Will a drip irrigation system use more water than I am currently using?

No. -- In fact, a drip irrigation system may actually save you water. A well designed, efficient irrigation system applies exactly the amount of water needed by your landscape. You will never again have to worry about wasting water if you forget to turn off the hose.

Does having a drip irrigation system really save me time?

Yes. -- You won't have to spend another minute of your valuable leisure time watering your plants. Your new system will do all the watering for you - even when you are away from home!

Will an automatic drip irrigation system water as well as I do when I water by hand?

An automatic system will do a more efficient job because it will be designed based on your landscape's diverse watering needs, using specific products designed to water trees, shrubs or garden plants.

What are the best drip devices for a garden?

Drip devices are designed with different water flow rates (expressed as GPH – Gallons Per Hour). From the watering guide below, for example, you might choose a staked 1 GPH dripper to water a summer squash plant which needs about 1 gallon of water per week in warm, humid climates.

From that same watering guide, we also see that squash likes the soil to be kept somewhat moist. So rather than flood the soil, a good rule of thumb would be to water squash twice per week as a general schedule, 30 minutes each time or longer in hot, dry periods.

While there are many specialty drip watering devices, the three main types used in vegetable gardens are:

	Staked Drippers Purpose: Point-to-point watering of individual plants. Ideal for squash, peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower Watering rates available: 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 GPH
	Emitter Tubing with Built-In Drippers Purpose: Watering of row plants Ideal for carrots, radishes, strawberries, onions, celery, peas, potatoes ½" emitter tubing: 0.9 GPH every 12" or 18" ¼" emitter tubing: 1.0 GPH every 6" or 12"
	Micro Bubblers Purpose: Watering of slightly larger plants and plant groupings Ideal for beans, cucumbers, other larger plants and densely planted clusters Watering rates are adjustable: 0 to 13 GPH

Micro Sprays and Misters are a fourth type. But for gardening uses, they should be adjusted down to lowest flow rate to direct the watering to smaller areas. Otherwise, they tend to apply water to the surrounding soil, encouraging weed growth. Commonly mounted on risers for wide area coverage of taller plants, another disadvantage of micro sprays is that the water goes onto the whole plant including the leaves. If you use micro sprays in your garden, a good rule of thumb is to schedule watering in early morning or late afternoon so that the water can evaporate from the leaves, avoiding fungal growth.

How do I fix clogged tubing and emitters?

Drip irrigation uses a system of hoses, tubes and emitter devices, sometimes called drippers, with small openings that allow water to drip out slowly. Emitters have very small openings ranging from 0.2 to 2.0 mm in diameter and can become blocked with sediments naturally found in water. To fix this:

• Use the Emitter Installation Tool to pry the old or clogged dripper from the tubing.
• Plug the hole with a 1/4" Tubing Plug.
• Choose an appropriate new pressure compensating spot watering dripper flow rate. Rain Bird pressure-compensating drippers are color coded for easy reference: blue for 0.5 gallons per hour (GPH); black for 1.0 GPH; or red for 2.0 GPH.
• Insert a new dripper and reconnect 1/4" tubing.
• Replace 1/4" tubing and stake.

Consider installing a filtration system and periodically flush the system to remove sediments that may have accumulated.
 

How do I address uneven water distribution?

Blocked, clogged, or leaky drippers or tubing can result in some plants receiving too much water while others don't receive enough. Here's how to address it:

• Check the water flow at the emitters and adjust the system to ensure even distribution. This may involve removing some drippers or replacing one or more drippers with ones with a lower flow rate. For example, swapping a 2.0 GPH (red) dripper to 1.0 GPH (black).
• Consider using pressure-compensating emitters to maintain consistent flow regardless of pressure variations.
• Add a pressure regulator or shut-off valve to different sections of your system.

How do I establish adequate watering coverage?

If the placement and spacing of emitters don't cover the plant's root zone adequately, it can lead to inefficient water delivery. To address this problem:

• Check the spacing and placement of emitters and move them as needed to ensure proper coverage of the plant's root zone.
• Consider using adjustable or multi-stream emitters, such as bubblers or sprays to customize water distribution based on plant needs.

How should I handle root and bug intrusion into my drip line?

Plant roots and insects can find their way into drip irrigation tubing and disrupt water flow. Follow these steps to prevent root intrusion:

• Trim or redirect roots away from drip tubing.
• Rain Bird Sub-Surface Emitter Tubing contains copper shielding to protect from root intrusion. With no harsh chemicals needed to protect emitters from root intrusion, it’s ideal for organic gardening.
• Attach a bug guard, included with 1/4" tubing stakes, to prevent insects from entering the end of the tubing.

How should I treat broken or leaky tubing?

Drip irrigation systems contain small parts designed to be inconspicuous among your garden plantings. As such, their parts can be vulnerable to accidental damage from common garden tools like shovels, rakes, lawnmowers and string trimmers. Tubing can even be susceptible to animal bites. Here's how to prevent and fix system damage:

Inspect the system regularly for any physical damage, such as leaks, breaks, bites or disconnections.

To repair broken or leaky tubing, cut out the damaged section and use Barbed Couplings or Barbed Tees to join a new section of tubing.

Regular maintenance is crucial for the proper functioning of your drip irrigation system.

How do I get started with a raised bed garden?

If you have noticed the increasing popularity of raised garden beds over the last several years, you are not alone!

You can find raised beds in rural backyards, integrated into larger garden areas, and on patio decks and urban gardens. Ranging from simple cedar-plank squares to elevated beds on legs, they can be as small as a container or large enough to grow large plants and flowers. 

Raised beds are popular because they offer countless benefits and almost no drawbacks. Before we talk about raised beds and how to build one, let’s take a look at the benefits of this kind of gardening.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Raised Bed

1. Choose the Best Style for You
2. Think About Materials
3. Build Your Structure
4. Prepare the Raised Bed for Soil
5. Add Soil
6. Add an Irrigation System

See our blog for the full writeup.
 

How long should I water my fruit tree?

Calculating Water Needs 

Here’s a formula to help determine the precise amount of water your plants or trees need each week to stay healthy and thrive in their specific environment. Keep reading and, we'll walk you through the calculation methods step by step so you can confidently determine the exact water needs for your plants or trees.

Total Water to Apply (in) = (Evapotranspiration (ET) × Water Need × Density Factor × Microclimate Adjustment) ÷ Irrigation Efficiency

Each variable in this formula accounts for critical factors that influence water requirements.

• Evapotranspiration (ET) measures the water lost from soil and plants due to evaporation and transpiration.
• Water Need factor adjusts this value based on the specific type of plant or tree.
• Density Factor accounts for how densely plants are spaced.
• Microclimate Adjustment considers environmental factors, like shade or exposure to wind or nearby heat-absorbing surfaces.
• Irrigation Efficiency reflects how much water reaches the roots versus being lost in the process. 

Let’s imagine you have a mature apple tree with a canopy diameter of 10 feet. It's located in an area with a moderate climate, and you're using a drip irrigation system. We want to calculate how many gallons of water the tree needs.

Values:

1. Evapotranspiration (ET): Let's assume the average daily ET for your area during the peak growing season is 0.2 inches. (You'd typically get this from local weather data or agricultural extension services.)
2. Water Need: Apple trees have a water need factor of around 0.8.
3. Density Factor: Since it's a single tree, the density factor is 1.
4. Microclimate Adjustment: Your tree is near a south-facing wall, slightly increasing heat, so we'll use a microclimate adjustment of 1.1.
5. Irrigation Efficiency: Drip irrigation is efficient, so we'll use 0.9 (90%).

Calculations:

1. Total Water to Apply (inches):

Total Water = (Evapotranspiration x Water Need x Density Factor x Microclimate Adjustment) ÷ Irrigation Efficiency.

• Total Water = (0.2 inches x 0.8 x 1 x 1.1) ÷ 0.9.
• Total Water = 0.176 ÷ 0.9, which is approximately 0.196 inches.

2. Ground Area (square feet):

• Ground Area = (Tree Diameter2) x 3.14.
• Ground Area = (10 feet2) x 3.14.
• Ground Area = 100 square feet x 3.14.
• Ground Area = 314 square feet.

3. Convert Inches to Gallons:

• 1 inch of water over 1 square foot is equal to 0.623 gallons.
• So, 0.196 inches over 314 square feet is:
• Total Gallons = 0.196 inches x 314 square feet x 0.623 gallons per inch per square foot.
• Total Gallons is approximately 38.3 gallons.

Conclusion:

In this example, your apple tree needs approximately 38.3 gallons of water each week during the growing season. Use the “cycle and soak” method to break up your irrigation times into shorter periods to allow water to be absorbed deeply into the soil. Also be mindful of rainfall—if there is significant rain, you can adjust the amount of supplemental watering accordingly. 

By using this formula, you can calculate how much to irrigate your fruit trees and avoid overwatering or underwatering, promoting both plant health and water conservation.

Read more about fruit tree irrigation on our blog.

Should I use a soaker hose or emitter tubing?

Drip Irrigation is a precise watering method that delivers water directly to the plant's base through a network of tubing, connectors, and emitters. It precisely targets the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff.

A soaker hose is simply a porous tube that releases water along its length. This presents limitations for landscape design and leads to inefficient irrigation. Since soaker hoses are just tubes with holes, water distribution is uneven due to pressure loss, often resulting in overwatering at the start and underwatering at the end, which can harm plant health and waste water.

Drip emitter tubing is an advanced irrigation technology that delivers water directly to the roots of plants through small emitters embedded along the tubing. These pressure compensating emitters ensure that water is delivered consistently from the beginning of the line to the end, even on slight slopes. This precision is essential for maintaining uniform soil moisture levels. It conserves water and promotes robust plant growth by ensuring each plant receives the exact amount of water it needs.

Learn why drip irrigation beats soaker hoses for home landscapes on our blog.