If you’re looking for ways to keep your garden watered without
wasting too much time and money, you’ve probably gone through a
lot of options in your mind. Maybe you’ve considered a
sprinkler, a hose, or a good old-fashioned watering can. All of
these methods might be convenient, but most of the time you will
end up wasting water on plants that don’t need any more. If you
live in a drought stricken area like I do, you know that every
bit of water counts. I ended up getting a drip irrigation
system. I haven’t regretted this 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 drips small amounts of water continuously onto the
ground, and allows it to soak
in. It is all regulated from a pressure controller, which
ensures that the water just comes out at a drip instead of a
spray or a stream. These pressure regulators are very
inexpensive. The whole drip system can be set up with a pressure
regulator and a garden hose with holes poked in it (although it
is ideal for you to get a pipe designed for this type of use,
I’ve found that the hose method works acceptably).
The underground system is a bit more of a pain to install and
maintain. But if you’re really into the aesthetic aspect of your
garden and don’t want any visible watering system, then you
might consider it worth it. It’s essentially the same as the
above ground version, only a small trench is dug for the hose or
pipe prior to 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’ll be baffled.
To choose between the two systems, you need to take several
things into account. Do you have the same plant layout year
round? If it is always changing, you probably won’t want to bury
your hose. It can be a pain to
dig it up and re-align it with all your new plants every year or
so. 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 you’re willing to
work for a few hours to get rid of it, then by all means bury
it. But otherwise I would suggest staying above ground if for
nothing else than the convenience of repairing and rearranging.
One of the main advantages of the drip irrigation system is its
efficiency. 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 you’re not around to water it.
So if you’re looking for an easy, cheap, convenient, and
efficient alternative watering method, you should go out to the
gardening store today and purchase the necessary items to
install a drip irrigation system.
