GARDENING: Drip, drip may be the way to water

The focus has been on water lately, and it will continue to be on water as long as we are faced with extreme shortages. Improved irrigation is one of the best ways you can stretch your water resources, so let’s take a look at drip irrigation.

Drip, or micro-irrigation, is a network of plastic pipes that carry water to plants. Water is applied directly to the soil at a low pressure and slow rates. It has a greater than 90% irrigation efficiency.

Since water is being applied directly to the soil, it reduces run off, wind drift and evaporation. For maximum efficiency and attractiveness, drip lines can be covered with a generous layer of mulch to reduce evaporation of water from the soil and to shield the tubing from UV rays.

With drip irrigation there is generally a good balance of air and water in the soil, which is essential for healthy plant roots. Flood and sprinkler irrigation can saturate the soil leading to potential plant problems if water scheduling isn’t managed well. Drip systems are not designed to be turn on and left on. They should be turned on long enough to water the soil to the desired depth and then turned off and not turned on again until it is time to water. Drip irrigation just like sprinkler or any other form of irrigation needs to be scheduled appropriately to meet plant water needs.

Drip irrigation has been improved over the last many years and is well suited to the home landscape. They can be combined with an AC or battery operated controller for a great deal of convenience for the home owner. Besides their water efficiency, drip fits odd areas, keeps plant leaves dry as well as brick, sidewalks and windows.

Drip can be adjusted over time to change with the changing landscape. Emitters (components that dispense water) can be simply exchanged, cleaned or removed and emitter lines eliminated or repositioned. When plants are removed or die, drip lines can be plugged.

While there are many advantages with drip, there are a few minuses. Most significant is you can’t see it watering. As a result you must watch for subtle signs of water stress or check the soil moisture in several locations, frequently. If emitters are placed too far apart or there are too few, root development is restricted. Just as with any system, regular inspections must be made to check for cuts, plugged emitters, plugged filters, and so on. Drip lines are easily damaged while working in the garden, so turn the system on after a work session to check for cuts or punctures. Punctures are easily repaired.

There many other points to consider with drip irrigation but it is definitely a great way to garden and conserve water.

 
LOVE YOUR LANDSCAPE

• When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 14.
• Where: Sibley Nature Center, 1307 E. Wadley Ave., Midland.
• Provided by: Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Permian Basin Master Gardeners, Keep Odessa Beautiful and Keep Midland Beautiful.
• Speaker: Dotty Woodson, extension water resource specialist, will teach you how to conserve and best utilize landscape water through improved irrigation efficiency. Woodson will demonstrate how to convert existing landscape irrigation systems to more efficient units, as well as many other useful methods of stretching our water for healthy landscapes.
• TreeKeepers of Midland will also be present to provide information on how to help valuable trees survive the drought and water restrictions.
• Call: 432-498-4071.