Watering your garden isn’t just a question of setting up a sprinkler or wandering around with a watering can. Sure, making sure your plants or crops get the right amount of water has never been an exact science, but there are ways to irrigate that are better than others. Irrigation revolutionized agriculture in ancient times, and despite the passing of time, the principles remain the same. An irrigation system will save you time, energy and water, and will ensure your crops are properly hydrated, even when you’re not around to personally oversee everything – depending on the type of system you go for. Better yet, it isn’t too difficult to do yourself, so you’ll save money along the way. Here are some methods of irrigation to try out.
Basics
Irrigation is all about getting the right amount of water to the right plants with minimum wastage and maximum efficiency. But there are some basic DIY irrigation factors to take into account, especially if you’re on a budget. With that in mind, the first thing you should invest in is a water butte, to catch rainfall. If you’re blessed to live somewhere with frequent rain, you’ll be able to let nature do its thing, and not use your irrigation method, and you’ll be able to save water for drier days. Most home irrigation systems allow you to hook up your hoses, pipes or sprinklers to your water butte. If you’re watering above ground, the golden rule is to hose or sprinkle your garden early in the morning, or late in the afternoon/evening, to give the water the least opportunity to evaporate before it is absorbed.
Above-ground sprinklers
By far the most commonly used garden irrigation method, sprinklers are a ubiquitous presence during the summer months. While it is possible to get advanced sprinkler systems with timers and different rotations, it is actually a fairly inefficient way to water. Lots of spray is lost through evaporation, and unless used early in the morning or late at night, much of the water will evaporate on the ground before it has a chance to hydrate anything. On the upside, sprinklers are cheap and simple and do well-watering lawns and containers.
In-ground sprinklers
An alternative to the above-ground option is in-ground sprinklers. These can be set up to more accurately spray water into flower beds and can be better automated. Some options even detect rain in the air and shut themselves off when the heavens open. Different sprinkler heads are available to distribute the appropriate amount of water for certain plants or crops and can be automated to rotate. Many in-ground sprinklers retreat into the ground when they are not in use, so as not to detract from the aesthetics of your flower beds. They can be quite pricey but worthwhile irrigation options.
Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation is more efficient than either type of sprinkler, as the water they emit goes straight into the ground, not wasting spray on the leaves. They can be controlled with butterfly valves in order to save water, start and stop the flow or isolate drips for your thirstiest plants. Pipes run under the ground, with holes to leak water effectively and eradicate the potential for evaporation. Drip irrigation is highly accurate and effective, as it can be set up to soak around the roots of plants or crops.
Soaker hoses
A cheaper, simpler but marginally less effective option than drip irrigation, soaker hoses are just regular hoses with holes bored in the appropriate places for your plants. Usually made from recycled tires, you simply trail it around your garden, attach it to the water supply, and leave it alone.
Ollas
Ollas are an ancient irrigation system consisting of clay pots, or reservoirs, buried in the ground. The clay is porous, so the olla gradually emits water into the soil around it. Larger ollas spread their water further, so it is important to choose one the right size for the area you want to water.
Irrigation will take the headache and hassle out of watering your garden effectively. And if you do it yourself, not only will it be cheaper, but you can customize your system to suit your plants’ needs.
