Drip irrigation systems in the garden reduces water waste.
Drip irrigation uses hoses perforated with small holes to slowly drip water into the garden. Hoses are placed around each plant, soaking the soil near the plant. Drip systems use less water that sprinkler systems because loss of water in the air and from sun is kept to a minimum. Drip irrigation systems are also fairly cheap to install, costing $40 to $100 per 100 square feet, according to "This Old House." Install a drip irrigation system if you have a serious, permanent garden or landscape in mind. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Design the layout of your garden. Measure the distance from the outdoor spigot to each garden plant using a tape measure.
2. Attach a vacuum breaker to a pressure regulator and attach the components to your outdoor spigot by screwing it on.
3. Attach a filter to the end of the pressure regulator by screwing it on.
4. Lay your tubing out in the sun for a few hours so that it stretches and adjusts to the heat.
5. Attach your 1/2 inch supply line tubing to the spigot and unroll it towards the garden area.
6. Cut the supply tubing at the garden and attach a T-joint to the cut end. Push the T-joint into the end of the tubing until the joint seals the end. Attach two more supply line tubes to the t-joint and run the two tubes along the length of the garden.
7. Insert barbs into the side of the supply tubing running along the length of the garden at each row of plants. Barbs are small joints that are pressed into the supply tubing. The barb then diverts water from the supply tubing to the emitter tubing.
8. Attach an emitter tube to each bib and wrap it around the plants along the row near the roots. Do not have the emitters touching the plant. Run a length of emitter tube to each plant in the garden.
9. Install ground stakes along the tubing to hold it down. Push the ground stakes into the ground by hand.
10. Cut the tubing at the end of the garden and leave the end open. Turn on the water and flush out the system for a few minutes. Turn off the water and insert an end cap.
Tags: supply tubing, along length, along length garden, Drip irrigation, Drip irrigation systems, each plant