Drip and Low-Flow Irrigation
As more communities face water restrictions, many people are discovering how simple and practical drip and low-fl ow irrigation can be. These systems are easier to set up than they may appear, and once installed, they not only conserve water, they save a lot of work. Just think how much time and effort you spend over the course of the season winding and unwinding hoses, attaching and moving sprinklers, and so on. These systems are ideal for those who would rather pull weeds than haul hoses to water them. Also known as micro-irrigation, drip and low-fl ow watering systems use much less water than conventional methods. They regulate the amount of water supplied, taking the guesswork out of watering rates. They distribute water close to individual plants, so water goes only where it’s needed, soaking slowly into the root zone. Not only are these methods extremely efficient, but they are also inexpensive, unobtrusive and easy to install. You can even adapt your system to changing seasons, crops or conditions, expand it to cover new areas, or completely reconfigure the system from year to year with surprising ease.
Planning Your System
Calculating the Water Flow Available
Start by calculating how much water flow you have available.
Planing and Zoning Your Garden
Plan the number of emitters to run on each line. Ideally, you will be able to water all your plants at once.
Laying Out the Main Header Line for Each Zone
A header hose is the main hose that supplies water from the faucet to the system.
Installing Feeder Lines
Feeder lines connect the header hose to individual emitters.
Attaching the Drippers (Emitters)
All hose-end watering devices such as sprinklers, soaker hoses, drippers, bubblers or misting jets, are called emitters.
