Drip irrigation is more and more often used in Polish gardens. It saves time, money and provides optimal conditions for plant development. What is such an installation and how to mount it on your plot yourself?
Drip irrigation: what is it?
Drip irrigation is an automatic system designed for effective watering of the garden.The main idea of such installations is to provide the right amount of water needed for plant development. This is done by spraying small dropsThis is most often achieved by installing sprinklers or drippers. They are placed on a special pipe that is used as a drip irrigation line. It is thanks to him that the transport of water takes place. Sometimes it can be replaced by a snake.
The main advantage of this method of irrigating the arable land isthe possibility of administering the ideal amount of waterThe drip system thanks to the limitation of the watering force, which e.g. traditional snakes show,does not contribute to to destroy the plant , does not break it. Thanks to the appropriate programming of the devicethere is no overflow, which on the one hand contributes to the optimization of garden maintenance costs, and on the other hand prevents rotting of plants
Of course it should be mentioned that this is a very convenient water delivery system. Thanks to it, you do not need to use a watering can, which is always associated with strength.
Drip irrigation: what filter?
Drip irrigation requires the use of special filtersAnd the point is not that the quality of the water determines the degree of plant development. Obviously, the fewer dirt particles, the better the cultivation, but in this case another factor is more important. Drip irrigation is a process that uses devices with very narrow emitters, it is they that allow you to get tiny drops, instead of a powerful stream.
If the water is contaminated, the dirt particles it contains can increase the volume of its droplets and thus block its free flow through the narrow mouth. As a result, the rebate does not receive the ideal amount of necessary water.
The choice of a filter should be dictated by the type of impurities it is supposed to trap.The most difficult thing is the high iron content. If such water is available, use a sand and gravel filter The necessity to choose this model almost always applies to those who draw water from their own sources, e.g. wells.In the case of better water quality , faced by allotment gardeners using, for example, municipal water supplies,a weaker filter is enough to trap only dust. Then the disk or mesh model will work.
Drip irrigation: what pressure?
Drip irrigation pressure affects the range that the water can reach. Experts say thatin home installations ideally when it will be 2.5 barIf it is larger, install a regulator that will allow for its reduction. For drip irrigation systems, rather lower values for this parameter are desirable.
How to do drip irrigation yourself?
Drip irrigation can be done by yourself. It is not a difficult challenge. It is best to buy a system that uses special pipes and sprinklers as a conduit. The installation should be underground, which will ensure high aesthetics of the area.
Therefore, dig grooves on the plot, through which the supply pipes will be ledUse fittings tojoin them every 50 cm with sprinklers or drip lines The pipes themselves can be stabilized in the ground by hammering special holders.
When the system of supply parts and sprinklers is laid,it should be connected to the water intake where the filter and pressure regulator are mounted and to the so-called planner . Detailed information on how to do this can be found in the instructions.
Before you start backfilling the pipes, check that the installation is working , that all elements have been properly connected and that there are no leaks. If everything is working as planned, the pipes can be covered with earth, leaving only the sources of water outlet.
How much does drip irrigation cost?
The cost of arranging such installations depends mainly on two factors.The first is the type of product selected and the place where it is bought, the second is the area of the plot. It is definitely more advantageous to buy systems online than DIY stores, where the prices are always much higher.
Experts estimate thatdrip irrigation in a 500 m² garden will amount to about three thousand zlotysIt may seem like a lot, but it is definitely worth the expense. Considering that recent years are less rainy, which makes it necessary to water almost every day, and such a system allows you to eliminate water losses,the investment can pay off after the first season of useMoreover, better efficiency will make the garden really attractive, and the plants will delight with their intense greenery and impressive growth.
