A large garden takes a lot of work. Not only does something constantly have to be weeded, cut or planted somewhere, but on hot and dry days it also needs to be watered abundantly. But walking through the garden every morning with a watering can in hand is tiring. An automatic irrigation system can help. This can also be laid underground, but is the effort even worth it?
How much do underground irrigation systems cost?
The cost of an underground irrigation system varies depending on the system and garden area, but starts at €1000 for materials. Do-it-yourself installation saves costs, but there are no warranty claims and specialist knowledge is required.
Is such an underground irrigation system even worth it?
An irrigation system installed underground offers a number of tangible advantages: Not only does it eliminate the need to constantly lug around watering cans and the garden is reliably supplied even while on vacation, you also don't run the risk of tripping over any hoses. These lie invisibly in the ground and only appear when they are needed: namely when watering the garden. There are different shapes from different manufacturers that are particularly suitable for various areas in the garden. For example, a lawn sprinkler is not suitable for irrigation in a greenhouse or raised bed; a vegetable bed also benefits from drip irrigation. By the way, you don't have to dig up the system in winter, as most types are equipped with automatic emptying and therefore cannot freeze. But the disadvantages of an underground irrigation system should not be ignored: They are expensive and require a lot of work. In purely mathematical terms, the effort isn't worth it, but it can add significant value to your garden.
Have it done or build it yourself?
Whether you build an underground irrigation system yourself or have it built depends primarily on your technical skills as well as the active help of your friends and family members. In fact, heavy equipment is used - for example for excavating the pipeline trenches - and the various technical devices must also be installed correctly. Of course, it is significantly cheaper to install the system yourself. However, there is a catch: you have no warranty claims. If something goes wrong and your garden is flooded in a hardship case, you have to take responsibility for this mistake yourself. For this reason alone, it may be worthwhile to commission a specialist company to do this: the materials for self-installation alone amount to at least EUR 1,000 if you want to install a good system. In addition, there are the working hours and travel costs for the specialist, who, however, brings the necessary tools with him.
Tip
If you don't have high standards, install a simple hose system to water the garden. This only costs a little money and effort and can also be removed quickly.
