GARDEN
Photo : www . growveg . co . uk
Make a DIY drip irrigation system
If you are worried about certain thirsty plants , or the pots on your patio while you go on holiday , you can make a simple DIY drip irrigation system using two-litre plastic cold drink bottles . Simply drill a few smallish holes into the cap , then cut the bottom of the bottle off , so that it looks like a funnel . You then dig a hole right next to the plant you want to water , and bury the “ funnel ”, cap-side down , about halfway into the ground . Fill up the bottle and it will start to slowly drip water to the roots of the plant . You can also do this with a smaller bottle for small plants .
Then for the question of whether to do it yourself of hire a contractor , this will depend on your needs , the size of your garden , your budget and know-how . A simple system attached to a tap is really easy to install , and requires you to buy a kit with pipes and then add pop-up sprinklers ( e . g . for the lawn ) or use drippers ( e . g . for the veggie garden ). An automated irrigation system will likely require a professional set-up , which may seem costly in the beginning , but will save you time , energy and money over the long run . Whether you go manual or automatic , with a professional or DIY , there are a number of different irrigation systems you can choose from .
Drippers – can be used to water plants that are in containers or individual plants .
A soaker drip line - a tube with built-in drippers , perfect for watering rows of veggies .
Sprinklers - much like normal garden sprinklers , just smaller and with a very high flow rate , and ideal for flower beds and lawns .
Sprayers – these can be bought with adjustable spray patterns or with a spray pattern from a quarter to a full circle .
Bubblers – a sort-of hybrid between drippers and sprayers , bubblers are perfect for roses and shrubs , as they let out more water than drippers , but are more focused than sprinklers or sprayers .
Tips for a water wise garden
Reduce the lawn .
Is the big lawn necessary , or is it just guzzling water ? Taking your family ’ s lawn needs into account , consider replacing part of the lawn with water wise beds , pathways or water wise ground covers .
Zone plants together according to their water needs .
Try to rearrange your garden so that plants with high , medium and low water needs are planted together . This way you can minimise waste and ensure all your plants receive the optimal amount of water .
Increase the water retention of your soil .
Add plenty of compost to your soil and mulch often as this also enriches the soil as it decomposes .
Water at the right times .
Whether watering by hand or with an irrigation system , always water in the early morning or late afternoon , as this helps to reduce water loss via evaporation .