Creating A Gorgeous Garden

Creating A Gorgeous Garden

Three Drip Irrigation Mistakes To Avoid

by Tiffany Gonzales

Drip irrigation is an excellent option if you want to conserve water but still ensure that your landscape plants are getting the moisture they need. Drip systems are generally used in vegetable gardens, flower beds, or to irrigation bushes and trees. There are some mistakes that can compromise the effectiveness of your system, so it's important to know what they are so you can avoid them.

#1: Ignoring emitter placement

The beauty in a drip system is that it can supply moisture directly to the plant that needs it, instead of wasting water on bare soil. This only works, though, if the emitters are placed correctly. Choose a system that allows you to reconfigure emitter placement if you grow annuals, including flowers and vegetables. This way you can move the emitters on the lines to reflect what is in the garden this year. For permanent systems in perennial beds, make sure there is an emitter placed at the foot of each plant in the bed, with no additional emitters installed in areas with no plants.

#2: Poor moisture management

If you are new to drip irrigation, it can be easy to overwater your plants. This is because the soil may appear dry on the very surface even though it is moist beneath and down in the root zone. Instead of depending on your eyes or even your old overhead watering schedule, invest in a moisture meter. These devices are inserted into the soil and they tell you when it's time to turn on the drip system. If your system is automatic, there are meters available that can be wired into the system to turn it on automatically when the moisture level drops to a certain point.

#3: Not checking up on pressure

A drip system won't deliver sufficient water if the pressure is too low, but it can also be damaged if the pressure is too high. Emitters are rated by gallons per hour (gph). For example, if you have 50 emitters hooked to a single line, then you will need water pressure that can deliver 50 gph. There are devices that allow you to check the water pressure at your source. If the pressure is lower, you will need to lower the amount of emitters on the line. If it is much higher, then a pressure regulator must be installed or you need to add more emitters.

For more help in designing and regulating the system, contact a drip irrigation contractor like http://sprinklersdfw.com/ in your area.


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About Me

Creating A Gorgeous Garden

I have always been someone who absolutely adores being outside, which is probably one of the reasons I decided to buy a home with a large lot. However, as soon as I moved in, I realized that yard work was a lot more challenging than I had anticipated, which is why I called in a team of professional landscapers. They were amazing to work with and got right to it, and within a few days, the yard was looking amazing. I wanted to create a blog all about creating beautiful outdoors spaces so that other people can help to beautify the world.