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DRIP IRRIGATION SAVES WATER AND EFFORTIn Colorado water is precious. Using it wisely is important, not only to help the environment, but also to improve the health of your trees and gardens. Drip irrigation, which features low water flow over an extended period of time, is becoming increasingly popular in Colorado. Used at low pressure and at frequent intervals, drip watering delivers the right amount of water to the best place - the root zone. The main advantage to drip irrigation is water savings, resulting from more precise control of water use and reduced evaporation. Drip irrigation also prevent overuse of water and over saturation of the soil, which can drown roots. Plant growth is also improved because drip irrigation reduces moisture variation, and helps prevent insect and disease problems. Stress on the plants is also reduced because salts in the water are not sprayed on leaves. Another plus is that drip irrigation is suitable for all types of terrain and soil conditions if good design techniques are used. Weed control is another plus for drip irrigation. Water what you want to save. Starve what you want to destroy. Drip irrigation also allows for large areas to be watered because of low system flow rates. Low cost installation is another attractive feature of the drip method. Drip systems are installed above ground. Not only does this keep costs down, it also allows for great fexibility. If you should change plants or if water requirements change, nothing has to be dug up. The components can easily be moved. The most popular drip systems utilize emitters. They allow for the most precise watering. Placed near the plants, emitters deliver the correct amount of water for each individual variety. Using emitters with different delivery capacities, drip systems are very accurate. For larger areas, misters and miniature spray heads operate very successfully with the rest of the components of the system. The Colorado Nursery Association recommends using quality components to help insure the success of the drip watering system. Controllers and timers should be accurate and reliable. Emitters should be easy to clean and they should be able to minimize pressure differences from the beginning to the end of the system. A 150-mesh screen filter is also necessary to insure that clean water gets to the plants. Control of the wetted soil around the plants is more cirtical in drip irrigation than with a sprinkler. Be sure to follow proper design techniques and all instructions when locating the drip system. Calculate an accurate watering schedule and follow it precisely. To make these tasks easier, consult with a landscape professional before installing your system. Proper use of mulches will further improve the effciency and water saving value of any watering system. Mulches also can be used to help hide the hoses and other components of a drip system. Be very careful in the use of water retaining chemicals or wetting agents in attempts to improve the soil. These may harm plants by either retaining too much water or by adding salts to the soil. There really is no substitute for organic matter in improving sandy or clay soils. Used properly, a drip irrigation system is an ideal way to save water while providing the correct amount of moisture to your flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs, and other plantings. About the only place where a traditional sprinkler system is better is on the lawn. Although there are new drip systems that are being placed a few inches underground that are proving to provide substantial water savings in turf areas too. DID YOU KNOW? -You can improve water penetration in clay soils by watering in short intervals over a several hour period. |
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