If your garden is your pride and joy, a garden irrigation, watering or sprinkler system may be a tremendous help in keeping your garden appearance up to scratch. These systems massively reduce the need for manual watering and can be relied upon to give your garden the nourishment it needs.
Our guide takes a look at garden irrigation, watering and sprinkler systems, the difference in price between the three, what is likely to impact the cost of each system, how you can save money and the best way to hire a qualified professional to fit an irrigation or watering system.
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How Much Do Garden Watering Systems Cost?
There can be quite a dramatic price difference between these systems depending on several factors.
On average you’ll be looking at between £200-£800 for the system itself, with labour costs ranging from £500-£10,000 depending on the specifics of the job.
The tables below take a look at the estimated costs for a drip irrigation system and sprinkler system ranging in garden sizes.
A drip irrigation system is laid above ground and uses long plastic pipes to drip water onto the soil, usually surrounding plants. Drip irrigation systems typically reduce water waste and are more cost-effective if it comes to watering individual plants.
| Garden Size | Supply Cost for a Multi-Zone Drip Irrigation System | Labour Costs | Time Required | Estimated Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply cost for a medium garden (50 feet long) | £200-£300 | £500-£1,000 | Two to three days | £700-£1,300 |
| Supply cost for a large garden (100 feet long) | £300-£700 | £1,000-£5,000 | Two to four days | £1,300-£5,700 |
| Supply cost for an extra-large garden (150 feet long) | £700-£1,000 | £5,000-£10,000+ | Three to five days | £5,700-£11,000+ |
A sprinkler system has the piping below ground, with just the sprinkler head showing. Sprinklers spray out large amounts of water to cover large amounts of ground and can water your entire garden if laid correctly. Sprinklers can be run on timers and are less likely to become clogged than irrigation systems.
| Garden Size | Supply Cost for a Multi-Zone Pop-Up Sprinkler System | Labour Costs | Time Required | Estimated Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply cost for a medium garden (50 feet long) | £300-£450 | £750-£1,500 | Two to three days | £1,050-£1,950 |
| Supply cost for a large garden (100 feet long) | £450-£1,050 | £1,500-£7,500 | Two to four days | £1,950-£8,550 |
| Supply cost for a large garden (100 feet long) | £1,050-£1,500 | £7,500-£15,000+ | Three to five days | £8,550-£16,500+ |
As you can see, the cost of most irrigation and sprinkler systems varies largely depending on the size of the garden.
To easily compare quotes, use HouseholdQuotes to find a professional who can install your perfect watering, irrigation or sprinkler systems.
Click To Get QuotesWhat Impacts the Cost of a Garden Watering System?
There are a variety of factors that can impact the cost of a garden watering system – perhaps more factors than you might initially think.
Garden Size
As clearly demonstrated by the tables above, the size of your garden is going to be a big determining factor in the final price.
This is because the size of your garden impacts the number of drippers, jet heads or pop-up sprinklers that will be needed to cover the expanse of your garden. There will also need to be more pipework and other accessories implemented if the garden size is larger than average.
Depending on the garden size, you can expect to pay from £200 at the lowest end of the scale, up to £1,500 at the highest end of the scale. This pricing will also be varied depending on the type of system you choose to purchase.
Garden Slope
An ideal installation of a watering system will be laid on level ground where the system can be evenly placed. If your land has a slope or differing points of height across the surface, this could lead to extra costs.
Pumps and cisterns may need to be added to the watering system to stabilise the water flow and pressure, and this will be an added material and labour cost depending on the severity of the slope and the materials needed to provide efficient results.
Soil Type
If you have particularly rocky or stone-filled soil, it will take longer to excavate the ground before the water system can be put in place. This will lead to more labour which will end up impacting the final cost.
If the soil is particularly sandy or soft, it could also be quite unstable and will need to be stabilised before installation of your watering system can begin. This will also result in extra costs for the work of stabilising the soil.
Current or Future Garden Design
The design of your current garden will need to be taken into account before installation can begin.
Factors of a design of a garden include; if your garden is mainly lawn, if you have a fair number of flower beds, the types of flowers on the beds and vegetable patches.
All of these factors, including any future plans you have for your garden, such as installing new flower beds or laying down turf, will impact the cost of the watering system.
The watering system will need to be laid to have the most effective impact on your garden, and accounting for flower beds or vegetable patches could increase the cost.
Ground Preparation
Some groundwork may need to be done before the installation of the watering system can begin. If you have large tree roots or old piping, their removal must be taken into consideration before installation. The removal of a root or pipe will add to the cost.
Similarly, if you need to have a flower bed or existing patio dug up to accommodate the new watering system, this will also add to the cost depending on the size of the feature you need to remove.
Rubbish Removal
There may be rubbish that will need to be removed from the property during or after installation and having this rubbish removed will be an additional cost to the total price.
How Can I Save Money on Garden Irrigation or Sprinkler Systems?
There are several ways you can save money on your garden irrigation or sprinkler systems.
Firstly, make sure to maximise the efficiency of your system. Use timers and pressure regulators so that you don’t waste water and add to your costs.
Consider using a water meter so that you will only pay for the water you use instead of using a fixed-rate water bill that will charge you a total price whether you use the amount set or not.
Consider a DIY irrigation or pop-up sprinkler kit if you really want to keep the costs down as these will be substantially cheaper than having a professional install a watering system.
However, installing a watering system can be a complex job and whilst it may be initially cheaper to go for a DIY kit, the problems you could run into when installing it could end up costing you more in the long run.
A professional installer will be experienced in issues such as water pressure, valves and piping, regulators, the system design capacity and all other accessories that will help to keep the system running smoothly.
By seeking the help of a professional, you can be sure that your watering system will be installed correctly the first time around and will be able to last you without needing additional work or repairs.
Use HouseholdQuotes to quickly and easily compare quotes and find you the right tradesperson to install your garden irrigation or sprinkler systems.
Click To Get QuotesHow Is a Garden Irrigation or Sprinkler System Installed?
The irrigation or sprinkler system will first be designed for your garden, taking into account where it would be best to install the jet or sprinkler head.
Beginning at the outside faucet, the necessary parts such as times, filters, and pressure regulators will be placed and attached.
The tubing will then be laid out according to the design plan, staked down and cut if needed. The fittings and adapters will then be connected to the tubing and the pipes.
The connectors will be installed wherever a watering device is planned to be inserted in the tubing. The sprinklers or sprayers will be then assembled and anchored to the tubing.
What’s the Best Garden Watering System?
| Watering System Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Drip irrigation | -Good for the environment -Great for growing plants | -Tubing can be affected by sun -Tubing can be clogged |
| Pop-up sprinklers | -Cheaper -Stored underground so don’t disturb lawn appearance | -May need to be regularly replaced -Won’t be as effective in wet areas |
| Conventional sprinklers | -Equal water distribution -Effective for lawn maintenance | -Costly -Unattractive aesthetic as they are above-ground |
How Do I Find and Hire Someone to Install a Watering System?
Try and seek recommendations from your friends or family who have had installed a new watering system in their garden and been happy with the results.
Use HouseholdQuotes to find a qualified tradesperson who can install your watering system in your garden.
Click To Get QuotesEnsuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
To make sure you find the best person for the job, we recommend you ask them for the below:
- For a written quote. Make sure to find out if rubbish removal is included in the quote.
- For their experience.
- For their references. If they’re able to provide you with references you can be sure of their ability and may even be able to see some photos of their previous work.
- If there will be a manufacturer’s guarantee for the installation of the system.
Final Checklist
- Decide on the size of the watering system for your garden.
- Decide which type of watering system would best suit your needs, taking into account garden design.
- Use HouseholdQuotes to find the best-qualified tradesperson to install your watering system to your requirements.
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions:
Will an Irrigation System Increase My Water Bill?
This is because a watering system is more efficient than hand watering with a hose or watering can.
Will Installing an Irrigation System Damage My Garden?
If groundwork needs to be done, such as the removal of a root or pipe, the professional should explain this to you before going ahead and doing anything to your garden without your understanding and consent.
Are Garden Irrigation Systems Hard to Maintain?
The filters will need to be cleaned, batteries may need to be changed, and any controllers used will need to be set. The system should be taken down in winter, to prevent frost damage to the piping.