Drip Irrigation

Getting water to your plants in the summer can often be a time-consuming and painstaking task. An underground irrigation system is expensive and, for many people, prohibitively so. But, there is another option that you may not have considered: drip irrigation.

Don't worry; the plants in your landscape will receive more than just a drip of water. Plants, shrubs and trees will receive a gentle watering that gets critical moisture to your plants in dry periods without wasting water by over watering or unnecessarily putting water where it can't be used by plants.

This system is easily installed by purchasing the proper equipment from your favorite garden store. It can be connected to your outdoor faucet. It you use your faucet for other tasks - filling children's pools, washing your car, etc. - you can easily purchase a "Y" connector that will enable two hoses to be connected at the same time. The "Y" has a switch that sends water through one hose or the other.

Most drip irrigation systems are composed of hose, tubes, or pipes in a variety of sizes, ranging from the thickness of a kindergartner's pencil to a slim size slightly wider than spaghetti. Fittings allow the various sizes to connect to each other.

The pipes are arranged in descending size, with the largest near the water source; medium size for plants closer to the water source, and the smallest pipes in flower beds and vegetable gardens. They should be arranged in such a way to actually put water on individual plants in a row.

For annuals or vegetables that need applications of fertilizer throughout the growing season, a siphoning device is available that can be connected to the system. A water-soluble fertilizer can be sent directly through the hose to the plants that need it.

Another great feature of this system is the ability to attach a timer (or water meter) that will turn the water on during the day at any time you choose. It can be set to come on several days a week, or even several times a day depending on your plants' needs.

One important consideration before installing a system like this is to make certain you have properly prepared and well-drained beds. This may seem like a contradiction - we're installing a system to keep plants moist, but we have to make sure the plants don't drown. If any excess water accumulates, it definitely will fill the soil pore spaces, squeeze out the air necessary for root respiration, and kill the plant.

Most garden centers have favorite drip irrigation systems. Some come in a kit form with add-on capabilities and others consist of component parts to build a system that you design yourself. Your garden center can help you. Most systems come with graph paper and sample maps to assist you in planning the design of your irrigation system.

In either case, it is now possible to build a system for watering that is nearly automatic. This allows you to give your plants the best care with the least waste of water and you'll have more time to sit back and enjoy your beautiful yard.