

With the recent addition of the Hunter X2 Wand, Hydrawise software is now available across more Hunter controllers than ever! Hydrawise gives you automatic daily schedule adjustments, based on local weather data, monitor past, current and forecasted temperature, rainfall, humidity and wind speed allowing for adjustments of watering times and schedules to balance water savings with water efficiency for plants. You can also monitor water use age with an optional flow meter, that will send you automatic alerts if a pipe is broken to prevent water wastage or property damage.

A brilliant new addition to the Landscapeplus range, Gardena now offer a brilliant option for smart, tap base systems! Thanks to the app, the Gardena smart Water Controller needs only one button. Pressing this button once will light up the LED's that show the status of the timer, and pressing it again will manually open or close the internal solenoid valve. The Gardena app allows the user to easily programme endless unique watering schedules, where they can control the start time and length of the irrigation cycle, as well as the days of the week in which the schedule will run. The app features the 'Gardena-assisted mode', which uses the answers to just seven multiple-choice questions to accurately generate schedules for you.The Gardena smart sensor can be used to measure the soil moisture levels at the root of the watered plants, as well as the light intensity and the temperature at the surface. This data automatically gets sent back to the gateway and the Gardena app, where it can be used to adjust the planned schedules to suit the current weather conditions.

With all of these great options and more it’s never been easier to plan an irrigation system. If you have any questions or would like help planning your next system then give our team a call, they’ll be happy to advise on the best products for your needs

Are you looking to organise a day out for your staff? Looking to learn some new skills? Get advice on a build or want to give your students a more hands on experience? We can help!

From organising educational days to training in Ponds, Irrigation or Lighting we are always looking for opportunities to help build knowledge within the industry.

For more information on training days, to organise one of your own or arrange for us to visit you, feel free to call us on 01666 577577 or send an email to help@landscapeplus.com.