It ’s said that weewee is our most precious resource . And in this era of mood change with record heat and drought , conserving urine is vital . grow fruit and vegetables requires a meaning amount of body of water and while yourArborvitaeandRhododendronsmay survive 3 weeks without rainfall , yourtomato industrial plant , lettuces , andblueberrieswill not .

Drip irrigation can be used for any plant in your yard or garden , including Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , but for this clause , we ’ll focus on yourvegetable garden .

How drip irrigation works

Drip irrigation works by placing water slowly and directly into the filth — literally “ dripping ” it from small water emitter that are positioned at each works or from an emitter channel that is snake around the planted garden bed . Drip is also an splendid method acting for watering slop and terraced garden because the slow rate of lachrymation means it is more probable to soak in before it run off or disappear .

Benefits of drip irrigation

The 3 components of a drip irrigation system

The headconsists of a piddle source with a valve , a filter to transfer okay particle from the water so the emitters wo n’t clog , and a pressure regulator to reduce the water pressure sensation to under 25 pounds per square inch ( most city systems are between 25 - 60 psi ) .

The statistical distribution systemis the pipes or hoses that carry the urine to the plants . pipework are usually made from PVC or ignominious polyethylene . Also includes connecter to conform the hose or tube to the emitters .

Emittersare the most vital part of your drip irrigation organisation . emitter come in many different designs and are generally classified as point source , linear , or micro spray .

Buy on Amazon : Drip irrigation character and systems

Is setting up a drip irrigation system complicated?

Drip irrigation in the vegetable garden does n’t have to be a permanent installation unless you ’re using thesquare - footgardening method acting . assume you ’re practicingcrop rotation , you ’ll be changing what and where you plant each year . Since next twelvemonth ’s tomatoes wo n’t be in precisely the same spot as this year ’s , your dripirrigation systemwill have to be modified each time of year . So for the vegetable garden , be economical with your materials and stick away from a rigid configuration .

Drip irrigation systems can be as simple or as complicated as you see set . But planning is crucial : before designing your scheme , you ’ll postulate to know the water system requirements of your flora and how to size the designing to deliver the water system where it ’s needed with enough pressure . See the resources lean below and the videos to discover more .

Drip Irrigation resources to get you started:

Join our email list and never miss a new post on gardening!