Drip Irrigation 101: The Foundation

Drip irrigation is essentially the process of applying slow, steady and precise amounts of water to your plants, shrubs, trees and gardens.

As an extremely efficient method of watering, drip irrigation delivers smaller quantities of water directly to the plant’s roots. Drip irrigation is a permanent system which can be installed for just a few plants or a few thousand acres, depending on your needs.

Drip irrigation uses flexible, polyethylene tubing or PVC piping, along with devices for dripping water (called emitters).  It is relatively easy to install and requires no trenching. It can be controlled manually or can be activated through the use of an automatic timer.

Installing drip irrigation

Drip irrigation, using polyethylene tubing, is simply wound around the base of the plant, shrub or tree. The many emitters along the length of the tube slowly release water which is absorbed into the soil by the plant’s root system. The polyethylene tubing can be cut to size using a simple pair of shears, and can be installed by a landscape contractor or designated as a do-it-yourself project.

A qualified landscape contractor is a smart choice if you have a large area which you would like irrigated, or if you want the system set up to an automatic timer. The services of a qualified landscape contractor may be able to set different watering zones for different types of plants as well. For example, you may want to water your vegetable garden twice a day, but your nearby perennial garden every other day. A multiple-zone system can be easily achieved through the use of an automatic timer, which is typically located in your garage.

Although drip irrigation systems have been used for many years in commercial and agricultural settings, they have now found a place in landscapes across America as homeowners search for more environmentally friendly ways of caring for their landscape.

The benefits of drip irrigation include:

• Maintains near-perfect moisture levels around the root zone of the plant.
• Saves a considerable amount of water, as only the plant’s roots are watered.
• Consistent moisture levels mean less stress on the plants and improved plant growth.
• Prevents excess surface water build-up and less evaporation, thereby making it a very efficient, water-saving system.
• Achieves precise water control through a low application rate and automatic timer.
• Reduces weed growth by keeping the areas between the plants dry.
• Ideal for all types of terrain and soil conditions.
• Installation costs are much less than underground sprinkler systems.
• Can include fertilizer dispensers which feed chemicals and nutrients directly to the plant in controlled quantities.
• Eliminates water run-off in uneven terrain, thereby improving water efficiency no matter the slope or terrain.
• Reduces water contact with the leaves, stems and fruit of the plants and trees, thereby reducing the likelihood of disease.
• Ideal for vegetable and perennial gardens, as well as for trees and shrubs.
• Saves a considerable amount of time, money and water, as it is extremely efficient.