What Is a Drip Irrigation System and How Does It Work?

What Are the Basics of a Drip Irrigation System

Drip irrigation makes use of flexible, plastic tubing that contains tiny holes so that water slowly drips into your soil

closest to the plants and flowers that need it. Some components are typically attached to home systems to keep things

operating as intended:

• Outdoor faucet to hook it all up

• Filter to keep out debris

• Timer to let you know when the water is on and off

• Pressure regulation system to ensure consistency

• Drip fittings and tubing to distribute irrigation throughout your space

A primary irrigation line can be installed to bring irrigation wherever you need it. Different elbow and t-shaped

fittings will be used to connect with the tubing and direct it to the areas you need watered. A small garden can use a single

line in a limited space, while a sprawling area will need a more robust system to get the water where it needs to be.

Some people attempt this type of system with a soaker hose, but there are some potential downsides that may occur.

‍

Soakers don’t work as well on slopes, are limited in length, and are made of softer material that won’t be as sturdy as the

plastic irrigation tubing. You want all the right parts installed so that the system is properly distributed and ready to go when

you turn it on.

How Does Drip Irrigation Benefit Midwestern Lawns and Gardens?

Anyone who has tended to a lawn or garden in the Midwest knows just how unpredictable our weather can be. We

might see several days of steady rain followed by a couple weeks of nothing but sun and heat. Drip irrigation is ideal for

periods of time when precipitation is limited. It can help your garden get started in the spring, keep it properly hydrated in the

summer, and can even be useful on autumn days when your property needs a bit more water.

Drip irrigation systems provide some other potential benefits to homeowners:

• Conserves water and lowers your water bills

• Targets water to keep it away from weeds and concrete

• Distributes water more uniformly

• Helps you access hard-to-reach areas

‍

How Will Your Landscaper Install Your Drip Irrigation in Your Garden?

There are DIY methods if you want to experiment, but to get the best results year to year, have a professional

landscaper install a system that matches your property. You want to get the right size and type of tubing and appropriate

distribution of water throughout your space. Having this process done by a pro eliminates the need to start over when you

realize it isn’t working quite how you expected it.

‍

An expert can measure the flow rate and pressure of your water source to customize your system more accurately.

Additionally, they will use the proper settings based on your soil quality and what you’re trying to grow in each part of your

property. Installing drip irrigation typically involves digging shallow trenches in which to lay the tubing just beneath the

surface. It can also be laid on top of the ground, but it should be covered by mulch or some other material to protect the

tubing from interference from animals and passersby. Other components will be inserted into the ground to hold everything

down and keep it in place. Smaller tubing can be wrapped around plants that need more water than others.

Contact Schmechtig Landscapes for All of Your Watering and Irrigation Needs

Start planning your landscape design and the best way to water it this fall. The ideal time of year to install a drip

irrigation system is in early spring, so you want to be prepared with all the information you need to maintain and control your

new system. A lawn care expert at Schmechtig Landscapes can walk you through the process and show you how we can help

out – both now and in the coming year.

‍

Contact Schmechtig Landscapes online for more information about watering systems, or call us today to get started!

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍

‍