Smart Watering
A Sprinkler That Runs the Same Program Year-Round Isn't Smart, It's Wasteful
Your garden's water needs change with every season. We design, install, and maintain irrigation systems that respond to what's actually happening in the ground.
What You Get
Professional Irrigation that gets results
A sprinkler system that runs the same program in January and July isn't smart, it's wasteful. We design, install, and maintain irrigation systems that deliver the right amount of water to the right places at the right times, adjusted every month to match actual conditions. For clients on our monthly care program, we check and adjust irrigation settings at every visit, catching faults early, before a blocked emitter costs you a plant or a leak costs you a water bill. Irrigation issues are often identified during the Initial Clean Up (ICU), allowing us to repair or upgrade systems before monthly maintenance begins across Melbourne's eastern suburbs.
Custom irrigation system design
Drip line and sprinkler installation
Smart controller setup and programming
Regular system checks and maintenance
Seasonal adjustment of watering schedules
Water efficiency optimisation
Why It Matters
How much water does your garden actually need, and when?
I walk into gardens all the time where the irrigation system is running identically in March as it was in December. The lawn areas are waterlogged, the drip lines in the beds are still on summer settings, and the water bill is astronomical. Most gardens are either overwatered or underwatered, and rarely correctly watered. Hand watering tends to apply too much to the surface without soaking deep enough to reach root zones. Poorly programmed automatic systems often water at the wrong time of day, for the wrong duration, or apply the same amount regardless of season.
Melbourne's permanent water restrictions require that irrigation systems run only between 6pm and 10am, while hand-held watering with a trigger nozzle is permitted any time. A well-maintained system that complies with these rules and adjusts seasonally will keep your garden healthy through summer without waste. An irrigation system left on the same program year-round will overwater in the cooler months, promoting root rot and fungal disease, and potentially underwater during the hottest periods when demand peaks.
Different areas of your garden also have different water needs. Established trees need deep, infrequent watering. New plantings need more frequent, lighter irrigation during establishment. Lawn areas have entirely different requirements to garden beds. A well-designed system accounts for all of these zones and delivers the right amount to each.
Our Process
How it works
Design
Custom system designed for your garden's layout and needs.
Installation
Professional installation with quality components.
Programming
Controller set up with optimal watering schedules.
Maintenance
Regular checks and seasonal adjustments.
Why Choose Us
Why homeowners trust ABS
Water Efficiency Focus
We design and maintain systems that minimise water waste while ensuring every plant gets exactly what it needs.
Seasonal Reprogramming
Controller schedules are adjusted at every monthly visit to match current conditions, not set and forgotten.
Fault Detection & Repair
Regular inspections catch blocked emitters, leaks, and coverage gaps before they cause plant damage.
Proper Zone Design
Different garden areas get different watering: lawn, beds, new plantings, and established trees all treated separately.
Smart Controller Setup
We program and maintain smart controllers that adjust watering based on weather data and soil moisture levels.
Lower Water Bills
A properly maintained irrigation system uses significantly less water than hand watering or a neglected automatic system.
Client Stories
What our clients say
"We've used Anthony and his team for several projects over many years – from a large scale re-design and remodelling and replanting, to everyday garden care and maintenance. His service is great and we're very happy to recommend him."
Andrew & Caroline
Surrey Hills
"I have been impressed by the high quality of your work, your friendly and very prompt service and your reliability… I would give you and your workers a star rating of 5 out of 5."
Jill
Hawthorn East
"We were attracted not only to the house but also to a small but special garden with many unusual plants… we have been very happy to have Anthony and Sam keeping a watchful eye and giving the garden whatever TLC is needed. They are reliable and we have confidence in the care they take."
Sue
Kew
"Anthony and his team are a pleasure to have around. They are all absolute gentlemen and they do a wonderful job. Reliable and diligent."
Suzie
Malvern
"ABS Horticulture have been caring for our townhouse garden for many years… We have introduced some of our friends to ABS and they too have expressed satisfaction with ABS capable design and maintenance work."
Gilbert
Glen Iris
"The ABS team have looked after our garden for the last two and a half years. They have helped keep the old girl under control and the transformation of the back garden has been amazing."
Anita
Kooyong
"We are completely satisfied with the work done by Abs. We have a large yard with a huge gum that drops constant litter across our garden. Sam and Anthony are incredibly professional and nice…and they care about the end result!! Always discrete and always leave the property in impeccable condition. We have a monthly maintenance which has reinvented our garden! No need to worry about the right time to fertilise or prune, just sit back and enjoy!"
Donagh
Melbourne
"Very happy with these guys. After a year or so of having them look after my place I wanted to revamp my garden completely, they chose the best plants and flowers for the area, their attention to detail is superb and my place looks amazing!"
Pip
Melbourne
"Anthony and Sam have done a great job maintaining and improving my garden over the past couple of years. Highly recommended."
Sue
Melbourne
"ABS Horticulture has been looking after our garden for over 10 years. In that time, Anthony's team have proven to be reliable, skilled and prompt with their services. The staff are always polite and their workmanship is top notch, whether it is lawn care, pruning, or shaping our numerous bay trees and hedges. I love coming home from work on the day ABS have serviced our garden, it always looks great."
Tom
Elsternwick
Helpful Resources
More About Irrigation
How Much Does Garden Maintenance Cost in Melbourne? (2026 Pricing Guide)
Transparent pricing guide for garden maintenance services in Melbourne. Understand what affects costs, what services include, and how to budget for professional garden care.
What Does a Garden Maintenance Service Include? (Complete Breakdown)
Complete breakdown of what professional garden maintenance services include. Understand exactly what tasks are performed and what results you can expect.
How Often Should Garden Maintenance Be Done? (Monthly vs Fortnightly)
Monthly garden maintenance suits most established Melbourne gardens. Here's how to decide between monthly and fortnightly based on your garden type, plants, and seasons.
Monthly Care
What to expect as a client
Your irrigation system checked at every monthly visit, with emitters tested, leaks identified, coverage confirmed. We catch the problems before your plants show them.
Controller schedules adjusted each visit to match the season, recent rainfall, and what your garden actually needs right now, not what it needed three months ago.
Blocked or faulty components identified and repaired promptly. One dead emitter can cost you a plant, and we make sure that doesn't happen.
Watering zones reviewed as your garden matures, because a newly planted bed and an established one have entirely different water needs.
Honest recommendations for system upgrades where existing coverage is letting your garden down, with a focus on water efficiency and compliance with Melbourne Water permanent rules.
Ongoing vs One-Off
An irrigation system without regular adjustment is just an expensive way to waste water
I've lost count of the times I've found a dead plant in an otherwise healthy garden bed and traced it back to a single blocked emitter that nobody noticed. The rest of the zone was fine, but that one plant quietly starved for water for weeks. That's the reality of irrigation without regular attention. Leaking connections waste water underground where you can't see it. Controllers left on summer settings through winter create waterlogged conditions that invite root rot. Our monthly care program includes irrigation as a standard check. At every visit, we inspect visible components, adjust watering schedules for the current season and recent weather, and identify faults before they cause plant damage or inflate your water bill. Your system works as intended year-round, not just on installation day.
The monthly difference
One-off care
Monthly program
Transparent Pricing
Simple, fair pricing, no surprises
Our irrigation service is priced based on the scope of work. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote tailored to your garden.
Free
Initial Quote
No obligation site visit
Fair
Transparent Pricing
Clear quotes, no hidden fees
Flexible
Payment Options
Bank transfer, easy & convenient
Get Started
Ready to transform your garden?
Book a free 15-minute call. We'll discuss your irrigation needs, answer your questions, and provide a no-obligation quote.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation about your garden.