Rain Bird is an irrigation system from the US company of the same name for professional or private use. The irrigation can be adapted to your own garden using individual components.
In a nutshell
- Rainbird manufactures automatic watering systems that can be used in the garden
- the systems can be adapted to the characteristics of the garden
- components include controllers, sprinklers and more
- installation can be done by a professional or on your own
Function at a glance
The use of a Rain Bird irrigation in your own garden is a good idea if you don't have the time for this work yourself or if you don't have a large property. It is not for nothing that the products are often offered for sports areas, including golf courses or soccer fields. The focus of this system is on the fully automatic mode of operation, which has a number of advantages:
- optimized water consumption
- resulting in lower water costs
- System expandable with components
- little time spent on maintenance
At the heart of Rain Bird irrigation systems are the controllers and sensors. This can be used to set exactly how long and at what intensity watering takes place. Depending on the system selected, it has sensors that adjust water consumption and duration more precisely. This prevents one of the biggest problems in your own garden: overwatering. If you switch on conventional irrigation systems yourself, overwatering can quickly occur, which has a negative effect on the soil and the vitality of the plants. Rain Bird has specifically addressed this irrigation problem.
Notice: Control units from other manufacturers cannot be combined with Rain Bird systems. You will have to completely switch to the new irrigation in this case.
use in the garden
When you decide to irrigate with Rain Bird, planning is especially important. Especially in the garden it is necessary to select the right components that the irrigation system uses. If, for example, a lawn with a classic shape is to be watered regularly, the standard equipment is ideal. A standard garden irrigation system includes the following components:
- control unit
- valves
- lawn sprinkler
- hoses
- optional: electric cable
You can easily install these components yourself if the soil has been loosened beforehand and the trenches dug for the lines. The components mentioned are usually sufficient for use in the garden. However, if you need to further customize the system, you can add the following parts, which are offered by Rain Bird:
- pop-up nozzles
- different nozzles
- rain sensors
- soil moisture sensor
- frost sensor
You should also take a look at the manufacturer's micro-irrigation if you have drip irrigation in mind.
Tip: The irrigation system is laid at a depth of 30 to 40 centimetres. Note the slope of the floor and adjust the depth accordingly so that the lines are not directly below the surface.
frequently asked Questions
What maintenance work can be expected?Regular maintenance is required to use Rain Bird. The timer must be checked every month and adjusted as necessary. On the other hand, it is important to clean the individual components per season. Specifically, the sprinkler heads are meant because they can clog. The cables should also be checked for damage.
Is a filter necessary to use the system?In itself, the use of a filter is not mandatory for the use of the system, but the manufacturer recommends it. Especially in regions with hard water, a filter protects against limescale deposits that could clog the pipes and sprinkler heads with limescale deposits. Micron filters (100) are suitable for the system.
Does the system have to switch itself off when it rains?No, the majority of Rain Bird systems available have timers that stop operating when it rains. As an option, already installed systems can be retrofitted with a corresponding component that takes over this function.
Experiences with 'Rain Bird'
notice: For reasons of better legibility, small spelling mistakes (spaces, transposed letters, etc.) in the quotations have been corrected. The exact sources are linked under the indication of the respective forum.
"[… ]We had an irrigation system installed 8 years ago and, after thorough consultation, chose RainBird: 400 sqm garden, 3 circuits (two in the perennial bed and vegetable garden with sprinklers, one for the lawn with recessed sprinklers). [… ] So far there have been NO problems with the system itself, really! What you have to replace is one or two above-ground sprinklers (you sometimes step on them in the summer when everything is overgrown, and then it can break off), but you can easily do that, even if you're not particularly gifted with your hands , change. Laying new connections or additional circuits (we also did it ourselves) is easy; the thick hose lines have not yet shown any "signs of fatigue", […] Long story short - I've known RainBird for 8 years from my own experience and I can recommend it without hesitation. […]"
Source: www.mein-schoener-garten.de User: pallida, 07/29/2008
“I currently have Rainbird and am satisfied. planning done by myself. But unfortunately I was too inexperienced and relied on the information in the brochure for throwing distances, which unfortunately is not achieved. In addition, for reasons of cost and effort, I did not plan such a large overlap, which had the effect that the entire area was not watered. I then partially exchanged the pop-up sprinklers for other models or nozzles with a longer range. I will probably use Rainbird again for the new house or garden, but now I know what to look out for when planning. […]
Source: www.energiesparhaus.at User: erwinh, 25.06.2019
“[… ]have had good experiences with Rainbird. That stuff is expensive, I know. But the quality is right!
Source: www.knx-user-forum.de User: Bad Smiley, 03/28/2012