Adding a drip irrigation system to your garden is just about one of the very best things that you can do to ease the burden of watering your plants. With a drip irrigation system, you can set your watering to a timer, so you can go on vacation without worrying about your plants. Here are the benefits of having a drip irrigation system in your garden, and how to create one yourself! Let’s get started.
Drip Irrigation System Benefits
Believe it or not, drip irrigation systems can do more for your garden than just simply making sure everything is watered. Drip irrigation systems can also help with these things:
-Fertilizer and nutrient loss is at a minimum due to reduced water leaching.
-You can use recycled rainwater as part of your drip system if you have water stored around your yard.
-Weed growth decreases.
-Soil erosion decreases.
-Water distribution is more uniform because it is controlled by the faucet of the drip system.
-Foliage remains dry, preventing the spread of fungal diseases.
Drip Irrigation System DIY
Though it might sound like something that requires a whole lot of engineering, it’s relatively easy to create your own drip irrigation system design. Here’s what you’ll need to make it happen:
-Solar-powered timer
-PVC pipe
-Shutoff valve
-T-Fittings (get enough to install one every six inches on the PVC pipe)
– 24-volt sprinkler wire (attached to the valve)
-Drip filters (threaded to each valve)
-Pressure reducers
-Hose-to-compression adapter
-Drip emitters
How To
Step One: Connect the PVC pipe to the water supply, adding a shut-off valve so you can turn the water on and off in case of an emergency.
Step Two: Install a “T-Fitting” every 6 inches on the pipe. Connect the valves to the PVC.
Step Three: Using weatherproof wire nuts, attach the sprinkler wire to the solenoid on each valve. Next, run the wire to the timer. Next, install a drip filter to the outlet of each valve.
Step Four: Next, you’ll want to add a pressure reducer to the outlet of each filter. (You’ll usually need 30 pounds per square inch of pressure reducer for most drip lines.)
Step Five: Attach a hose to a compression adapter onto the outlets of each pressure reducer.
Step Six: Push the end of a drip tubing roll into the compression fitting side of the compression adapter on the first valve. Stake the tubing to the ground with stakes as you unravel it.
Step Seven: Push drip emitters into the tubing where it passes by the base of a plant. Use smaller tubing (1/4 inch) to run the line to any adjacent plants that are not being fed by the mainline. Repeat the process with your other valves.
Step Eight: Manually open your valves one by one to flush the lines of any dirt or other debris. Use an end cap to close off each line of tubing.
Looks like a great little system! ;)thanks for sharing!