Irrigation
What is Irrigation
I. The Basics of Irrigation At its core, irrigation involves the artificial application of water to soil or land to assist in the growth of
November 30, 2023
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Post: Garden Irrigation And Why You Need It
Garden Irrigation And Why You Need It
Garden Irrigation
When it comes to beautifying your lawn, garden irrigation is necessary. By using soaker hoses, drip irrigation, and micro-sprinklers, it is possible to keep your garden in perfect condition. Only when there is the moisture level of the soil is even would it be possible for the plants in your garden to thrive.
This is why irrigation is necessary. It reduces stress and helps conserve water at the same time.
If you do not irrigate your property, the plants would rot. Besides, you can rely on irrigation to reduce runoff water. It would adapt to the needs of your garden and is scalable. This means that you would be able to use it even when your garden grows and occupies more space. It is crucial that you optimize and automate watering. The best part is that a garden irrigation system is affordable and accessible. In fact, you can rely on the supplier to provide a specially designed system.
To irrigate a garden, you have a number of options including soaker hoses, drip irrigation tape, micro sprinklers, and hand watering. Gardeners can use various water sources such as rainwater, surface water (ponds or streams), well water, and city water.
Rain Barrels
If you use a rain barrel, it will ensure that rainwater is collected from the roof. Now, you must be wary of substances on your roof such as bird excrement. You can use screening for preventing debris from making its way into the barrel. It would also prevent insects like mosquitoes from accessing the water and using it for breeding purposes. You can even get barrels that have rings on top of them for protection. These have larger holes to ensure that excess water enters the gutters. You can lay the screening over the barrel for trapping it and filtering large debris.
Garden Irrigation Water Quality
A hose spigot will need to be installed if you plan on using a water softener. It would divert the water to the landscape and garden before it makes its way through the water softener. You need to keep in mind that water softeners contain sodium-based salts which are harmful to crops. Hence, you must never water them using softened water. However, you have to ensure filtration if you want to remove sand, algae, and other materials.
If you use well water or surface water, you will require elaborate filters as well as regular cleaning. Otherwise, you would have no option but to use self-cleaning emitters. Generally, filters that have a greater mesh count would provide more screening capacity. You should consider getting T or Y filters as they do not need to be dismantled in order to be cleaned, unlike in-line filters.
Garden Irrigation Rate
For those of you that plan to use water from a well, you would have to measure its output. You can easily calculate the flow rate by determining how much time it takes for a 10 gallon bucket to be filled if there is full pressure. It would allow you to make calculations.
All you have to do is convert the seconds into minutes (simply divide the seconds by 60). Then, you must use the formula and divide gallons by minutes to determine the gallons filled within a minute. For instance, if it takes around 10 seconds to fill 10 gallons, you just need to divide 10 by 0.17 (10 divided by 60) which would equal 59.8 gallons a minute. Keep in mind that every zone has its own access to the pipeline which is why you would have to perform the calculations for each zone.
When you have an idea about the maximum amount of water that flows, you can determine which flow rate would be suitable for the irrigation system. You would also be able to determine the amount of water that would be needed by the crops. In case there is an elevation, you must add 5psi for each rise in elevation (i.e. for 10 feet).
The soil profile would also you determine your garden irrigation requirements. Generally, loamy soil would have more organic matter which means that it would have an easier time holding water. On the other hand, clay soil would provide poor drainage despite being able to hold water. As for sandy soil, it would be unable to hold water. This means that it would require more water at short intervals. Therefore, loamy soil is the best option.
If it is your first time getting a garden irrigation system, you should check out soil moisture sensors as they would guide the irrigation rate. When you regularly monitor the moisture levels of the soil, you would be able to adjust the volume and the frequency of the irrigation. You must make necessary changes as the plants grow and as the weather changes. Crops require frequent water if they are not as developed. They would not need to be watered deeply as often. You can rely on moisture meters to determine the moisture levels. It might also be a good idea to consider using rainfall data or a rain gauge.
Drip Irrigation
A drip irrigation system is a distribution system that comprises various elements including a hose. It is important that you also use other devices such as a timer. You can attach the drip tape with the feeder lines. The drip take can be easily folded multiple times. Drip tape provides a great way to irrigate plants. It provides significant control over the irrigation of crops as well as how the process is spaced to ensure optimal garden irrigation. As for drip tape, it can be used to keep annual crops in line. You will have to space each emitter properly as it would affect plant growth otherwise.
When using drip tape, you can count on it to last for several seasons as long as you store it properly during the winter. Now, if you feed fertilizer through it, it might not last for more than a season. You must change the tape if it has experienced significant clogging or damage. Another technique that you can utilize for drop irrigation is drip tubing. It tends to be a lot more durable and you should be able to leave it during winter. Generally, it works best with perennial plantings like shrubs, trees, fruits, and vegetables. By the end of the fall, you would have to drain the tubing of water. You must consider additional plumbing when gardening raised beds.
Make sure to regularly monitor the system for leaks to ensure proper maintenance. In case you use a timer, you would notice an increase in flow. It would signal that there is a leak. Otherwise, you should be able to identify the leak if the plants struggle to grow. In such a situation, you would need to check the garden irrigation system to see if there are any leaks or clogs. Moreover, nuisance wildlife might be to blame. This is why you must look for any chewing on the lines to ensure that you are able to make repairs. For plugging holes, you can use goof plugs. Do not forget to turn off the water flow of the area where you want to harvest crops. Keep the vales open when storing the feeder lines. The water should be removed and the filter assembly should be removed. During spring, you should look for cracks and leaks.
Other Systems For Garden Irrigation
In addition to the above, you might want to consider soaker hoses as they have small holes which release water into the soil slowly. You can bury the hoses in mulch and place them in a curved manner. This would ensure optimum irrigation. Generally, you will find soaker hoses to be suitable for plantings that have irregular shapes. The same goes for a raised bed.
As soaker hoses may be plugged up, the declining flow would cause trouble. You have to keep an eye on the hose as it can get filled with sand, calcium deposits, and bacterial iron. Moreover, it is important that you monitor moisture levels to make sure that the hose continues to perform at optimal. Micro-sprinklers are also worth getting for some crops such as those that use raised beds. They offer amazing coverage and are available in a wide range of patterns and sizes. Otherwise, you can simply upgrade the existing sprinkler system by opting for oscillating sprinklers as they are easy to adjust and more sturdy. Besides, they are made using quality materials.
Hire Hydro Tech Irrigation
Now that you know everything there is to know about a garden irrigation system, all you need to do is hire Hydro Tech Irrigation. As we have an extensive experience in the industry, we can help install the best garden irrigation system for your home. All you have to do is reach out to us. We would be more than delighted to take care of the installation for you. In fact, there is nothing that we are not willing to do for our clients.