Better landscapes using less water
James & Morris Carey, Special to the Gazette
Thursday, August 6, 2009
When outdoor watering comes to mind, we think of a hose with a sprinkler attachment on the end, or better yet, a fancy built-in sprinkler system. We think of being able to flood our lawn and garden with an ample spray of cool liquid refreshment. Unfortunately, as we have learned, spray watering can be pretty wasteful. A large landscape area can consume more water in a week than a family of four needs in an entire month. And, this type of watering is not always effective for many kinds of plant growth. Lawns, trees, shrubs and flowers all have different needs. So, sprinklers are OK for lawns, but garden areas need special attention to insure that the proper amount of water is being delivered to plantings and to reduce water waste.
There are many ways to conserve water and improve garden growth all at the same time. Our favorite is known as “drip-watering.” Actually, drip watering systems have been around for quite some time and they are pretty sophisticated — and reasonably inexpensive. These days you can find an entire area in your local home center or hardware store dedicated entirely to drip watering.
Better manufacturers offer accurate water-pressure regulators, high quality filters, automatic in-line fertilizing devices, a broad selection of water emitters and connectors, solid and perforated tubing and a variety of watering heads and flow reducers.
With the right parts you can control water usage to within amazingly accurate tolerances and fertilize at the same time without even being there. And a great advantage of drip systems is that they don’t have to be placed deep underground so installation is easy.
It isn’t necessary, but if you can afford to include it in your budget, the place to start is with an electric timer. Most yards can be controlled with a 6-station unit and one can be purchased on sale for under $60. Timers operate on 110 volts, but use a very small amount of electricity. Secondary wires from the timer are low voltage and run from the timer to electrically controlled sprinkler valves. In-line timers are also available for single line systems.
With a conventional sprinkler system, large pipes have to be buried deep in the ground starting at the control valves and ending at the areas to be watered. Some pipes may have to be buried deep with a drip system, but usually not as much.
A water pressure regulator is a must when considering a drip system. The regulator should be installed in the water line between the water supply and the control valves. Good drip systems rely on constant, well regulated water pressure. Proper pressure ensures that the emitters (water distribution devices) will supply the desired amount of water through each water supply tube.
For more home improvement tips and information and for an opportunity to win tens of thousands of dollars in prizes during our ongoing sweepstakes, visit our web site at www.onthehouse.com or call our listener hot line 24/7 at 1-800-737-2474 (Ext. 59).