Beautiful green lawns and sprawling flower beds don’t come easily. If you water your own yard and garden, then you know exactly what we’re talking about! Keeping up with your yard’s maintenance is quite an undertaking which is why more and more people are installing irrigation systems.
While there are a bunch of different options to choose from, these systems all have one thing in common: they make the upkeep of your exterior much more efficient and. With that being said, irrigation systems are not cheap to install and, in some cases, take a significant amount of time and energy to construct.
Worry not, we’ve got you covered! We’ve broken down and explained the process of DIYing your own irrigation system, specifically drip irrigation. We promise, it’s not as scary as it sounds to do it yourself! But, if you do still have questions or need assistance, we’re always an email away!
What is Drip Irrigation?
All irrigation systems have the same purpose, but go about it in different ways. In this case, drip irrigation is exactly as it sounds: water is dripped onto the soil below, eventually to be soaked up by the roots of the surrounding plants. The flow of the water is controlled by a valve called a dripper. (Can you tell they were really creative with the name!)
While all drip irrigation systems use the same mechanism, they can often vary widely in style and formation. One of the most common usages for drip irrigation is in large-scale farming. On these widespread fields, drip irrigation systems are typically suspended above the ground and have the ability to water a few plants at once.
Another application of this system is quite popular for winemaking. In a vineyard, each grape plant will often have its own, designated dripper to preserve consistency. Finally, the method that we will be DIYing on the blog today is most commonly used on residential property. In this style, the drip irrigation system is in direct contact with the soil and woven throughout the garden. This allows for maximum control over what portion of the field gets watered.
What are the Benefits of Drip Irrigation?
Well, now that we’ve explained what drip irrigation is, let’s get into why it’s an especially useful irrigation system. In fact, drip irrigation systems are quickly becoming one of the most popular irrigation methods in the country, and rightfully so. This method has several notable benefits that allow it to stand out from the rest.
For starters, the trademark of drip irrigation is how efficient it is. By using such targeted methods of watering, it reduces the amount of water wasted. For example. Most irrigation systems water extremely large surface areas, with a percentage of the water getting evaporated off of leaves or dissipating due to runoff. Contrarily, since drip irrigation introduces the water source directly into the soil, the amount of wasted water is minimized.
Another important advantage that has made this form of irrigation especially popular for residences stems from the easy upkeep. Compared to other irrigation systems, that have several moving parts, drip irrigation is incredibly simple in design, therefore much easier to fix when it breaks. On top of that, a properly installed drip irrigation system will last several years as long as it is sufficiently maintained.
While we’re on the topic of convenience, it’s important to note that drip irrigation is extremely customizable. This means you don’t have to worry about providing your lawn the specialized care it needs every day, all you have to do is program the dripper! This system is quite flexible in its application, allowing you to control everything from drip speed to location. That way, as each season changes and the needs of your garden begin to shift, it’s incredibly easy to properly prepare.
DIY Drip Irrigation System: How To Guide
So, now that we’ve wowed you on the topic of drip irrigation, let’s get into how you can build it yourself and reap the benefits discussed above.
Step 1: Prepare
This means buying the necessary supplies and making sure it’s a good idea to dig around your yard. A quick phone call to 811 will give you the peace of mind you need before you begin a project like this. In regards to supplies, it’s pretty simple. What you’ll need:
2 different sizes of rubber tubing and the necessary connectors – 1 size with a large diameter for the main base and and a size with a smaller diameter for the water outlets (Note: for a more permanent solution, we recommend having your sprinkler company connect the larger, main base to your pre-existing sprinkler system. If not, using a spigot will work fine.)
A hand drill or insert tool
Emitters that fit your smaller tubing
Ground stakes for large tubing size
Step 2: Decide on Layout
Now that you have all your supplies, it’s time to figure out the area you want to irrigate. Once you determine the watering zone, connect your tubing to the water source of your choice and lay out your tubing to determine how much length you will need. If needed, fasten tubing together, cut away any excess and clamp off the end tube.
Step 3: Secure to Ground
Once everything is laid out and properly measured, make sure to stake it into the ground so it doesn’t move. For a secure fit, make sure to purchase the ground stakes that perfectly fit the size of the tubing for your main base.
Step 4: Decide Where to Install Emitters
Take a pencil or piece of chalk and mark where you’d like each emitter to go. Ideally, the emitters will be close to the plant but not touching the stem. Doing this will minimize water waste and prevent flooding the roots. After everything is marked out, use a hand drill or insert tool to create holes in the main tubing for the smaller tubing and emitters. Follow installation instructions for your specific emitter.
Step 5: Cover and Test It Out
Securely cover your new irrigation system with mulch or dirt. This will prevent it from being exposed to the elements or anyone from tripping over it. Once everything is covered up, give it a whirl! Double check that there are no leaks or incorrectly positioned emitters. No issues? Congratulations, you have a new irrigation system!
We hope this post helped you better understand irrigation and keeping up with your exterior. With this guide, you’re now completely prepared to take on your DIY drip irrigation system. In the off chance that any issues do arise, don’t try and troubleshoot them yourself. This can actually cause more harm than good. Drop us a line and we’ll help you out.