OwnersAway Property Rentals

Now that temperatures are really starting to rise, spare a thought for the poor, thirsty plants in your garden! For smaller plots and gardens a “man with a can” is probably all that you need to water on a regular basis, but for absent owners and those with larger plots, an automated irrigation system provides the perfect answer.

 Automatic irrigation systems are an ideal way to ensure that your garden gets the water it needs in your absence. A simple automatic timer opens and closes a valve to let the water through, and the time interval and duration of watering are set by dials or buttons. These systems are ideal for small gardens, and the timers cost around 30 euros upwards. For those with larger plots, a computerised system can cater for up to 6 different garden areas, allowing you to set different watering requirements and frequencies for each “zone” of the garden. These timing systems start at around 90 euros and are fairly simple to use. No computing qualifications required!

 For both systems, you can choose between battery powered and mains powered systems, with batteries being the easier option for most homes, as the outside tap is not generally close to a power point.

 Whichever system you choose, or if you already have a system installed, take the time at the start of summer to run through a few checks and ensure that your irrigation system is operating correctly.

• Run water through the system, overriding the timer, and check for any leaks. Pipes do degrade and split in the hot sun. Either repair or replace the length of tubing.
• Make sure that all the watering points correspond to the plants. Sounds obvious, but plants grow and spread and pipes do get kicked or moved around.
• Check and replace the battery if it has been in the unit since last year.
• Make sure that the timer is set correctly. It is best to water late evening, so that the water lost through evaporation is less.
• Remember that a longer watering duration is more effective. Watering for 15 minutes once a day is more effective than more frequent, shorter sessions as the water gets a chance to penetrate the ground and reach the roots of the plant.

And if you are looking to rent out a holiday home here in Spain, then an attractive, low maintenance garden will add to the property´s appeal and increase rental potential for minimal investment.