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Spring Hill Lawn and Landscape |
Consider Drip Irrigation For Your Landscaping |
Drip irrigation...
- reduces water usage,
- easily irrigates odd-shaped and narrow areas,
- accommodates hanging baskets and other types of planters,
- may be exempt from water restrictions imposed during drought.
Installation of a drip irrigation system is relatively easy and can be accomplished by most home handymen. The required parts, pipe, fittings, tubing, valves, emitters (nozzles) and controllers to install a drip irrigation system are readily available at most of the "Big Box" home improvement centers in both individual units and packaged systems. As well, most landscaping and garden centers now carry a complete inventory of drip irrigation systems and parts.
Drip irrigation utilizes a network of plastic pipes and tubing. Water is distributed slowly, at a low flow and pressure rate to all plants, unlike sprinkler style irrigation systems, which always end up "over spraying" the areas that need watering.
A normal in-ground sprinkler system has an efficiency of between 50 and 70 percent, whereas a drip irrigation system should provide efficiencies in excess of 90 percent, providing the systems watering scheduled has been considered and programmed properly.
Plant growth is highly improved with drip irrigation because it inherently maintains a proper balance of air and water in the soil around the plants roots. With drip irrigation water is not supplied in excess quantities, it is delivered often and at low flow rates keeping the soil continually moist. Sprinkler irrigation systems have the inherent problem that produce a much more dramatic wet to dry variation in the soil and hence restrict plant growth.
Drip irrigation systems have been available to commercial growers involved in vegetables, orchards, nursery plants and greenhouses for many years. As with many products and systems originally designed for commercial use, drip irrigation has been packaged and re-engineered for residential applications. In home landscaping, drip irrigation systems provide exceptional service in vegetable, herb and flower gardens and can be readily adapted to provide watering for fruit trees and hanging baskets.
If you are considering adding or currently have a berm or mound in your landscaping, drip irrigation provides the most efficient and effective method of watering any associated plants. Any slope in landscaping is difficult to water as large quantities of water run off prior to soaking into the ground. By using the low flow rates associated with drip irrigation on a berm or mound, water is more likely to soak into the soil than run off.
People who garden in desert-like conditions and receive very little rainfall each year learn how to make every drop of that rain count by using xeriscaping techniques. That means using drought-tolerant plants, harvesting water wherever possible and using efficient irrigation practices.
Use water-wise plants. Thoughtful plant selection is key in a well-planned waterwise garden. Ornamental grasses, for example, require very little water.
Ideally, you should water in the morning when water pressure is usually highest and winds are calm. Deep soak each time you water, but watch for wasteful runoff. Water only when necessary. If you have an automatic irrigation system, switch it to manual mode and fire it up maybe once a week. Let it run for about 20 minutes or so, rather than have it run every day or every other day for only five minutes, as many people do. Use drip irrigation whenever and wherever possible. It's by far the most efficient way to water.
Routinely inspect garden hoses, faucets and sprinklers for leaks. Just one small drip from a faucet can waste hundreds, even thousands of gallons of water a month. So make repairs when necessary to all your watering devices. Sometimes the solution is as simple as a 10-cent washer.
Keep a three- to four-inch layer of mulch.
Another key component to a water-wise landscape is mulch. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, stabilizes soil temperatures and keeps weeds in check. It also makes the soil more hospitable to the critters who call the soil home. Apply a layer of mulch three to four inches thick; it breaks down into the soil and helps improve the organic matter content and structure of the soil over time. In areas of high winds, use mulches that have thick and heavy pieces, such as pecan hulls or pine bark; gravel is another good mulch that is often used to simulate the arid look of a desert
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
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