A system of sprinklers is the most common watering method, but not the most efficient.
All plants need water to survive and most garden plants need a lot of water. In many areas of the country this involves supplemental watering because rainfall is either not sufficient or reliable enough. Several elements need to be taken into consideration when planning a garden and a watering system is part of the plan. You need to consider the soil type, water availability, budget and water requirements of the plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Draw your garden dimensions on the graph paper.
2. Sketch where you'd like plants to go. Rows are usually most efficient for watering.
3. Mark water sources.
4. Evaluate your soil type to determine what kind of watering system would work. A system which uses shallow ditches between rows works well, but the soil must contain enough clay to allow the water to run from one end to the other.
5. Look at the height of the plants. If you use a sprinkler system you need to either elevate it to get water over tall plants or arrange it so tall plants do not block shorter plants.
6. Evaluate the space and water availability. If your garden allows for it, and the soil will absorb water fast enough, flood irrigating can work. This involves building a berm around the garden and filling it with water about once a week. The water soaks in, deeply watering plants. The water cannot sit on the ground for more than a few hours, so some soil types will not allow flood irrigating.
7. Decide if initial cost or efficiency is most important. A drip irrigation system is the most efficient but may have the highest initial cost. A drip irrigation system uses soaker hoses or small hoses with holes to slowly and deeply water plants. Since water is applied directly to the roots there are fewer problems with water sunburning leaves or causing mold or mildew on plants.
8. Decide which watering system will work best in your situation.
9. Draw your watering system on your garden diagram, drawing routes from water sources to watering areas. Make a schedule of which areas you will water each day if you can't water the whole garden at once.
Tags: most efficient, your garden, Draw your, drip irrigation, drip irrigation system, flood irrigating