Ever been a victim of a sprinkler with a mind of its own?
You’ve been there, that moment when you’re casually walking through a beautiful garden or field and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a flood of water hits you and you’re soaked!
Well, you can thank reticulation controllers for that!
Reticulation control and reticulation controllers are nifty systems which allow you to put your garden on autopilot, allowing it to water itself and, when installed properly, hopefully not you!
Meaning you can enjoy your lawn or your garden without having to worry about maintaining it all the time!
That’s great news for those who weren’t born with a green thumb. Read on for help on what to look for in reticulation controllers…
What to look for in reticulation controllers…
Overall, there are three main points to look for:
Number of sprinkler programs in place to span your property
A water-wise irrigation system may have multiple programs, usually called A, B, C and D. Whereas most timers have at least two separate programs in order to reach every nook and cranny of the garden.
There are some some basic layouts however, which only have one simple design.
Know your needs, property size and long-term goals so you can pick which program is best for you!
Ease of use and simplicity of the LCD display screen
More and more modern reticulation controllers have simple screens to making it usable for everyone, not just the tech-savvy gardener-types in the neighbourhood.
If technology is not your thing, you’ll want to look out for a system that is easy to use and to follow.Schedule – How many days of the week/times will you want your sprinklers on/off?
Amazingly enough, most reticulation controller owners have a “one and done” approach to the system. They set their sprinkler timers once and never touch them again!
This approach isn’t one professionals would recommend however, as it doesn’t take into account the changing seasons and needs of your garden – not to mention that without keeping an eye on it you won’t know if there is a problem before it is too late.
But don’t worry, if set up properly, your system shouldn’t need much more than occasional checks to make sure it is operating efficiently, so is still the best solution for saving time and water.
Imagine, the garden mostly takes care of itself – every property owners dream!
Set up process and reticulation repairs
While using it may be a simple feat, installing a watering system can be quite a complicated challenge.
Don’t be afraid to ask a professional for help as it will probably end up saving you a lot of time and money in the long run.
While they may not happen often, breaks and bumps are part of life. Ask yourself: who will be handling the repairs if and when events do arise?
Which one should I buy?
Well, this will depend entirely on your own needs and objectives.
For example, the Hunter XCore can be great for larger commercial or residential properties which require several separated systems to extend across the entire space.
A second option, for those with smaller gardens and indoor needs, is the Rainbird ESP (ESP stands for extra simple programming).
Lastly, if you are on a budget and searching for a timing solution, there is the Orbit Sprinkler System 4-Stations.
This being said, there are a lot of other options around, some even connect to the local weather station and adapt the watering depending on the weather, they can also detect leaks and send you warnings.
Getting a professional to come and assess your lawn is helpful, this way they can see which will be best for you based on the size and needs of your specific garden.
Waterwise irrigation and reticulation controllers have some major benefits!
Having a smart reticulation controller solution can ultimately save you a lot of time, water, and consequently, a lot of money.
Not only is a reticulation solution extremely convenient, but it can also prevent you from over-watering your plants.
Lastly, it helps you put the life of your garden back in your hands and can ensure that you are doing what is best for your garden.
If you want to learn more, check out our website or call our experts today.