GARDEN
Whether you have a small stoep with a few pot plants , a fair-sized garden with a small veggie patch or a massive garden planted with a variety of edible and non-edible plants , you no doubt need to give the living things in your space water . Water not only provides liquid for them to “ drink ”, it also helps to break organic matter down into soluble nutrients , and then carries it via the roots to the rest of the plant .
As necessary as is it is to keep the plants watered , it ’ s just as important to be mindful of how much water you use – not only because of the cost , but also because water is our most precious resource , and we should all do what we can to help preserve it . There are several methods you could choose from , depending on your watering needs . The first of course , is the good old-fashioned watering can , very useful for small patio pots , hanging pots and indoor plants , but you definitely don ’ t want to rely on it for watering other parts of the garden .
Next up , the hose with a spray connection . Super , if you ’ re retired and love nothing more than wandering around your garden , but if time is in short supply , it ’ s not the best method for watering your garden . You could attach a sprinkler attachment , which takes away the need for you to manually water , but this is one of the most wasteful methods of irrigating . Most of the water ends up everywhere else , rather than at the roots of your plants where it ’ s needed , so if being water wise is important to you , rather attach a spray nozzle and do it manually . At least that way , you can direct the water to where it ’ s needed .
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Check your garden tap ’ s water pressure
If you are planning to install an irrigation system , it ’ s important to use a pressure gauge to measure your garden ’ s water pressure . If below 3 bars , a booster pump will be needed , and if above 8 bars , it could damage your irrigation pipes , so a professional will be needed to make adjustments .
Installing an irrigation system
Undoubtedly , one of the best ways to water is by installing an irrigation system , widely accepted to be more effective and efficient than using a hosepipe . If properly planned and managed , an irrigation system will save you an enormous amount of time and manual labour . It also helps your plants thrive , by giving them a steady supply of properly measured water .
The type of irrigation system you choose will depend on the size of your garden and the types of plants you have . A big vegetable garden will have different needs to regular garden beds , and very different needs to a water wise succulent garden , for instance . You can choose a simple manual system , which can be opened and closed by hand to let water into the irrigation system . This can be attached to a tap or to the main water supply . You can also choose to attach a programmed timer that automatically switches between the tap and the irrigation pipe .
While a manual irrigation system is perfectly fine , an automatically operated system saves even more time , and can be programmed during off-peak times when the water pressure is high . It can also be programmed to water while you are away on holiday .
Available at your nearest Agrimark
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