00VILLA GUIDE
Handing over irrigation to a new gardener
When a gardener or landscaping company changes, the knowledge of how the irrigation works often leaves with them: which zone waters what, where the valves are buried, what the controller programmes do and which parts already give trouble. A simple handover protects the garden through the change.
01PART
Map the system
List each zone, what it waters and whether it is drip or spray. Mark valve boxes, filters and the controller location. Photograph the controller programmes.
- List zones and what they serve.
- Mark valve boxes and filters.
- Photograph controller settings.
02PART
Note known problems
Record zones that misbehave, wet patches, chewed lines and heads that need replacing. A new gardener should not have to rediscover them.
- Note faulty zones.
- Record leaks and wet patches.
- List parts needing replacement.
03PART
Agree responsibilities
Agree who adjusts schedules, who repairs irrigation and who checks it after works. Gardeners and maintenance teams often assume the other is responsible.
- Agree who adjusts schedules.
- Agree who repairs leaks.
- Agree post-works checks.
04QUESTIONS
- Why does the garden suffer after a change?
- Schedules and known problems are lost in the handover.
- Who should repair irrigation?
- Agree it clearly; it may be the gardener or a maintenance team.
- Should schedules change?
- Seasonally; record the current ones first.
- Can valves be found if unmarked?
- Usually, by tracing wires and pipes, but marking them saves time.
- Should the outgoing gardener walk the zones with the new one?
- If possible, yes. Ten minutes walking each zone together passes on knowledge that is rarely written down.