Watering your home gardens is vital for their success but can be a burden that causes some gardeners, particularly those with limited mobility, to give up on gardening altogether due to the inconvenience. In addition to the physical requirements of manually watering a garden with buckets or hoses, it can require more time and energy than many gardeners have. DIY Drip-Irrigation and Micro-Sprayer kits may be a cost effective and convenient solution.
Home garden drip-irrigation kits conveniently and efficiently deliver water directly to plant roots via tubing. DIY kit prices start under $50 with relatively simple installation and maintenance for all types of gardens including traditional beds, containers, raised beds, and even indoor plants.
Our goal is to always find ways to make gardening, and all of the related health benefits, more accessible for everyone regardless of age, location, or financial situation so we have been busy researching drip irrigation as we prepare for this upcoming season – here is what we’ve found!
Does Drip Irrigation Make Sense for Home Gardens?
Whether your garden is a traditional plowed plot or a series of raised beds or a cluster of patio containers or a combination of all three, drip irrigation or micro-sprayer (or micro-irrigation) system is typically a convenient and affordable option. Drip systems allow you to efficiently and effectively water your plants with minimal intervention and maintenance and without the mess and hassle of hoses, buckets, and sprinklers.
Although appropriate for almost all gardens, there are instances when a drip irrigation watering system isn’t feasible. Gardens located a long distance from a constant water source would require a much more expensive and extensive water delivery system. The most affordable DIY kits typically hook into a garden hose so they’ll need to be within a reasonable hose-length of the faucet or hose bib. If there is no water source with water pressure available, obviously this would not be an appropriate option.
Historically, these types of systems were used in large commercial farming and greenhouse operations but now the convenience of drip watering is available as DIY kits for smaller home gardens with prices starting under $50. Drip systems are certainly not a requirement for any garden but are a possible solution if the chore of keeping your garden watered is burdensome physically or takes too much time or energy.
What are the Top 5 Benefits of Drip Irrigation?
1. Drip Irrigation Is Water-Efficient.
Because drip and micro-spray systems deliver water directly to the root zone, water waste is minimized through evaporation and runoff. Although the myth of damaging plants by watering them in the midday sun has long been dismissed, much of that water evaporates and doesn’t benefit the plant. When water is sprayed across more mature plants, much of the water bounces off of the leaves and doesn’t land near the roots of the plants so much of that water is wasted.
2. Drip Irrigation Benefits Plant Health.
Consistent moisture levels in the soil at the roots promotes healthy root development and reduces stress on plants. According to the Colorado State University Cooperation Extension, “low volume application of water to plant roots maintains a desirable balance of air and water in the soil. Plants grow better with this favorable air-water balance and even soil moisture.” (1) Healthy roots grow healthy plants that continue to thrive with appropriate watering levels. This presumes that the soil moisture is monitored by the gardener and that the plants aren’t actually over-watered with the drip system.
3. Drip Systems are Convenient & Easily Controlled.
Once installed, drip irrigation systems can be automated with timers or controllers, saving time and effort in watering. Even inexpensive systems without a timer can easily be regulated by turning off the water source.
4. Irrigation Systems Optimize Garden Space.
Drip irrigation allows for precise placement of water, maximizing growing space – particularly in raised beds and containers. Even in traditional gardens, this is the case because the hosing is placed before the plants grow tall so you don’t need to plan for additional space for carrying watering cans and implements.
5. Drip Systems Improve Safety, if Properly Designed.
In addition to not having to lug heavy watering cans and hoses around the obstacle course a garden can present, the muddy mess created by spraying a garden haphazardly with a hose can be minimized or eliminated with the more precise watering via drip or micro-sprayer systems. It is imperative, however, that the placement of the hoses and tubing ensures they do not present trip hazards. Hoses crossing walkways and path in or near the garden should be painted with a bright color in case someone visiting your garden is unaware of their presence.
How Does Drip Irrigation Work?
Drip irrigation systems are designed to take water flowing through hoses directly to the plants by delivering small, precise amounts of water onto the root zone of plants.
Drip irrigation and micro-sprayer systems consist of three main components but may also include additional components such as timers, filters, pressure regulators, power sources for timers and regulators, and additional hose or tubing and connectors and fittings as needed:
- Water Source: This could be a faucet, a hose connected to a water outlet, or a dedicated irrigation water supply.
- Main Supply Line: This is the tubing that carries water from the source to the area to be irrigated. It’s typically a water hose.
- Emitters: These are the devices that deliver water directly to the plants’ root zones. Emitters can be drip emitters, which release water slowly, or micro-sprayers, which emit water in a fine mist.
Water flows from the source through the main supply line and is distributed to the plants via the emitters. The system can be customized with various types of emitters, tubing, and connectors to suit the specific needs of different plants and garden layouts.
Maintenance for the system is minimal but can include clearing clogged tubing and emitters, repairing torn tubing, cleaning any filters (if installed), and tightening fittings to eliminate leaks where hoses are connected.
S4: What is the Installation Cost of Drip-Irrigation?
The cost of installing a drip irrigation system can vary widely depending on factors such as the size of the garden, the distance of the garden from the water source, the type of plants being irrigated and the amount and timing of watering required, the quality of materials used, and whether you choose to install the system yourself or hire a professional.
A basic DIY drip irrigation/micro-sprayer kit for a small garden might cost anywhere from $30 to $200, while larger or more complex systems could cost several hundred to several thousand dollars. Professional installation costs will also vary depending on labor rates in your area and the scope of the project.
The kit shown below is one we are considering purchasing for our garden given it’s high rating (a 4.6 average with almost 1,000 reviews), discounted price just under $50, and because it has 10 drip and 20 spray emitters. You can click on this link to check it out on Amazon or search for similar items. (paid link)
Although you ‘get what you pay for,’ we believe that the cost of the system purchased should be low enough to make it cost effective so we’ve focused on basic DIY kits that are relatively simple to install and maintain that run about $50 like the one above. For a bit of price bump, you can get a system with more features if that is more appropriate for you and your garden.
What are the Steps for Installing Drip Irrigation?
1. Gather your tools and equipment.
We recommend the purchase of a DIY kit which will include tubing, and drip emitters or micro-sprayers. Depending on the type of kit purchased, it may also include a pressure regulator, filter, timer, controller, and/or power source (may be solar, battery, or electric).
Additionally, you’ll likely need to provide your own hose to run from the water source to the garden area where you connect to the micro-tubing in the kit. We also recommend connecting a Y connector to the main water source so you can still access the faucet or hose bib for other watering needs without disturbing the drip irrigation connection. As far as tools, you may need a pair of heavy-duty scissors or a tubing cutter.
2. Plan Your Layout.
Determine the placement of your plants and how you’ll run the main supply line to reach them efficiently.
3. Lay Out the Main Supply Line.
Lay the main supply tubing along the desired path, securing it with stakes or clips as needed. This is easiest in a traditional linear garden plot and may take additional time and creativity when running between raised beds and/or containers.
4. Install Emitters by Plant Roots.
Place emitters at appropriate intervals along the tubing, ensuring they are positioned near the plants’ root zones. For containers and raised beds, ensure these are secured in place.
5. Connect Tubing and Fittings.
Use connectors, tees, and elbows as needed to connect the tubing and create a network that reaches all your plants.
6. Install Pressure Regulator and Filter (if applicable).
Install a pressure regulator and filter to ensure consistent water flow and prevent clogging of emitters if included in your system design.
7. Test the System to Ensure Proper Function.
Turn on the water supply and check for leaks, proper emitter function, and adequate water coverage.
8. Adjust the System As Needed.
Fine-tune the system by adjusting emitter flow rates or repositioning emitters to ensure all plants receive sufficient water. As explained in the article from the Colorado State University Cooperation Extension (1), the timing and amount of watering needed is dependent on soil type, weather, season, and water requirements for the individual plants. Adjustments will also be needed as your garden matures.
Conclusion
After our exploration into drip-watering and micro-sprayer systems, we feel that it will become another gardening tool and resource for us, personally. We are excited to spend a little bit of money and time upfront on a system that will deliver water directly to our plants’ roots so that we can eliminate hours of lugging around heavy watering cans and finicky hoses. With a bit of planning, some basic tools, and a quality kit, installing a drip irrigation system in your garden will be an efficient and effective game-changer for us as well as busy beginners and seasoned gardeners alike.
Watered Plants are Happy Plants, and Happy Plants Make for a Happy Gardener!
Footnote: (1) Wilson, Carl Richard, and Michael Edward Bauer. Drip irrigation for home gardens. Colorado State University Cooperation Extension, 2005.
