While sprinkler systems are around 65-75% efficient, drip systems typically are 90% or higher. What that means is much less wasted water! It is easy to install, easy to design, can be very inexpensive, and can reduce disease problems.
Benefits of using drip irrigation:
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Applies water slowly and directly to the soil.
- High efficiency is due to water soaking into the soil before it can evaporate or run off.
- Water is only applied where it is needed (at the plant’s roots) rather than sprayed everywhere.
- Significantly less expensive than installing a sprinkler system.
- Decreased water bill due to lower water usage.
- Healthier plants.
- No standing in the heat to water your plants.
If you have access to a water faucet then you can install a drip irrigation system in your flower beds, garden, planters, and containers. By adding a timer, you can schedule when and for how long the system will run.
The basic idea is to run ½” tubing through your landscape beds and attach ¼” tubing to it which will deliver water to each plant. The amount of water per plant is determined by the size of the emitter (1/2, 1 or 2 gallon). You can also use spray stakes, bubblers, drip-a-long tubing, etc. in your design.
It is easy to add emitters to your system as you add new plants to your landscape or to increase the emitter size or quantity as a plant grows larger. Drip can be used in many applications – vegetable gardens, containers, hanging baskets, landscape beds, trees, orchids and more. We can help you plan your DIY drip system for whatever your needs are.