If you are looking for a way to keep your garden watered without wasting your time and money, you have probably thougt about a lot of different options. Maybe youve considered a sprinkler, a hose, or a good old-fashioned watering can. These methods might be convenient, but most most times you end up wasting water on plants that do not need any more. If you are living in a drought stricken area, you know that every bit of water you use counts. I ended up getting a drip irrigation system. I have not regretted the decision at all.
When you install a drip irrigation system, you can choose one of two varieties: above ground and below ground. The above ground version will drip a small amount of water onto the ground continuously, and allows it to soak in. It is regulated from a pressure controller that ensures the water comes out a drip at a time instead of a stream or a spray. Pressure regulators are extremely inexpensive. The drip system can be set up with a pressure regulator and a garden hose that you have poked holes into – it would be ideal for you to get a pipe that is designed for this use, but I have found that using a garden hose works acceptably.
The underground system is a bit more of a pain to install and maintain. But, if you are really into the aesthetic aspect of your garden and you do not want a visible watering system, then you may consider it worth it. It is basically the same as the above ground version, but instead, a small trench has to dug for the hose or pipe before you do any planting. This allows the water direct access to the roots for the most watering efficiency. Plus, you can impress your neighbors by having a beautiful garden without ever going outside to water it! They will be baffled.
When choosing between the two irrigation systems, you will need to take a few things into account. Do you keep the same plant layout throughout the year? If it is always changing, you probably wont want to bury your hose. It can be hard to dig it up and re-align it with new plants every year. Even if your plant layout never changes, you need to consider how much you really mind seeing a hose in your garden. If it really bothers you to the extent that youre willing to work for a few hours to get rid of it, then by all means bury it. Otherwise, I would suggest keeping it above ground for the convenience of repairing and rearranging.
One of the main advantages of the drip irrigation system is the efficiency of it. Instead of spraying large amounts of water willy-nilly like a hose does, it makes the most of your precious water by putting it exactly where it is needed. It can also provide your garden with constant watering, instead of just having to go thirsty whenever youre not around to water it.
If you are looking for a cheap, easy, convenient, and efficient alternative to your current watering method, run out to the gardening store today and purchase the necessary items to install a drip irrigation system. I think you will be surprised at how much easier it is to maintain a garden after you have one.
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