How to Understand Drip Irrigation Systems

Drip irrigation systems provide lots of benefits to a gardener. They’re inexpensive and easy to install (you can do it yourself), require little maintenance, and best of all, make your garden grow green and healthy. As well, drip irrigation systems conserve water by providing just the right amount of water for healthy plant growth without any of the water running away or being wasted. Here’s how to understand the workings of a drip irrigation system.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• ¼-inch polyurethane tubing
• ½-inch polyurethane tubing
• Line filter
• Water pressure reducer
• Drip emitters
• End caps
• Timer (optional)
• Connectors to join the water lines togethe

1. Understand that a drip irrigation system consists of a main feeder tube (usually ½ inch in diameter) connected through a pressure reducer to the outside tap. Running off the main feeder tube is a series of smaller polyurethane tubes (1/4 inch in diameter) containing a series of water emitters located about 18 inches apart. At the water source there is usually a water filter to keep solids out of the waterlines and there are end caps placed on the ends of the line to stop water from running out the end.

2. Build a simple drip irrigation system by first installing the water emitters into the thin tubing (about 18 inches apart), then running them throughout your garden. Next, connect the smaller lines to the main feeder line, place an end cap on the main line and attach it to the water pressure reducer on your outside tap.

3. Turn the tap on and the water will be fed directly to the base of the plants in your garden. Drip irrigation is estimated to conserve between 30 and 50 percent of the water used in traditional sprinkler systems.

4. Consider that besides saving water (and money), drip irrigation systems will eliminate over or under watering, and as a result, will minimize weed growth and plant disease in your garden.

5. Maintain your drip irrigation system by periodically removing the end caps and flushing out the lines to get rid of any buildup of soil and organic matter on the emitters (rain can cause it to splash onto the emitters).

6. In cold climates winterize your drip irrigation system by draining all the lines, removing and cleaning the emitters, cleaning the filter and removing the pressure reducer.

Tips & Warnings

• Drip irrigation systems can be built to accommodate your garden shape and size. You can add and move emitters to ensure they are placed near the base of your plants.
• System components are available at home and hardware stores and the total cost for a standard-size system is in the $50 to $100 range. Water savings could mean your drip irrigation system costs you nothing.
• You can add an automatic timer to turn your drip irrigation system on and off at the appropriate times.
• Be sure you don't place waterlines and emitters closer than 18 inches to your foundation or you could end up with water in your basement.

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on 8/18/2009 super article thanks for the tips Kathy 5 star