Dry summers have become the rule in NRW: the lawn turns brown in July, new plantings suffer, and watering with a hose costs time while rarely reaching the roots. An automatic garden irrigation system from Gala Bau Kurt supplies lawns, beds and shrubs in Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal, Meerbusch, Cologne and throughout North Rhine-Westphalia exactly when the water is needed – usually early in the morning, when very little evaporates.
What you get is a system calculated for your garden: we measure pressure and flow rate, divide the garden into irrigation zones, lay the pipework underground and hand over a fully programmed system – with annual commissioning and winterisation if you wish. We are happy to advise you in English as well as German and Turkish.
What we do for garden irrigation
A complete system or individual building blocks – the choice is yours.
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Planning & hydraulic calculation
Measuring flow pressure and flow rate, dividing the garden into zones, sizing sprinkler spacings and pipe diameters.
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Lawn irrigation with pop-up sprinklers
Gear-drive rotors and spray heads disappear back into the ground after each run – you simply mow straight over them.
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Drip irrigation for beds & hedges
Pressure-compensating drip lines under the mulch take the water straight to the roots – no wet foliage and no evaporation losses.
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Controllers, sensors & smart garden
Controllers with a Wi-Fi app plus a rain or soil-moisture sensor adjust the run times to the weather automatically.
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Rainwater tank, rainwater & wells
Integrating rainwater tanks (Zisterne) and garden wells with a matching pump and filter – saving drinking water and charges.
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Servicing, repairs & winterisation
Spring check, nozzle adjustment, testing the solenoid valves, and blowing the pipework out with compressed air in autumn.
How we build an irrigation system that really works
An irrigation system stands or falls on its hydraulics. That is why we begin by measuring how much flow pressure (bar) and flow rate (litres per minute) are genuinely available at the garden tap, at the rainwater tank pump or at the well. Those figures determine how many sprinklers may run on one zone and which pipe diameters we lay – usually 25 or 32 mm PE pipe. The sprinklers are set out head to head: each one throws as far as the next, so that no dry corners are left. Lawns get gear-drive rotors or rotary nozzles, beds and hedges get drip lines – and every group of plants receives its own zone with its own run time.
The pipework is laid at a depth of roughly 30–40 cm, the solenoid valves sit together in a valve box on a gravel bed, and the controller goes into the garage or the cellar. Where the system is connected to the mains drinking water, a backflow preventer (Systemtrenner) to DIN EN 1717 is part of the job, so that no garden water can be pushed back into the house installation. At handover we set every nozzle, programme the run times and hand you a pipe layout plan.
Garden irrigation in Wuppertal, Düsseldorf, Cologne & NRW
On the lower terrace of Düsseldorf, Meerbusch and Cologne we mostly meet loamy sands that dry out quickly – add to that the urban heat island and only around 750–800 mm of rainfall a year. Large lawns in Benrath, Oberkassel, Büderich, Rodenkirchen or Lindenthal are typical here, often combined with drip irrigation for hedges and perennial beds. The high groundwater table close to the Rhine makes a garden well an interesting option in Meerbusch and parts of Düsseldorf.
In the Bergisches Land rainfall is considerably higher at 1,100–1,200 mm – and yet the shallow, stony soils on the south-facing slopes of Wuppertal, Schwelm and Ennepetal still dry out fast in high summer. Sloping plots also call for adapted technology: differences in height either cost pressure or add it, so we plan separate zones for each level and use sprinklers with check valves, so that the pipes do not drain away at the lowest point once the system switches off. With the amount of rain this region gets, a rainwater tank is particularly worthwhile.
Water source, charges and the tax allowance
Many cities – Düsseldorf, Cologne and Wuppertal among them – permit a separate, calibrated garden water meter (Gartenwasserzähler): for water that soaks away in the garden the sewerage charge is then waived, with the conditions set by the local drainage authority (Entwässerungsbetrieb). Sinking a well has to be notified in advance to the lower water authority (Untere Wasserbehörde); for the small abstraction volumes typical of garden irrigation, no separate permit is usually needed – we sort that out for you.
Installing and servicing an irrigation system in an existing garden counts as a tradesman's service (Handwerkerleistung) under § 35a of the German Income Tax Act (§ 35a EStG): 20 % of the labour costs, up to a maximum of €1,200 per year, is deducted directly from your tax bill. We show labour and material costs separately on the invoice.
The right moment: installation, start-up and winterisation
The ideal time to install is from March to May, before the first hot spell arrives – or in autumn alongside a new garden layout, seeding or turf, when the ground is open anyway. From the end of October into November we winterise the system (shut off the main supply, blow out every zone with the compressor), and from April onwards commissioning follows, with a pressure test and fine-tuning of the nozzles.
How your irrigation project runs
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Site visit & measurement
A free on-site visit with a pressure and flow test, a survey of the areas and clarification of the water source.
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Planning & fixed price
An irrigation plan with zones and sprinkler positions, plus a fixed-price quote including the groundworks.
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Pipework & installation
Pipes, valve box, sprinklers, drip lines and controller – small gardens in one to two days, large ones in three to five.
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Adjustment & handover
Every nozzle adjusted, run times programmed, an introduction to the system and a pipe plan for your records.
What does an automatic irrigation system cost?
The price depends on the size of the plot, the number of zones, the water source and whether the system is retrofitted under an existing lawn. Non-binding guide figures incl. VAT:
| Scope of work | Costs & Prices |
|---|---|
| Complete system, ready to run (per m² of plot) | approx. €8–20 per m² |
| Terraced-house garden up to approx. 200 m², 2–3 zones | approx. €1,500–3,000 |
| Garden of 300–500 m², lawn plus beds, 4–6 zones | approx. €2,000–3,500 |
| Large system from 500 m² with rainwater tank or well | approx. €3,500–5,000 and up |
| Winterisation (blowing out) per system | approx. €80–150 |
| Servicing / repairs | approx. €45–70 per hour |
If the pipework goes in as part of a new garden layout or before the turf is laid, there are no reinstatement costs.
All figures are non-binding guide prices incl. VAT. The final price depends on area, access, materials and effort. You will receive a binding fixed-price quote after a free on-site visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an automatic irrigation system cost for an average garden?
For 300–500 m² of garden, a system with pop-up sprinklers, drip irrigation and a controller usually costs €2,000–3,500. Small terraced-house gardens are ready to run from around €1,500, while systems with a rainwater tank or a well cost more. After the free on-site visit you receive a fixed price.
Can irrigation be retrofitted into an existing lawn?
Yes. We cut narrow slits or use a cable plough, lay the PE pipes at a depth of roughly 30–40 cm and close the turf back over them. After two to three weeks the traces have usually grown over completely.
Is my water pressure enough for pop-up sprinklers?
We check that during the site visit with a pressure and flow test. Gear-drive rotors typically need 2.5–3.5 bar of flow pressure; where there is less, we split the area into more zones or install a pump on a rainwater tank or well.
Is a rainwater tank worth it for garden irrigation?
In the rain-rich Bergisches Land in particular, yes: a 100 m² roof yields around 100,000 litres a year at 1,100 mm of rainfall. A tank of 5,000–7,000 litres carries many gardens through the summer, and rainwater attracts neither water nor sewerage charges.
How much water does a lawn need in summer, and when should it be watered?
As a rule of thumb, 15–25 litres per m² per week during dry spells, given as two or three thorough soakings rather than a brief sprinkle every day. The best time is early morning between 4 and 7 a.m. – that is when evaporation is lowest.
Can I claim an irrigation system against my tax?
Yes, as a tradesman's service under § 35a EStG: 20 % of the labour costs, up to €1,200 per year, reduces your income tax directly. You need an invoice showing the labour costs separately and payment by bank transfer – the allowance does not apply to a new build.