Irrigation Facts

Having worked in landscape design, installation and plant sales for many years, I have watered many, many plants. However, these drip irrigation systems still water every plant the same, regardless of individual needs.Drip irrigation can also be an unsightly...

Low-volume application of water to plant roots maintains a desirable balance of air and water in the soil. Examine these closely and correct problems in your irrigation system design.Proper irrigation practices can lead to major water savings.

Each plant has its own tolerance level, so research your target crop . An 8-ounce baby bottle will do the job quite nicely. Underground wells, streams, rivers and ponds are all viable water options.

This is called sub-irrigation and reduces evaporation and prevents overwatering, which may promote rots and fungal disease. Greenhouse watering systems are important parts of creating this ultimate growing climate.Water for greenhouses may be piped in...

This helpsA slow application rate is preferable because it allows dry soil to soften up and increases percolation. Similarly, with an irrigation system, the emitters need to be moved out over the root zone.Overall, in hot climates, it is best to water...

You can even plant edible crops in a rain garden! 5. Watering the roots directly minimizes evaporation, in turn, minimizing the amount of water needed to irrigate. Swales can work well on large- or small-scale properties.

Pears are delicate, however, and too much or too little watering can lead to yellowing or dropped leaves and subpar fruit. If your tree has been growing in the same spot for a number of years, its roots will have expanded to just beyond the drip line,...

They're also pumping this potentially contaminated water back into underground water reserves, which could eventually flow through someone's tap. It's water used to clean the wells and equipment, as well as water that's used to extract the oil from the...

How about watering an oleander? They are suited to the west coast, southern states, Florida and Texas. Are hardy trees suited to the southern United States that once established require very little care and is remarkably drought tolerant.

This prevents soil and roots from getting into the bottle and clogging up the holes.The soda bottle irrigator is then planted in the garden or in a pot with its neck and lid opening above the soil level, next to a newly installed plant.Thoroughly water...

If so, you're likely wondering what you can do with that excess water after cleaning it out. In fact, all of that fish poop and those uneaten food particles can do your plants a world of good.

Measuring soaker hose output is easy with a trowel, a wooden dowel or a yardstick. The hoses have a rough surface that hides millions of tiny pores. When the hose is in place, attach an end cap and bury the hose with bark or another type of organic mulch.

Reduce your irrigation needs during warm, dry spells with this ancient watering technique. In the thick of warm and dry spells, it can be challenging to not only keep the garden watered but to keep it watered deeply enough to encourage adequate root penetration.

Using an electric drill or screwdriver, poke dime-sized holes into the base of a narrow plastic water bottle. Acting as a good steward of water resources and quenching the thirst of heat-exhausted plants can be tricky when rain refuses to fall.

Since the degree of slope affects the irrigation method, you may also want to consider how the garden is laid out.will make watering on a hillside easier and more effective for eliminating runoff issues.

Thankfully, long-term no-till practices can improve compacted soils, building up organic matter and inviting faster water absorption while also allowing the soil to drain and be ready to plant or fertilize sooner after rainfall than land that has been...

You'll find details on marking contour lines, calculations to help determine the appropriate depth and height of your swales, how to manage the overflow, information based on soil types and rainfall estimates, variations of swales for unique situations,...

In case you've been living way up under the porch in a little scooped-out hole for the last many months like a sick cat, or Sylvia Plath, you're probably aware that in California, where I live, we're in a drought .

Saving water is a primary goal of municipalities and homeowners in the arid West. He or she can recommend fixes and improvements to the irrigation system – such as brands of extremely efficient irrigation spray heads or adjustments to the system that...

A 500-square-foot roof can capture around 300 gallons of water per inch of rainfall . Bait the wires with something they like, too, such as apples or peanut butter, so they will touch their noses to the hot wire and get a gentle reminder to stay away.

If your morning schedule doesn't allow you to irrigate before heading to work, your next best option is late afternoon, leaving several hours for the leaves to dry before dark. Water Deeply Vegetables and flowering plants respond best to deep soaks at...

The hose bib has to have a special fitting that fits inside the hose coupler end, but in the end, this clipping and unclipping hose connection system is way more convenient than the types of hoses I used in the states where I always had to screw and unscrew...

Cool Clips If you have a cool-season grass that does well in the northern half of the country, such as fescue or Kentucky bluegrass, set the mower as high as it will go or at least 3 inches.

Plastic makes it more difficult to check the soil and deliver water. Irrigation needs change throughout the gardening season. Clay soil retains water and tends to compact, which inhibits water movement around the cucumber roots.

The challenge then and now is to build the wall in such a way that it doesn't collapse from the weight of the soil, especially after a heavy rain. Many states in the western U.S. have strict regulations regarding water catchment and storage that often...

Without the ability to really get the lettuce cold, it will not hold well for your customers. If you have limited cooler space or don't have a way to cool down your wash water, then consider skipping summer lettuce.

Despite their showy beauty, dogwood trees are relatively simple to care for and maintain. Providing newly planted dogwood trees with the appropriate amount of moisture is essential to successful cultivation.