Water, Water, Water... with Gilmour
Temperatures here at my Bedford, New York farm are expected to be in the mid-80s - about 20-degrees cooler than yesterday, but still no sign of any significant rain in the forecast. It's been such a dry summer that it's hard to keep all the gardens well-irrigated.
Because of the weather, the hoses and sprinklers have been very busy. One of my favorite sources is Gilmour, a Madison, Wisconsin-based company that’s been manufacturing hoses and other watering solutions for more than 65-years. I use several of their products at my home in New York and at Skylands in Maine. With so many trees, shrubs, and plants to maintain, it’s important we use only the best quality outdoor tools.
Enjoy these photos.
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- In spring, when it starts to warm up, my outdoor grounds crew puts out all the sprinklers and hoses around the farm, so they’re ready to use. During the driest, warmest days of summer, we have to do lots of watering. Fortunately, I have two deep wells – all of the hoses and bibbs are connected to an elaborate underground irrigation system.
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- Gilmour has a very durable collection of gardening supplies – I have been using Gilmour products for years. The hoses are always put to great use in the gardens and wherever thorough watering is needed. Plus, these hoses curve without kinking, connect without leaking, and are easy to store.
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- A hose and at least one sprinkler are placed at every bibb, or faucet. And here’s a tip… to keep it from kinking, when it’s new stretch it along a path or the edge of the lawn and then loop the business end back to the tap.
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- When ready to use, the collar of these tripod sprinklers can be adjusted for partial to full circle coverage. A pin diffuser allows for a customized spray from powerful jet to gentle mist. I show every member of my crew how to use the sprinkler, so they can water properly and efficiently.
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- The round dial on top makes it easy to set the direction and length of the spray.
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- Each of the legs is also adjustable. Here, one can see the spiked feet of the tripod sprinkler which provide lots of stability on varied surfaces.
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- Mornings are the best times to water – when water pressure is high, evaporation is low, and the soil can absorb the water before the sun heats up the ground. The height, distance, and spray patterns of these tripod sprinklers can be adjusted to suit so many garden needs.
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- Never direct hard spraying sprinklers at trees – this may mar the bark. Instead, use harder sprays for open spaces and wide lawn areas.
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- Well-established trees with strong, deep root systems will be more drought tolerant.
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- To avoid dry spots, sprinkler heads should be positioned so they overlap slightly in their coverage areas. During the summer, a good watering is done to a depth of about six to eight inches. An even, intermittent sprinkling is best for thorough, deep watering.
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- On hot, humid days, each person on the crew manages a specific section for watering. This way, everything can be monitored and timed appropriately.
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- Look how far the sprinkler can reach – and the spray is very consistent. This sprinkler is in my pinetum, where I grow many different evergreen plants, trees, and shrubs.
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- This is the Gilmour® Adjustable Whirling Sprinkler with Stationary Base. It is ideal for gentle, easy watering of delicate flowers, plants and seedlings. Its whirling motion provides full circular coverage while reducing water pooling. The adjustable tips allow one to direct the spray lower to the ground. And, the no-tip base is shaped for stability and is great on harder grounds where spiked bases don’t work.
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- We also use the Gilmour® Adjustable Spot Sprinkler with Spike Base. These are great for use around my Winter House, where there are planters and garden beds. The durable metal spike provides stability in softer soil and on uneven ground.
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- These sprinklers are easy to push into the ground wherever needed and offer full circular coverage.
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- Here is one watering under the trees near my terrace parterre.
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- Gilmour also makes oscillating sprinklers that are easy to control in a variety of areas. They provide thousands of square feet in water coverage.
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- They feature a tube with multiple openings that move back and forth to provide even watering.
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- The dial makes setting the sprinkler’s coverage area very quick and easy.
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- I have many of these oscillating sprinklers, Some models are older, but they hold up so well through the seasons.
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- Here’s another tripod sprinkler in my flower cutting garden. The adjustable tripod can reach a height of 58-inches and can water everything from above. Once the watering in one area is done, it’s extremely important to turn off the water at the source. Just turning off at the sprinkler puts a lot of pressure on the hoses and pipes.
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- And every so often, observe sprinklers in action, looking for clogged or leaking heads that may need minor maintenance. Wherever you live, I hope all your gardens are getting the water they need.
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