Drip irrigation is a kind of micro irrigation system where you can save water by having it drip slowly to the roots of the plants rather than watering a whole surface like a sprinkler. The main idea is to have water reaching the root zone directly and minimizing evaporation.
Overwatering with drip irrigation or sprinklers
A good way to prevent overwatering is to install rain or soil moisture sensors to override your automatic watering system when necessary. A rain sensor is a great investment as it will sense rainfall. Once it detects a sufficient amount of rain, it shuts down any regularly scheduled irrigation. Rain sensors are small, simple devices and are mostly less expensive and easier to install and maintain.
Soil moisture sensors are known to be more accurate than rain sensors, however, because they can detect moisture at the root level of the ground. They are more precise in measuring how much water your plants are receiving and therefore can offer better water savings. On the other hand, they are a bit complex to install and manage.
The Pros of Sprinkler Systems
Sprinklers can cover large areas. Manual sprinklers would usually require you to open the valve, schedule the watering yourself and then shut off the water flow once the entire surface has been watered enough.
However, automatic sprinkler systems give you the benefit of flexible controllers where you can time and schedule your watering. When using an automatic sprinkler system, ensure it has been set up and scheduled properly, and remember to adjust it as weather conditions change.
Also be sure to water the yard early in the morning to reduce the evaporation rate, which can increase once the sun is out and the day progresses. Most homeowners deal with water running out of the yard. To avoid this inconvenience, you can set your sprinklers to water in two intervals or breaks so that there isn’t excess water on your yard’s surface getting out. And when it rains, remember to make sure your sprinklers are turned off.
The Pros of Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation works great for small yards, usually in homes in the cities, or for watering individual plants. Drip irrigation system is very effective as it supplies about one to four gallons of water per hour directly to the soil. The advantage of drip irrigation over sprinklers is that there is little water loss due to evaporation or runoff. It is exceptionally great for mulched areas as it can soak the soil directly without washing away the mulch.
Hand Watering as an Option for Your Yard
The easiest and most common irrigation system is a garden hose or portable sprinkler. Homeowners would usually have to water their lawns or yards by hand using these equipments. If there’s one great advantage that we love with hand watering, it is that you can easily avoid over watering. Using a nozzle, water flow can easily be controlled, as well as time for watering the area. We can move to another location in the lawn or yard when water starts overflowing in one area.
If you use a sprinkler system, remember to keep it in check every month to see if it is working efficiently. Sprinkler heads can break, pipes can burst and leak, or you may have a misdirected sprinkler head watering your driveway rather than your lawn. Also remember that it is good to invest in a smart sprinkler system that can help you save water, since it is good for the environment.
Call Us for a Sprinkler Installation
If you’re a plant enthusiast who enjoys the lawn or yard space as much as your indoor space, you’d know it’s priority to keep the plants that grow in check. You can choose a sprinkler or irrigation system to do this. It is a great investment and can also help you save water when installed and used the right way.
Feel free to contact us if you’re looking to install sprinkler or drip irrigation systems in your home. We would love to help you make the smart choice as well as set up and install the entire system for your home.
