The Benefits of Installing a Drip Irrigation System

Watering your plants can be a struggle if you live in an area that is susceptible to drought. Sprinklers can use a lot of water, especially if you frequently forget to turn them off. If you live in an area where you constantly have to water your plants and your yard, you might consider installing a drip irrigation system for your landscape. Sprinklers can also waste a lot of water that doesn’t hit the affected area or evaporates before it even touches the ground. With a drip irrigation system, the water has a much lower chance of evaporating before it reaches its destination.

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Studies have shown that the water you save by using a drip irrigation system is considerable, about 30-50 percent lower than using a sprinkler. The difference in speed by which the water is applied to the area is also more optimum and conducive to growth when you use a drip irrigation system. The slower application of water to an area is better for growth. Slower water application also prevents the heavy erosion that can happen from water that is applied fast and forcefully. Continuous water flow doesn’t just water the top layer like a sprinkler might, the longer period of time allows for water to penetrate the ground more deeply and get at the roots of a plant to promote growth at all levels.

Since water goes directly into the area where you want it, not only do you not waste water that might get into the street, but it also won’t get into areas of your yard where you don’t want it, therefore restricting weed growth more than a sprinkler might. Once you set the system up in the places that you want it in your landscape, you can also save time that you once previously wasted moving a sprinkler back and forth all the time. So after the initial investment of time setting up the drip irrigation system, you will gain back time each time you water your yard. If you decide to change your landscape it is easy to move the drip irrigation system to adapt and evolve with the changing landscape.

A drip irrigation system is optimal for edible gardens, especially. Since you have to tend edible gardens much more than some other types of gardens, a drip irrigation system can be a good option for people to ensure that their plants are getting a consistent flow of water that will promote growth. Drip irrigation systems are also better than in-ground irrigation systems because they are much easier to change along with the different things you plant in your edible garden throughout the year.

No matter your motivation for installing a drip irrigation system, there are many ways to go about actually installing it. Soaker hoses are a simple way to quickly set up a drip irrigation system. You can buy them at most hardware stores and set them up in your garden. This is the easiest method, but snap together systems are also an option for people with larger landscapes.

Written by Mike West, owner of West Co Grounds Maintenance. WestCo provides the best solutions for lawn care Jefferson City MO has to offer. They also specialize in irrigation and lawn sprinkler service.

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