Watering with Gilmour at Skylands

August 22, 2022

Here in the Northeast, we're all crossing our fingers for a good soaking rain.

We're expecting some precipitation today in Bedford, New York and up at Skylands, my beloved summer home in Maine. It has been so very dry in this region - we haven’t had significant rain for quite some time. Fortunately, we've been able to keep many of the trees, shrubs, and plants irrigated with our watering supplies from Gilmour. I use many of their hoses, sprinklers, and nozzles.

Here are some photos of how we water around Skylands, enjoy.

: Up at Skylands, views of the moss-covered woodlands are just as picturesque as those of Seal Harbor. This summer has been particularly hard on the plantings – it’s been very, very dry all along the eastern seaboard.

: Here is one section of a pine-needle covered footpath that meanders through the property. On both sides, one can see lots of moss growing. During the summer, I always fill several of my garden planters with some of the natural elements found in the woodlands. Various mosses, lichens, seedlings, pine needles, and old pieces of wood are brought in to create miniature forests that last all season long.

: Here, more moss, young trees, and ferns in the foreground. Moss is a slow growing wild plant that should never be harvested in large amounts – in fact, it is illegal to take any moss from national forests without permission. Once the season is over, we always make sure the moss we harvested is returned to the forest where it can regenerate and flourish. All these plants need our watering help.

: And so does my flower cutting garden, which is now filled with so many gorgeous blooms.

: To keep everything well-irrigated until the next rainfall, we use watering supplies from Gilmour, a Madison, Wisconsin-based company that’s been manufacturing watering equipment and solutions for more than 65-years. With so many trees, shrubs, and plants to maintain, it’s important we use only the best quality outdoor tools.

: My Skylands gardener, Mike Harding, begins to uncoil the hose for watering. These Gilmour hoses curve without kinking, connect without leaking, and are easy to store. 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.

: Mike uses a tripod sprinkler to water this area. Tripod sprinklers are best used where there is a need for far-reaching water. This sprinkler has a coverage area of about to 20 to 35-feet in radius.

: Mike positions the feet securely in the ground. To avoid dry spots, sprinkler heads should be positioned so they overlap slightly in their coverage areas.

: 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.

: Never direct hard spraying sprinklers at trees – this may mar the bark. Instead, use harder sprays for more open spaces or limit watering between the trees.

: 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.

: The tripod sprinklers are also very, very sturdy, and because they’re all metal, they can stand up to frequent use around the property.

: Gilmour also makes oscillating sprinklers that are easy to control in a variety of areas. They provide thousands of square feet in water coverage. They feature a tube with multiple openings that move back and forth to provide even watering.

: Here is one positioned on a rock watering another section of ferns and moss.

: This is an older model circular sprinkler with a base. Its spray pattern adjusts from partial- to full-circle coverage, and its spray force can be set to powerful jet or gentle rain.

: Gilmour sprinklers hold up so well through the seasons. I’ve had this sprinkler for several years.

: This is a small area stationary sprinkler.

: It attaches to the hose lower to the ground for more delicate plantings.

: And at the end of the day, each hose is coiled up once again neatly by its designated bib – ready for the next job. And be sure to turn off the water at the source. Just turning off at the sprinkler puts a lot of pressure on the hoses and pipes.