About 25% of gardens have irrigation systems and an industry estimate suggests of these more than 90% are currently spray irrigation systems.

Generally drip systems are much better because they deliver water directly to the root system, don’t cause overspray and prevent excess surface evaporation.

As mentioned on this website, we strongly recommend mulch for water saving gardens. Unfortunately a spray irrigation system operating above fine mulch will only water the mulch - not the plants -and most of the water is likely to be lost to evaporation or absorbed by the mulch rather than the soil below.

Regardless of the system it is important to only water in the early morning and at dusk when temperatures are lower and evaporation is less.

Under some high level water restrictions (Adobe Acrobat PDF 42KB) you can only use drip irrigation systems - spray systems are not permitted. But this doesn’t mean you have to buy an entirely new irrigation system, there are products around to convert spray systems to drip systems (see Netafim and Pope / Toro below).

There are a number of drip systems available and three common ones are described below. The following is a laymans guide rather than professionally informed advice and should be treated as an introduction rather than a replacement for your own enquiries.

Netafim is a commercial irrigation provider, now catering for the residential market with well established and sophisticated technology.  The drip tubes (Adobe Acrobat PDF 216KB) have drippers built into them with variable drip spacing.

Netafim Techline has a 13mm UV stable pipe with pressure compensating and self‑cleaning drippers built into the internal wall of the drip tube, suitable for larger gardens or challenging terrain.

We are particularly interested in the Miniscape 6mm tubing which can be used to convert existing spray irrigations systems to drip systems. These short lines can run as a 15m lateral line or a 30m loop back into the main line. The flow rate is approximately 1.9litres/hour.

Although not as advanced as the Techline, with the addition of a filter for greywater ($30) or a pressure regulator ($10) this is a good quality option at an affordable price of approximately $22.50 for 30m.

Toro Irrigation provides irrigation solutions for landscape applications.

Toro Drip-Eze driptube saves water by applying water more efficiently than conventional spray jet or sprinkler systems. It is an extruded in-line drip tube with a precise, low flow. Drip Eze™(Adobe Acrobat PDF 449KB) applies water to the plants’ roots at a slow consistent rate, reducing the risk of run-off and water wastage. Drip Eze is available in 4 mm and 13 mm tube and in non compensating and pressure compensating versions. Also available as Enviro-Drip in a purple colour for use with non potable water.

Waterpro’s offer garden irrigation advice, product sales and a full installation service, offering both Toro and Netafim products within their range.

Fiskar - Aquapore offer a simple, porous hose (Adobe Acrobat PDF 1.2MB). Ideally laid below mulch in small trenches, it can also be laid above ground in contact with the soil, but not on top of mulch or loose compost.

Flow rates should be 2 litres/hour per 15 metre length of Aquapore. Flow rates are likely to vary over the length of the hose in uneven terrain.

Can be combined with a filter, flow regulator and pressure regulator. Multiple lengths can be fed from a single supply point using a split T layout, watering up to 165 square metres using 180 metres of Aquapore.

Approximately $22.95 for 15m.