Friday, April 20, 2007

Conserve Water Using Drip Irrigation in Raised Garden Beds



This is an example of a raised garden vegetable bed using Trickle Rings to irrigate specific areas.

1. The rings, with drip holes facing downward, will be placed on top of permeable landscaping fabric. This will keep weeds from growing in the compost and help the planting medium retain moisture.

2. Holes will be cut through the fabric so vegetable seedlings or seeds may be planted within the rings or near them for desired spacing.

3. Each Trickle Ring is connected to the main supply hose using an adjustable "Y" connector. The water supply is adjusted to deliver a slow trickle to each ring.

4. Once vegetables are planted and the water supply has been adjusted as desired, the bed can be covered with a layer of mulch. This will reduce moisture loss and protect the fabric from degrading from the sun light.

5. The water supply will be connected to a battery operated timer to water the garden for 30 minutes every morning.

Advantages of this type of irrigation:

* Water is directed to the root perimeter of the plants.

* Water used for irrigation does not touch the leaves of the plants. Plants take in water through the roots. Wetting the leaves invites fungus, disease, and insects.

Don't waste water and time with sprinklers or soakers. www.tricklering.com

Trickle Ring- Drip Irrigation

This is my entry into the world of blogging- I sell drip irrigation rings of my own design on my web site www.tricklering.com. They are economical and efficient alternatives to soaker hoses and water (gator?) bags. I will be posting information regarding drip irrigation techniques and options in the future which may be useful to gardeners and landscapers who are interested in maximizing irrigation while conserving water!