Andy Villaescusa, A-Plus Sprinkler and Landscape in Crestline, CAĬost of drip irrigation systemsDrip irrigation systems vary in cost depending on the size of the area, how many plants need emitters, whether it’s a new installation or an existing landscape, and other factors specific to your garden. This isn’t an issue in most suburban landscapes, but in the country it can factor into your decision. Rodents and other animals will chew through drip tubing to get at an easy water source.
Drip irrigation pro#
As Andy Villaescusa of A-Plus Sprinkler and Landscape in Crestline, CA points out, “Who wants to come home and be stuck pulling weeds from in between your plants? A drip system lowers the maintenance in your landscape.” Lastly, because drip systems water only your good plants and not the spaces in between them, you’ll have fewer weeds in a drip-irrigated landscape. This allows you to be sparing with natives and other waterwise plants, and give a heavier dose of water only to the plants that need it. Rick Evans, owner of Aesthetic Gardens in Mountain View, CA, says, “Anytime you’re spraying water into the air as a way to irrigate, you’re wasting 50-70% of it, depending on weather conditions.” A drip system, by contrast, puts out a controlled amount of water very slowly in the exact location it’s needed. This can lead to water waste through runoff, evaporation, and over-watering areas of the landscape which could be happy with less. Sprinkler systems shoot a large quantity of water into the air over a short period of time.
In addition, plants with wet foliage are more susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases, so using drip irrigation to apply water directly to the roots promotes a healthier garden.ĭrip systems are also the best choice for those looking to conserve water. The stream of water from a sprinkler system runs into tall garden plants, stopping the spray from reaching the rest of the area and knocking flowering perennials to the ground. However, sprinkler systems are less useful for beds with mixed plantings of shrubs and flowers, for a number of reasons. Why drip irrigation and not a sprinkler system?Sprinkler systems are most commonly used to water lawns and low groundcovers, because these types of planting can benefit from an even application of water over the entire area. For cost information, see Drip Irrigation System Price Estimates (sidebar).
Because you can mix and match which emitters you use, your drip system can be customized to your landscape’s needs. There are even mini sprayers available for drip systems which can water sections of the landscape with annual flowers, vegetable seedlings and other thirsty plants. You can select emitters that give a lot of water to plants, or ones that give just a small drink. When to choose a drip system Drip irrigation systems are usually the best choice for watering a landscaped bed with trees, shrubs and perennials, because they give you perfect control over how much water each plant gets.
Drip irrigation professional#
If you’re considering installing a drip irrigation system, learn the right way to approach it with these professional tips. The emitters are placed at the root zone of each plant and give a specific amount of water every time the system runs. Drip systems use flexible tubing connected to individual drippers, or emitters. But drip irrigation is a water-wise way of making sure each plant gets exactly the amount of water it needs. When discussing irrigation systems, most people imagine sprinklers because they’re such a visible example of an automated watering system. A-Plus Sprinkler and Landscape in Crestline, CA
Garden beds are at their best when watered with a drip irrigation system.
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