Watering the Gardens
Will you be out in the yard watering your plants this weekend? On my big farm, it takes a lot of close monitoring to stay on top of the watering tasks this time of year. Temperatures today are expected to be in the low 80s, with no chance of showers until next week, and that is just not enough to keep all the gardens well irrigated.
Because of this late summer weather, the hoses and sprinklers have been very busy. One of my favorite sources is Gilmour, a company that’s been manufacturing hoses and other watering solutions for more than 70-years. I use several of their products at my Bedford, New York farm and at Skylands, my home 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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- I’ve been using Gilmour products for years. This is our most recent shipment of supplies to keep all my gardens well irrigated.
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- The hoses are always put to great use in the gardens and wherever thorough watering is needed. Plus, they curve without kinking, connect without leaking, and are easy to store.
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- I also love Gilmour’s Professional Adjustable Circular Tripod Sprinklers. These tripod sprinklers can be seen all over the farm this time of year.
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- The adjustable rectangular sprinklers are very durable and long lasting. They work well for smaller garden beds where gentle watering is needed.
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- And the design of these rectangular ground sprinklers has not changed much. This one is an older model and still very reliable and consistent in the gardens.
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- Here is another rectangular sprinkler. They all have adjustment controls that are easy to use for customizing various coverage areas. They feature a tube with multiple openings that move back and forth to provide even watering.
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- Gilmour also carries a wide range of nozzles and wands in different sizes.
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- A Gilmour 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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- Here’s another hose and sprinkler setup along one of the carriage roads.
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- This tripod sprinkler is in my soccer field. 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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- I always instruct the crew to 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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- Here’s a tripod in my Linden Allée. Look how far the sprinkler can reach.
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- I also remind the team to keep the tripod sprinklers at the lowest height, so there is maximum coverage on the garden plants below the branches.
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- When ready to use, the collar of these tripod sprinklers can be adjusted for partial to full circle coverage. The controls are just under the sprinkler head.
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- 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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- And each of the legs is also adjustable. Here is one of the three 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 distance and spray patterns of these tripod sprinklers can also be adjusted to suit so many garden needs.
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- Many ask my why I don’t have expansive irrigation systems installed at the farm. I actually prefer manual watering, to ensure there is coverage everywhere – with a farm this size, it’s important to get to all the gardens. These individual watering supplies are also very easy to maintain.
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- Every so often, observe any sprinklers in action and look for clogged or leaking heads that may need minor maintenance. It’s nice to know we have the “right tools for the right jobs,” so all my gardens, groves, and allées can be well watered through the season.
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