Landscape Design - Utilizing Drip Irrigation Systems

Using conventional watering systems, moisture is lost by run off, evaporation, blown away by the wind, and wasted on non-growing areas. The drip irrigation system is generally greater than 90% efficient at allowing plants use all the water applied, whereas sprinklers are just 70% efficient.

It's wise to install a drip irrigation system in your yard. Then you don't need to concern yourself with getting the exact quantity of water delivered at the right time, nor do you have to move sprinklers everywhere.

An irrigation system is not cheap at first, nonetheless it will pay for itself over time and most do-it-yourselfers can install it easily.

What Is It?

Drip irrigation actually refers to a combination of several types of low-pressure, low-volume water delivery methods. The precise term for these systems is "microirrigation". Each microirrigation type is distinguished by a different type of emitter (the element that discharges the water).

Drip irrigation is the precise and gradual application of low pressure water directly to the roots of the plants using emitters. A drip irrigation system is a group of interconnected flexible pvc tubing. The tubes have holes bored at certain intervals to fit with the placement of your plants. The whole system is either buried or placed atop the ground next to the plants.

Advantages

By keeping the plant's roots moist (but not saturated) you really use less water than with normal watering techniques. Maintaining an ideal moisture level in the soil at all times causes:

-deep watering
-more efficient watering
-water conservation
-almost no evaporation loss
-water only where plants are
-no wind to carry the water away
-deeper roots
-healthier roots (due to reducing disease problems associated with high levels of moisture on plants)
-plants are hardier: more resistant to insects, drought, and disease
-more abundant foliage
-greater crop yields
-no uv deterioration of plastic and other materials exposed to sunlight
-decreases water, fertilizer, and labor if properly managed.

Where To Place

Drip irrigation systems are usually installed around flowers, shrubs, and even trees. This targeted approach allows watering to be more effective and efficient. It helps ensure that each of the landscape's individual elements are appropriately watered.

A drip irrigation system can be easily concealed with a layer of mulch, so that even an above ground system does not diminish the view of your land.

How To Set Up

Installing drip irrigation is easy using kits obtainable at almost all home improvement stores. Kits contain instructions that clearly explain all the steps. There are a few tools needed for the installation, but you probably already have them. The installation takes 1 day or less.

You can make maintenance even easier by adding a timer to the system. Timers can be obtained at home improvement stores and are easy to install as well. Timers insure that your plants get watered at the correct time without you needing to remember to do so. They help your plants get exactly the right amount of water at the right time.

Your drip irrigation system should be used in conjunction with 'irrigation zones' in your landscape. Plants with similar water needs should be grouped together, so that they can be more efficiently watered. This prevents over watering some plants just because others nearby need additional water.

It's easy to modify the configuration of a drip system. So, a system can evolve as your needs change.

All in all, drip irrigation systems are economical as well as a great way to keep your landscape healthy and hardy. They can help to improve your home ... the easy way.