Trouble free watering
Tips for the handy DIYer By Brenlee Coates
of installing. But there are many disasters
T
that come to mind as well. Simply searching “Pinterest fails” on the web can give you hours of enter- tainment. So, a word of warning if you
are considering a DIY irrigation system. Make sure you are handy when it comes to assembly first. Are you an ace with IKEA furni- ture? Do you have plumbing expe- rience? Are you one of those people who reads their meter before you get a hydro bill? Some expertise or general handi-
ness is required for the gig. There are many kits available,
but it’s best to ensure you will be getting what is suited to your home. First, you should determine some
technical things about your water source. You’ll have to turn off the water
in your house and connect your outdoor faucet to a pressure gauge which determines your water pres- sure in pounds per square inch (psi). You’ve got to get your meter size
(sometimes etched onto the faucet) or get it from your utility company. Then you’ve got to find the pipe that runs from the water meter to your house and measure it; deter- mine your home’s water flow by how long the faucet takes to fill a measurable bucket (when no other water is running in the house); then sketch your yard onto graph paper to get an accurate quote for parts. For the drawing, divide your
yard into sections, like front lawn, side lawn, flower beds, slopes, etc. Label all areas you want to get watered. Include the house, driveway and
38 • Home and Gardener Living
Drip irrigation can be efficient for:
- greenhouses - hanging baskets - potted bench plants - container gardens - vegetable and flower gardens - trees - shrubs - patio plants - row crops - raised beds - wide beds - orchards - flower and shrub beds
- gravity-fed watering systems (rain barrel watering)
here are many DIY irriga- tion systems out there that almost everyone is capable
sidewalks (in proper scale!). Over- whelmed yet? If you’re still with me, you can
then indicate any watering prefer- ences such as bubblers in planting beds or a drip irrigation zone. Indicate similar plants, shrubs
and ground covers in the drawing. If the amount of sun varies dras-
tically in certain zones, you may want to use that information to indicate unique watering require- ments (allot a separate valve for these in your drawing). If you’ve gotten this far, you will
be able to send your information to an irrigation specialist and get a quote on your irrigation parts. Make sure to indicate a possible date for installation and whether you want the system to be linked to an exterior faucet or the interior main line. Once it arrives, you’re ready to break ground. Luckily, most vendors have
tutorials online and handbooks for assembly. There are irrigation specialists that offer installation of drip irrigation services, as well as full warranties, and either or both would be recommended depend- ing on your comfort. If you’re up to it, there are many
benefits to a working irrigation system for beginners or seasoned gardeners: depositing water at low pressure directly to plant roots allows the soil to retain the air the plant roots require for healthy growth. The amount of water given to each plant can be custom- ized to achieve maximum growth, and drip irrigation eliminates most of the loss of water from evapora- tion, runoff, overspray, erosion and wind. Not to mention the environment
will thank you: drips are much more efficient than overhead sprin- klers, and are often even exempt from summer water restrictions because of this. h
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