With the dry season approaching and vegetable fields being planted across much of the country, now is the time to think about watering all thirsty crops. There are several options for irrigating your garden, each with its advantages and limitations.The size, location and configuration of your garden will affect which system is best for you.
Composition and advantages of soaker garden hose:
A soaker hose is a perforated tube that looks like a garden hose, except it “flows” water along its entire length.
The soaker hose soaked in the soil surface can provide water to your plants steadily.
Most soaker hoses are made from some combination of rubber and polyethylene plastic, but some BPA-free polyurethane models are now available.
Soaker Hose Advantages
The hose provides reliable water delivery in the ground, helping the leaves on the plants stay dry and free from fungal growth.
Installing a soaker hose is simple: simply connect to the nearest faucet or rain barrel and wind it around the plants you want to water.
Pressure regulators are usually not required with soaker hoses. Adjust the water pressure by turning the flow of the faucet on or off.
Hoses are generally a low upfront investment for the average home garden. They run well on timers for further water savings.
Clogging is usually not a problem.
Soak Hose Restrictions
The configuration possibilities for the hose are not as versatile as for the drip irrigation system. It is not possible to close sections of the soaker hose while allowing others to remain open.
Hoses work best on level ground as they do not allow pressure adjustment at different points along their length.
The coverage radius of a hose dip is not as wide as that of a drip irrigation system.
Hoses are not as precise as drip irrigation systems and cannot be installed underground.
While double-wall soaker hoses largely solve this problem, they sometimes develop kinks.
If the soaker hose is damaged, it is more difficult to repair.
Sun damage and degradation can also occur over time.
You can fix this by covering with a light covering.
Which irrigation system is best?
When should I use a soaker hose?
Hoses are best for smaller gardens on level ground.
In most cases, they have cheap startup costs and are easy to install and configure,
Just meander around the factory. They work great on raised beds.
The composition and advantages and disadvantages of drip irrigation system
The drip irrigation system consists of long pipes equipped with emitters.
Auxiliary pipes branch off from the main water pipe, which can be connected to a tap equipped with a pressure regulator, filter and backflow valve.
Drip irrigation systems are usually made of polyethylene plastic and are widely available from irrigation suppliers and hardware stores.
Different types of drip irrigation include
Drip Tape: This flat type of pipe requires a pressure reducer in the waterline to function optimally.
It is suitable for underground installations, but is usually not made to last more than a few seasons.
Drip Line: Constructed of heavy-duty plastic, this round tubing will perform well for multiple seasons.
You can buy drip lines with preloaded transmitters (best for crops that are grown regularly)
Or a standalone emitter you install yourself (for custom spacing).
A sturdy drip line with emitter provides water to garden vegetables.
Advantages of drip irrigation system
Drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to the base of the plants, which means very little is misdirected or lost to evaporation.
Since they are usually watered slowly over a long period of time, the water penetrates over a wide radius and deep into the root zone.
A drip irrigation system consists of several components, all of which are easy to install.
You can also configure the system to target certain areas of the garden while preventing flow to other areas.
This means you can water different areas at the same time, making drip irrigation ideal for large gardens,
These gardens remain fallow early or late in the season.
If you garden on a slope, you can install pressure compensating transmitters,
to ensure that all areas of your garden get the same amount of moisture, no matter how hilly.
You can also choose a custom emitter to handle your garden’s soil type.
If you inadvertently stab part of the drip system with a digging fork,
Then it can be easily repaired and reconfigured by purchasing replacement parts. Splicing and fixing usually does not require specialized tools.
Drip irrigation systems work well on timers and can easily be scheduled to operate in the middle of the night in hot climates when evaporation is least likely to occur.
Disadvantages of Drip Irrigation Systems
Emitters on drip irrigation systems can become clogged over time and require regular inspection and some maintenance.
In some systems, wind can misdirect moisture in drip irrigation, wasting water and missing needed ground area for wetting.
You can avoid this by not watering in strong winds and by making sure your drip line is flat on the ground and designed to drip rather than spray.
Drip irrigation systems usually involve a healthy upfront investment. They also take time and planning to build.
Drip irrigation works best in large gardens with long, straight rows.
Their versatility makes them ideal for gardeners dealing with sloping ground.
Higher start-up costs mean a bigger investment, but most drip irrigation systems will work for years to come.