In the 21st century water is becoming more and more a scarce natural resource. Some water experts claim that in the not so distant future, wars will probably break out over issues related to water. Whether or not you live in a region where water is scarce today or not does not matter; because, shifting weather patterns, desertification and other factors can quickly transform regions that have abundant rain and water resources into dry, dusty and water scarce regions in a few years. As more people have started supplementing their food resources by growing their own organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and grains; it is also important for you to employ better ways to water your garden that helps conserve as much water as possible. Drip irrigation enables you to water your organic or conventional garden, saves a lot more water than conventional watering (garden hose or sprinklers) and you can automate it. This article shows you 7 easy steps to install a drip irrigation system.
Step #1: Measure the area that you plan to irrigate. If you planted your garden prior to installing the drip irrigation system, measure the length of each row and the distance from main water faucet to which you will connect the main irrigation line. If you are installing the drip irrigation system before planting, you need to estimate how long you will make each row.
Step #2: Sketch a diagram of the area measured, including all rows and the length of the main irrigation line from the faucet. Double check your diagram against the visual layout of your garden.
Step #3: Decide on the layout. For this example, you have two options:
a) Run a main line from faucet to reach the end of field to which you will connect sub-lines for each row to that line. This layout requires you to connect each sub-line to the main with T and L connectors. The disadvantage of this layout is, the more connections you have to the main line the greater the likelihood that you will experience leaks in the system. If you are irrigating a very large area, you want to use this layout.
b) Run a main line from the faucet twisting and turning it down the length of each row until you reach the end of the field. The advantage is that with one continuous line without sub-lines you eliminate the possibility of leaks at faulty connectors. The trade-off is that this layout requires more irrigation piping. For a small area or for small disbursed areas with separate water faucets, you want to use this layout.
Step #4: According to the measurements you made and depending on which layout you select, cut, connect and secure your irrigation lines to the ground, for the number of sections and rows your diagram requires.
Step #5: Puncture holes in the irrigation lines beside the locations of your plants along the lines. If you want your plants to receive a specified amount of water per hour, you might want to install water regulator spouts in each hole.
Step #6: Connect the main line to the faucet/water pressure regulator/timer assembly.
Step #7: Turn on faucet, manually or with a timer mechanism and test your drip irrigation system for leaks. After testing, you are good to go. Installing a drip irrigation system enables you to be on receiving end of several benefits, while enabling you to contribute to a collective effort to conserve and preserve one of our planet's most precious resources. Here are a few of the benefits of drip irrigation:
• Each plant, tree, flower and herb has its water requirement and drip irrigation enables you to regulate how much each receives
• Plants, trees, flower and herbs are watered from below minimizing damage and diseases that arise from too much moisture on leaves
• Water is focused directly on the plants, etc. with less loss due to evaporation
• Utilizing a timer mechanism enables you to automate the process, 365 days a year
As we strive to grapple with conserving as much water as we can for future generations, installing a drip irrigation system is a small step that can be implemented, today. With these 7 easy steps you can install a drip irrigation system for your garden right away. Enjoy.
