If you plan to travel this summer, now might be a good time to install an automatic watering system. Doing so can ensure that your plants will not be under-watered or over-watered in your absence.
Drip irrigation is the tool that can help you minimize water wastage and maximize water's benefits to your garden. Drip watering is the frequent, slow application of water to soil through emitters or micro-sprinklers. Drip irrigation works well for vegetable gardens, ornamental and fruit trees, shrubs, vines, and outdoor container plants. Even without an automatic sprinkler system installed, a drip system can be set up using a standard garden hose attached to the main drip line.
Installation of a basic, simple drip system is quite straightforward, and easily within the grasp of most home gardeners. It goes together much like a tubular erector set, all snapping together. Main one-half-inch (1/2”) or five-eighths inch (5/8”) polyethylene tubing line connects to your water source (if you're on well water, you need a filter on the water source). Drip emitters, microsprinklers, or ¼” spaghetti tubing with emitters can be installed off the main line using barbed connector fittings that poke into the main lines. Solid spaghetti tubing can also be attached to the main line with an emitter attached at the other end to provide water directly to the plant. Alternatively, main line poly tubing can be purchased with in-line emitters pre-installed inside the tubing. Both the main poly tubing line or the in-line emitter tubing can be snaked through your beds or circled around shrubs and trees to deliver water directly to your plants.
The second consideration for smart watering is consistency. An automatic watering system is extremely consistent because it runs on a set schedule.
The timing and amount of water you deliver depends on the plants to be watered and the soil type. Depending upon your soil's density, water will move quickly or slowly through it. For example, water poured through sand will move very quickly because sand is loose rather than dense or compact. But water poured through clay will trickle very slowly. Consider the plant's whole root structure within your particular type of soil. An effective water system will deliver water to the entire root structure. The goal is to water for deep, strong roots that that aren't waterlogged.
Watering is an active relationship that requires constant adjustments. You may need to tinker with your system to make seasonal changes, fix broken pieces, and make adjustments for better efficiency.
While drip irrigation is a good way to achieve efficient watering, it is not absolutely necessary. What is necessary is analyzing your own plants and determining how to best meet their needs given your personal situation. If you are a gardener who travels frequently, implementing a reliable automatic watering system will reassure you that your plants will remain happy, well watered, and growing until you return.
Even more helpful can be an in-person workshop, and drip irrigation is the topic of a workshop April 17 at the Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch, one of many in the Master Gardeners' Spring Workshop Series. For more information about this and the other workshops in the series, and to register, visit our website. All workshops are free, but registration is required.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu or leave a phone message on our Hotline at 530-552-5812. To speak to a Master Gardener about a gardening issue, or to drop by the MG office during Hotline hours, see the most current information on our Ask Us section of our website.
As we enter another summer of drought, conserving water is essential. Luckily, there are a number of ways you can significantly reduce water use in your vegetable garden.
Mulch, mulch, mulch! Mulching is probably the single most important thing a gardener can do to reduce water consumption in a vegetable garden, or the home landscape in general. Mulching reduces evaporation from the soil by up to 35% and can significantly cut irrigation needs. Mulches also smother weeds, which compete with vegetables for water.
Mulching with black plastic sheeting is the most effective way to conserve soil moisture, but it also raises soil temperatures, so its use should be limited to heat-loving vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, squash and melons. Plan to lay down black plastic early in the season, so that by the time extreme summer temperatures arrive, plants will have matured and their leaves will shade the plastic.
Grass clippings make excellent mulch because they release nitrogen into the soil as they break down. To avoid matting, clippings should applied in thin layers between one-quarter and one-half an inch deep and be allowed to dry out between layers. Do not use grass clippings from lawns that have been treated with herbicides. Other organic mulches include wood shavings, compost, bark, straw, or alfalfa. Organic mulches should be one to three inches thick in vegetable gardens; the larger the mulch particles, the thicker the mulch needs to be. Also, thicker layers of shavings, straw, or bark may lead to a carbon-nitrogen imbalance in the soil. A layer of newspaper two sheets thick can be placed under organic mulches to enhance their effectiveness. (Do not use glossy printed material for this purpose, as the ink may be toxic to plants.)
When deciding which vegetables to plant, be aware that the amount of water needed by different crops varies. Corn and most beans require the greatest water use of commonly-planted garden vegetables. Vegetables that are more drought tolerant include chard, black-eyed peas (cowpeas), heat-tolerant tomatoes (including many cherry varieties), some varieties of okra, mustard greens, eggplant, jalapeno and poblano peppers, Black Knight zucchini, and New Zealand and Malabar spinach. Shallow-rooted crops, including potatoes, onions (and most other bulb, root or tuber crops), celery, and plants in the cabbage family, require more frequent irrigation. For this reason, mulch is especially beneficial for shallow-rooted crops. Tomatoes, sweet potatoes, melons and asparagus are more deep-rooted and can tolerate longer periods without irrigation. Beans, carrots, peppers, summer squash and cucumbers are intermediate in root depth. Additionally, low-growing plants and plants with smaller leaves tend to lose less water through their leaves than taller, leafier varieties. Bush beans, for example, use less water than pole beans. Also, miniature varieties of vegetables, such as mini bell peppers and eggplants, need less water for fruit development than standard varieties.
How a garden is irrigated can affect how much water it uses. Water early in the morning, so that water has a better chance to soak into the soil before it evaporates. A drip system (under mulch) is an efficient way to deliver water to crops with minimal evaporation loss. To avoid overwatering, monitor soil moisture. Generally, if garden soil has dried out to a depth of two to four inches, it's time to water. Including a timer as part of an irrigation system will reduce waste due to human error. Overhead sprinklers and hose-end sprayers are inefficient, result in high evaporation losses and are more likely to trigger diseases such as mildew. Also, the amount of water needed by plants varies over their life cycle. As a rule of thumb, water is most critical for plants during the first few weeks of development, immediately following transplanting, and during flowering and fruit production. Target the timing and amount of water with these plant needs in mind. It is also important to check and maintain your irrigation system frequently to keep it performing at top efficiency.
For more information, see “Water Conservation Suggestions for Your Home Vegetable Garden." UCCE Master Gardeners of Trinity County.
The Master Gardeners Spring 2021 Workshop Series is underway. It is not too late to sign up for our workshop on Honeybees, and an upcoming 4-part series on Firewise Landscaping. Check our website to read about these free workshops and register for them.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu (preferred) or call (530) 538-7201.
With a second year of below-normal rainfall, California is sliding into another drought cycle. Here in the North Valley, total rainfall for the current Water Year (October 2020 through March 2021) measured between 8 and 10 inches, depending upon location, well below the previous average of 18 to 24 inches. As of the first week of April 2021, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is just 60% of normal and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is predicting water allocation cutbacks for California and other western states. One way for homeowners to adapt to these coming cutbacks is to convert to drip irrigation for home landscaping and vegetable gardens.
The most important advantage to drip irrigation is that it is more efficient than traditional irrigation methods. Drip emitters can be placed to deliver water only where it is needed, so water isn't wasted on unplanted areas. By applying water slowly, drip irrigation also allows water to be absorbed quickly into the soil instead of standing on the soil surface. This means that far less water is lost to evaporation than with flood irrigation or sprinklers. Additionally, because water sinks into the soil rather than puddling, there is less loss due to runoff, which makes drip irrigation a good choice for steep terrain. Another way in which drip systems can conserve water is by installing them under a layer of mulch, promoting even greater water savings by further reducing evaporation from the soil. Last but not least, it should be noted that by saving water, drip irrigation also saves the homeowner money.
There are disadvantages to drip irrigation systems that should be considered as well. Sediment or bugs that find their way into the tubing can clog drip emitters. In-line filters can be installed to eliminate most of this clogging, but mineral deposits can also clog emitters. There is really no easy way for homeowners to eliminate this, but clogging due to mineral deposits can be delayed by using emitters with a greater flow rate. For example, use a 2-gallon per hour (2gph) emitter rather than a 0.5gph emitter, but run it for a shorter time. The faster flow discourages mineral buildup which can cause clogging.
If you are considering installing a drip system, putting it on an automatic timer is recommended. An automatic timer provides a consistent watering schedule. With a timer, you provide the exact amount of water you want and there is no forgetting to turn the system on or off.
Many retailers offer how-to pamphlets that provide further information on drip irrigation components and installation.
UC Master Gardeners of Butte County are part of the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) system. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, and for help with gardening in our area, visit our website. If you have a gardening question or problem, email the Hotline at mgbutte@ucanr.edu (preferred) or call (530) 538-7201.
By Brent McGhie, UC Master Gardener of Butte County, May 19, 2017.
The most important advantage to drip irrigation is that it is more efficient than traditional irrigation methods. Drip emitters can be placed to deliver water only where it is needed, so water isn't wasted on unplanted areas. By applying water slowly, drip irrigation also allows water to be absorbed quickly into the soil instead of standing on the soil surface. This means that far less water is lost to evaporation than with flood irrigation or sprinklers. Additionally, because water sinks into the soil rather than puddling, there is less loss due to runoff, which makes drip irrigation a good choice for steep terrain. Another way in which drip systems can conserve water is by installing them under a layer of mulch, promoting even greater water savings by further reducing evaporation from the soil. Last but not least, it should be noted that by saving water, drip irrigation also saves the homeowner money.
Drip irrigation has several other advantages. In addition to water, plant roots also need air and when soil pores are completely flooded, roots can actually “suffocate.” The slow application of water by drip systems virtually guarantees a good soil/water environment with a balance of water and oxygen in the soil. Next, weeds don't grow if they don't have water, so they become far less of a problem when water is efficiently targeted to desirable plants by using drip irrigation. As a bonus, this means that herbicide use can be cut back or eliminated, which is better for both the environment and the pocketbook. A final advantage of drip irrigation is its flexibility. It can be installed in a variety of landscapes and, at a relatively low cost, it can be altered and changed as plants grow.
There are disadvantages to drip irrigation systems that should be considered as well. Sediment or bugs that find their way into the tubing can clog drip emitters. In-line filters can be installed to eliminate most of this clogging, but mineral deposits can also clog emitters. There is really no easy way for homeowners to eliminate this, but clogging due to mineral deposits can be delayed by using emitters with a greater flow rate. For example use a 2-gallon per hour (2gph) emitter rather than a 0.5gph emitter, but run it for a shorter time. The faster flow discourages mineral buildup which can cause clogging.
In addition to problems with clogging, drip irrigation systems, with their softer tubing and plastic emitters, are more easily damaged by animals than irrigation systems made of sturdier PVC or metal components. Some dogs seem to delight in chewing on drip tubing, and drip systems also make tempting targets for thirsty rabbits or squirrels. On the plus side, burying drip tubes in shallow trenches or under mulch seems to be effective in mitigating this sort of damage.
If you are considering installing a drip system, putting it on an automatic timer is recommended. An automatic timer provides a consistent watering schedule. With a timer, you provide the exact amount of water you want and there is no forgetting to turn the system on or off.
Something else to consider when planning a drip system is planting zones. Simply put, this means that the same valve should service plants with similar watering needs. You wouldn't want a drip line that waters a vegetable garden to also serve a cactus garden, because their water needs are so different. A simple, inexpensive pressure regulator is also necessary because drip systems require far less water pressure than normal house pressure. Most emitters cannot withstand pressures greater than 40psi and micro-sprinklers cannot function below 10psi (psi stands for “pounds per square inch,” the measurement standard for water pressure).
Many retailers offer how-to pamphlets that provide further information on drip irrigation components and installation.
Sources:
Schwankl, Larry, and Terry Prichard. Drip Irrigation in the Home Landscape. Oakland, CA: U of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Communications Services—Publications, 1999.
The History of Drip Irrigation
By Mahina Gannet and Jeanette Alosi, Butte County Master Gardeners, May 31, 2013
If you plan to travel this summer, now might be a good time to install an automatic watering system. Doing so can ensure that your plants will not be under-watered or over-watered in your absence.
An effective irrigation system will supply the right amount of water to each plant resulting in water savings and more healthy plants. It will reduce weeds and help prevent pest and disease problems from occurring.
Drip irrigation is the tool that can help you minimize water wastage and maximize water’s benefits to your garden. Drip watering is the frequent, slow application of water to soil through emitters or micro-sprinklers. Drip irrigation works well for vegetable gardens, ornamental and fruit trees, shrubs, vines, and outdoor container plants. Even without an automatic sprinkler system installed, a drip system can be set up using a standard garden hose attached to the main drip line.
Installation of a basic, simple drip system is quite straightforward, and easily within the grasp of most home gardeners. It goes together much like a tubular erector set, all snapping together. Main one-half-inch (1/2”) or five-eighths inch (5/8”) polyethylene tubing line connects to your water source (if you’re on well water, you need a filter on the water source). Drip emitters, microsprinklers, or ¼” spaghetti tubing with emitters can be installed off the main line using barbed connector fittings that poke into the main lines. Solid spaghetti tubing can also be attached to the main line with an emitter attached at the other end to provide water directly to the plant. Alternatively, main line poly tubing can be purchased with in-line emitters pre-installed inside the tubing. Both the main poly tubing line or the in-line emitter tubing can be snaked through your beds or circled around shrubs and trees to deliver water directly to your plants.
With a drip irrigation system in place, water will be delivered a) directly to the plants of your choice and b) directly to the roots of those plants. These two simple factors can lead to fewer unwanted weeds in the garden and help reduce plant diseases.
The second consideration for smart watering is consistency. An automatic watering system is extremely consistent because it runs on a set schedule.
The timing and amount of water you deliver depends on the plants to be watered and the soil type. Depending upon your soil’s density, water will move quickly or slowly through it. For example, water poured through sand will move very quickly because sand is loose rather than dense or compact. But water poured through clay will trickle very slowly. Consider the plant’s whole root structure within your particular type of soil. An effective water system will deliver water to the entire root structure. The goal is to water for deep, strong roots that that aren’t waterlogged.
This is where math becomes useful. Drip irrigation emitters release a certain amount of water per hour. You can calculate how much water you are delivering by employing simple multiplication and division; with that number, you can decide how long you need to run your irrigation. Decide on the amount of water required by the plants each watering cycle, calculate the amount of time needed to deliver that amount (gallons per hour per emitter x total number of hours = total gallons per emitter) and water for that amount of time.
Watering is an active relationship that requires constant adjustments. You may need to tinker with your system to make seasonal changes, fix broken pieces, and make adjustments for better efficiency.
While drip irrigation is a good way to achieve efficient watering, it is not absolutely necessary. What is necessary is analyzing your own plants and determining how to best meet their needs given your personal situation. If you are a gardener who travels frequently, implementing a reliable automatic watering system will reassure you that your plants will remain happy, well watered, and growing until you return.
A very helpful publication on this subject is the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) Publication 21579, “Drip Irrigation in the Home Landscape.”