Plant Gardens 101

If you’re looking for ways to keep your garden watered without wasting too much time and money, you’ve probably gone through a lot of options in your mind. Maybe you’ve considered a sprinkler, a hose, or a good old-fashioned watering can. All of these methods might be convenient, but most of the time you will end up wasting water on plants that don’t need any more. If you live in a drought stricken area like I do, you know that every bit of water counts. I ended up getting a drip irrigation system. I haven’t regretted this decision at all.

When you install a drip irrigation system, you can choose one of two varieties: above ground and below ground. The above ground version drips small amounts of water continuously onto the ground, and allows it to soak in. It is all regulated from a pressure controller, which ensures that the water just comes out at a drip instead of a spray or a stream. These pressure regulators are very inexpensive. The whole drip system can be set up with a pressure regulator and a garden hose with holes poked in it (although it is ideal for you to get a pipe designed for this type of use, I’ve found that the hose method works acceptably).

The underground system is a bit more of a pain to install and maintain. But if you’re really into the aesthetic aspect of your garden and don’t want any visible watering system, then you might consider it worth it. It’s essentially the same as the above ground version, only a small trench is dug for the hose or pipe prior to any planting. This allows the water direct access to the roots for the most watering efficiency. Plus, you can impress your neighbors by having a beautiful garden without ever going outside to water it! They’ll be baffled. (more…)

Gardening is the number one hobby in the United States. Americans want their lawns and gardens to look good and for them to look good they need to be watered regularly and properly. Vegetable gardens, lawns and landscape plantings all have different watering needs. Most gardeners would prefer to spend their time gardening instead of watering the garden. Installing an automatic irrigation system to water for you can free up your time to spend on other things.

A drip irrigation system is relatively easy to install yourself. With drip irrigation you are applying water directly to the soil slowly. Drip irrigation is much more efficient than sprinkler irrigation because you are applying the water directly to the soil. It isn’t evaporating on its way to the soil nor is it running off the soil and you are putting it only where you need it, on the roots. You need a backflow valve to make sure the water doesn’t flow back into the house, a pressure regulator, a filter, a tubing adapter and the drip tubing and that’s it. (more…)

As we near the end of summer and thoughts of getting our children back to school and making those last minute end of season trips abound, we also need to spend time on our lawns and making sure that it is prepped for the coming fall. Homeowners in today’s green-conscious world have quickly turned more and more to the most efficient lawn care methods that will translate into savings for our wallets. Beyond saving money is water conservation, which affects both us and the environment we live in.

In this month’s newsletter, we will focus on irrigation and mulch, two areas of lawn care that should be considered for all homeowners with the desire to conserve and decrease water consumption and a cost-efficient way to cultivate the lawn and landscape.

Irrigation

Lawn sprinklers and irrigation systems are known to be quite wasteful, consuming two or three times more water than the water used indoors. Experts report that much of the water applied to a lawn is lost due to poor application practices, high evaporation, uneven distribution, and excessive runoff. To combat these lawn ails, an efficient irrigation (or sprinkler) system and watering schedule is necessary. (more…)

An important first step in planning a lawn irrigation system is determining what type of soil you have. How often you should water your lawn will depend on the type of soil you have. The two major concerns with any irrigation system are the health of the plants and conserving water.

There are three basic types of soil. The three types are: clay soils, loamy soils and sandy soils. Sandy soils dry out quickly and require frequent watering. You have to be careful you don’t water too much at one time with sandy soils. Too much water will drain quickly down through the soil moving too fast for the roots to absorb it, plus the water is wasted. The best approach with sandy soils is to water for a short period of time several times.

Clay soils also benefit from watering over several short periods. Clay soils retain water but absorb it slowly so several short periods allow the water to slowly seep into the soil. (more…)

If you are a lover of nature you will definitely enjoy with gardening. Gardening is the practice of growing plants for their flowers or foliage and vegetables or fruits for consumption. Gardening is a human activity in which plants are used to produce edible foods or to beautify the environment. Gardening is one of life’s purest pleasures. It’s a delight to all the senses such as sight, scent, touch, taste and hearing. And it’s good for you. Besides it’s a good exercise to you, gardening soothes the soul. And that has its own benefits- nurturing plants, seeing things grow, brings beauty into the world. Gardening is the creative experience .Gardening does not require that participant have a degree in landscape architecture, a bit of planning will go a long way towards enhancing the beauty and the gardening experience overall. Doing gardening is an art. Maintaining the gardening and providing with proper nutrients and supplements to it is most essential thing in order to look more beautiful. (more…)

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Garden Life Magazine
March, 2007

Q: Do I really need irrigation for my home garden?
A: The most compelling reason to use any type of irrigation system is to provide an assured, continuous supply of the most vial requirement for plant growth – WATER. Drought stress for even decidedly short periods of time like a week or even just a few days can dramatically affect the yield and quality of your garden at harvest. A reliable, efficient irrigation system protects the substantial amount of time and money you have invested in your landscape and garden projects, so yes, we believe it is absolutely essential to use an irrigation system for your home garden.

Q:What type of irrigation system is best for my needs?   (more…)