Drip irrigation is the most efficient means of watering everything in your garden. A drip system can deliver water directly to the plant’s root zone. Sprinkler systems tend to waste some water through run-off on slopes and unintentional spraying of pathways, sidewalks and buildings. Drip irrigation converts a high-pressure stream to a slow emission of droplets that can be placed exactly where water is needed.
Water savings result due to the precision of drip irrigation. Unlike sprays and sprinklers, there is no evaporation loss, and the amount of water each plant receives can be tailored to suit its needs. As shrubs and perennials mature and grow, they often block the distribution pattern of sprinklers and prevent water from reaching the intended spots. With drip irrigation, water is delivered to the base of each plant, avoiding interference from leaves, branches and objects.
The virtues of drip extend beyond its water-efficiency. It is by far the best method of deep watering. If a plant grows on a slope, drip will maximize the amount of water available to its roots because the slow delivery of water won’t run off the surface before having a chance to penetrate the soil. Moreover, sprinklers wet foliage, trunks, and flower petals, which can shorten the life and degrade the appearance of certain plants by encouraging rot.
Drip is also the preferred method of watering vegetable gardens. The original impetus for the use of drip irrigation in agriculture was not water savings but rather the greatly increased plant growth that it encourages. Drip decreases soil compaction, keeps soil moisture close to ideal levels and reduces weed growth between rows.
MORE GREEN. LESS BLUE.