Sprinkler Systems: A Better Way to Irrigate Lawns

While some homeowners and property owners might consider the task to be tedious, watering the plants is one of the most important aspects of lawn care. Grass, shrubs, crops, and flowers all need water to survive because it is essential for photosynthesis. While “green thumbs” may find pleasure in using their own hands, there are many benefits to using technology for the simple job of watering lawns and gardens.

Sprinkler systems are considered to be a better alternative to garden hoses, as hand watering using garden hoses leads to water wastage. Aside from enhancing water conservation efforts, sprinklers can also provide greater watering coverage and range, making it a more efficient means of irrigating lawns. By using lawn sprinklers, homeowners and property owners no longer have to deal with cumbersome hoses, which are difficult to move about and store.

On the downside, sprinklers are quite difficult to install since this involves excavating the ground and laying down pipework throughout the lawn. Not only that, sprinkler systems have to be laid-out properly to provide sufficient coverage and maximum effectivity. Thankfully, there are professionals who can be hired to install and repair sprinklers. These professionals can also winterize sprinkler systems so that they can cope with freezing temperatures. 

Conserve Water and Win a Vacation with a Rain Bird Sprinkler

Rain Bird is currently running a contest that will send 3 winners to Texas if they prove to have used the company's pressure-regulating machines to conserve water. The contest is part of Project PRS Challenge that aims to educate irrigation professionals and homeowners about the benefits of using such systems. One example of how beneficial Rain Bird sprinkler systems are is University of Texas-Austin's drip irrigation technology that installed water in its 125-acre landscape. While the project cost the school a staggering $2 million, the $800,000 worth of savings in utilities and conservation of 10 million gallons of water every year makes the investment well worth it. As of August, Project PRS has already logged water savings of up to over 57 million gallons. Rain Bird and other irrigation professionals will continue to promote the conservation of water by using irrigation systems even after the contest has concluded.

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Rain Bird Drip Irrigation: Easing Farmers' Worries of Water Quality Fees

The Record recently reported that several amendments to water quality regulations in the Central Valley could become official by next Spring. Some of the proposed changes include monitoring of groundwater beneath crops, requiring farmers to attend educational meetings and draft plans in protecting water quality and managing soil erosion – all of which are expected to double or triple the costs of water quality improvement. Farmers who use Rain Bird drip irrigation systems on their land don't have much cause for worry though, as the particular system waters the roots of crops directly instead of letting water flow through the entire farm. It's with this kind of system that farmers can both save on resources and energy and minimize soil erosion, which can help them adhere to the new water quality standards.

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Growing Plants One Drop at a Time

Traditional irrigation systems drench entire fields of vegetation in water to sustain growth. Most people encounter irrigation in front lawns and golf courses, which are often drenched by sprinkler systems at preset intervals. However, water is a precious resource that is rapidly becoming a rare commodity.

Irrigation systems are deemed inefficient if they fail to water vegetation at the right times of the day, or waste large amounts of water without nourishing plants and crops. Drip irrigation is the answer to some water woes, if not all. Using drip spouts instead of rotating spray heads, drip irrigation is a more controlled watering system that is being adopted by growers all over the world.

In areas where water is available in limited supplies, drip irrigation systems conserve water by controlling the amount of water that goes into vegetation. Drip irrigation provides water closer to the base of the plants, enabling plant roots to absorb the moisture along with the soil's nutrients.

The drip pipes are installed close to the base of the plants, since the drops of water need to reach the roots as quickly as possible. If the drops will be coming from a certain height, the heat of the sun may evaporate the drops before it can permeate underground. Drip irrigation is a hit with growers in arid places. 

How to Water Your Lawn Effectively

Lawns need watering to replenish the moisture in the soil soaked up by the grass. Rain is the best way to water lawns, but on rainless days, hoses, sprinklers, and sprays can do the job. To maintain a beautiful lawn, watering has to be done with care and at the right intervals.

Water your lawn only if the soil is dry up to about six inches from the ground. Grass is very resilient and can be very tolerant to drought, so frequent watering is not necessary. Over-moisturizing the soil can in fact harm grass. The best time to water your lawn is early in the morning, and in the evening, when evaporation is slower.

Meanwhile, take note that sprinklers reach a wider area and are therefore more effective for watering lawns than hoses. When sprinkling, you'll need to adjust the water pressure to make sure the water penetrates the soil and does not run off or create puddles. When the weather's very dry and the soil is parched, prick holes on the ground with a garden fork to allow the water to go deeper into the soil. During this time, grass may benefit more from thorough watering about once or twice a week compared to daily sprinkling.

Finally, always check the level of the water's penetration after 30 to 60 minutes. If it has reached six to twelve inches deep, then it's time to stop watering your lawn.

Drip Irrigation Keeps Flowers Blooming

Gardening can be a rewarding experience, but it does entail certain challenges. Without the proper knowledge and practices, you'll have a rather sad and desolate garden with not a single blossom in it. As no self-respecting gardener would ever put up with such an outcome, it is thus important to consider how best to improve the overall conditions for every shrub, herb, or flowering plant in your garden.

Proper irrigation is, of course, necessary, but this is hard to accomplish if one has to juggle job responsibilities with household duties. In areas with warm climates, the repeated watering of foliage is made even more difficult as the water tends to quickly evaporate. In such a scenario, installing a drip irrigation system can help ensure that flowers and plants receive adequate water where they need it the most—i.e., the roots—so they remain healthy and landscape-worthy. In addition, the device can help reduce the rate of evaporation.

Drip irrigation systems come in different varieties, although they're typically available as complete kits that eliminate the need to go from vendor to vendor. When installing a drip irrigation system, one must first identify the main water source, such an outdoor faucet closest to the garden, to ensure sufficient coverage. It is also important to get the exact measurements of each plant that needs to be watered constantly so the emitters (tiny sprinklers) are set correctly.

Using Water Sprinklers: Pointers to Remember

Gone are the days when gardeners had to patiently water each section of their land. Watering plants manually is a laborious task, especially for those who have massive gardens and a variety of plants to attend to. Instead of waiting for rain to come pouring down from the sky, people can now rely on water sprinklers to save time and effort when supplying their beloved plants with water.

There are several pointers you should keep in mind when using water sprinklers. For instance, you must know the ideal time to run your water sprinklers. Instead of watering when the sun is rising, you should do so at the crack of dawn. This is because the water you'll lose due to evaporation will be greater during daylight hours. Also, be conscious of the alignment of your water sprinklers. You have to be certain that the water is hitting the plants, and not the street and other areas that do not need to be dampened.

The proper alignment of water sprinklers will conserve water and protect your property from unnecessary messes. Regularly check sprinkler heads for any damage to avoid problems with the sprinkling system. Technology has indeed made plant cultivation a lot easier, but you should not rest assured that everything will be flawless all the time. Do your part by assessing your water sprinkler systems from time to time to guarantee the safety of your plants.

Irrigation Systems: Conserving Water Supplies

Many people wish to conserve our Earth's limited natural resources—most especially water. As the world is experiencing many environmental issues and many precious resources are being consumed at a fast rate, many initiatives have been undertaken to conserve water. Farmers now resort to wiser means of irrigating their fields and crops, and many have chosen to install drip irrigation systems.

Also known as trickle irrigation, drip irrigation is an effective means of saving water and fertilizer, as the system lets water flow slowly to the base area of the plants. Instead of sprinkling water all over the fields, which wastes gallons of water, drip irrigation targets the root area of the plants directly by dripping water slowly to the root zone. Less water is consumed, and water supplies are conserved in areas that have a limited supply.

Drip irrigation systems are made possible by small pipes, valves, and emitters that are designed to deliver water directly to the roots. Due to the growing use of this technology, farmers are not just able to contribute to water conservation efforts, they also benefit from cheaper water supplies and less intensive farming. Farmers that choose this irrigation system now enjoy lower water, fertilizer, labor, and energy costs, among others.