Learn what to consider when choosing garden irrigation systems.
When you’re working on a garden, it can seem like you spend a lot of time and money watering it. You can water individual plants, which is time consuming, or you can use an overhead or impact sprinkler to water everything at once. However, this option wastes water and encourages weeds. But how do you know if you’re using the best irrigation system for your garden? In this post, we’ll take a good look at drip irrigation, a popular option that many homeowners, gardeners and farmers are finding helpful.
What is drip irrigation?
Drip irrigation concentrates the water your garden needs right where it’s needed. By comparison, impact or overhead irrigation wastes a great deal of water on unplanted ground and loses due to evaporation. Soaker hoses, though better, still water the soil between plants, creating a haven for weeds.
How does drip irrigation work?
Drip irrigation uses water under low pressure in a tube or hose which drips water either through an emitter or micro-sprays to only water the area where you have plants. The tube or hose is run along a route through your garden that makes the best use of the length with emitters being placed where you have a plant. When the system is on, water either drips or mists out to the plants, keeping them moist.
What are some potential issues with drip irrigation?
If you have hard water or tend to get a lot of sediment in your water, you may want to consider adding a filter to your system. Filters help remove these problems from your system before they clog the small lines and emitters, preventing them from working. If you have concerns about water running back into your well or water supply, you’ll want to put a backflow preventer on the system before it starts running to the plants. This is especially true if you’re planning on using any kind of injection system for fertilizer or pesticides. If you have especially high water pressure or water pressure that fluctuates, you may want to install a pressure regulator before the point the irrigation system begins.
With drip irrigation, your water gets right where it needs to be. If you’re ready to set up a drip irrigation system for your garden, please contact us. We’re always ready to help you set up a system that meets your irrigation needs.
