What You Should Know About Drip Watering Systems
They ran a test on a semi-trucker with a 5-ton load of seedlings. The load was watered three times with a 20-foot hose. The first time, the hose worked and the second time they ran into a speed trap and the sprinkler head went crashing into the lawnmower.
It sounds like you are enjoying your new hobby. However, I would like to point out a few things. First, why do you need a drip irrigation system? See, with traditional irrigation there is no such thing as over or underwatering. Remember, a spray is an automated process that delivers water evenly to the plants. With drip irrigation, your plants will have a constant trickle of water – unless you run out of water.
The second thing you need to know is that you can’t trust anyone to spray your lawn. Remember, it is very easy for a kid to try to water the grass and end up spraying either something or someone else. Most kids under five years of age will not be able to differentiate between “watering” and ” spraying.”
The third thing you need to know is that you can get a head start with drip irrigation systems by starting the systems at home. Now, I realize that this may not be for everyone, but I believe it could be a great way to learn about these systems without a huge investment the first time.
These systems can be purchased pre-assembled at some garden centers, but could also be purchased as a kit. You can take the pieces out of the box, and re-assemble them using the parts from the box. I personally would use a kit where the parts cycle through the kit, rather than trying to separate them and re-assemble them.
The last thing you should know about drip irrigation is that it can be very messy. Yes, this is a big downside. A lot of people are not used to the idea of laying out their own drip irrigation system. Lots of hand-watering systems use a timer or a thermostat that will allow the water to get delivered on a schedule. A dripper is a timer attached to a pump that delivers the water slowly and goes off when it is done.
Since the water can get wasted on the sidewalks and just run down the lawn, a drip irrigation system is really an attractive way to reduce water use, and also make the trees greener. If you don’t already have a leaky pipe or some type of watering trough then you can find those parts at your local garden center.
Water Third Hand
If this is something that you are interested in, I would suggest you get yourself a book on rainwater harvesting. Rainwater is free. In California, they give you 100% free water. You can use it to water the garden, shrubs and irrigate your landscaping. It is wonderful, environmentally conscious water. You can even use it in your house. It lowers your water bill, kills bugs, and is a natural greenhouse gasse that reduces smog.
The best part is that all you need is a hose, rain barrel(s), a screen, and a little creativity. It is a great way to be environmentally friendly. Each state has a specific drought prevention law. You should be able to find out what is required by your state.
Drip irrigation kits allow the water to get delivered to the exact place you want it. You can set the on/off time so the water is delivered on a set schedule and not pour water every time. Drip kits are easy to install.
You can find drip irrigation kits for sale at most home improvement stores and garden colonies. A great place to find drip kits is Amazon.com. Choose your drip irrigation system, and you will find plans for many sizes to choose from, depending on your needs.
A drip irrigation system is very versatile and you can find one that will work for you. A drip kit can be spraying, sprinkling, or drip type. A sprinkler system will send the water where you want it to go. I use a timer to control my drip irrigation system. set up the timer, and the system will do the rest.
It is possible to buy everything you need separately, but the most popular system is all components included. So, if you want to build a custom system, you will want to order the parts separately. In most cases, kits will have everything you need to be included.
You can build a drip irrigation system yourself; however, you will need some type of drip irrigation line and a few connectors. You will also need a small air pump and timer.
