Drip Irrigation
  • June 10, 2012
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Drip Irrigation

After much procrastination, we have finally purchased all of the necessary items and tools to install drip irrigation in our front and back yards.  We purchased everything yesterday morning and Tool Lady spent most of the day running it through all the beds in the front yard while I pulled tomato suckers, harvested turnips seeds, helped out a bit, placed new straw (mulch is our friend) on top of all the piping once it was in place and generally spent the day shuffling around the yard.  The back yard might not get done today, but it will get done soon.

Who knew plastic tubing could make life so much easier and be good for the environment?!  Not only will I save time, but we should also wind up saving water (which is at a premium here)!  On average I’ve spent about 6-8 hours per week just watering the garden…now that I won’t have to do that anymore, I’ll have to find something else to occupy my time 😉  Suggestions?

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Written by Melissa @ Ever Growing Farm

12 Comments

  1. Fiddlerchick

    Thanks for the inspiration! I have been contemplating installing a drip irrigation system in the back for my burgeoning container garden, but there are so many competing projects that I haven’t got around to it yet. Also, I’m having trouble working up a cost estimate since I don’t really understand what I’ll need yet….I laid out an array of soaker hoses out front, but that has been only partially successful, and I keep stabbing holes in it when I dig up the ground between seasons with my spading fork 🙁

    1. Bee Girl

      We did a combination of drip and soaker hoses for the different beds and some of our pots. Tool Lady figured out how much of everything we needed so I can’t be of much help in that department…we basically just measured out the beds and got a guestimate of everything, then laid it out and played with spacing. So far so good 🙂

  2. Sustainably Modern

    This will be WELL worth the investment. We did this last year and our crops made it through the drought because of it. It also helps keep away diseases caused by wet leaves.

    1. Bee Girl

      Yes! I’m excited about the leaves staying dry, too! Not really sure why it took us so long, but I’m happy we finally decided to do it!

  3. Jody

    We couldn’t live without drip irrigation. It’s a lot of work early in the season for us, during prep and planting time, but it’s a lifesaver when summer comes! You’re going to love it; I’m betting you’re going to especially love it there in the high desert region of Arizona! Be careful with the spade!

    1. Bee Girl

      It will definitely take some getting used to but I’m very excited about it…especially with our continued super dry years here in NM. I do believe this system will be my new best friend 🙂

  4. The Stay @ Home-Gardener

    Hmm, I will have to get back to you on what you should do with your new found time. *thinks*

  5. Astra

    That is brilliant – saves water and time WIN WIN! I think you should paint in your spare time – i looooved those blue and purple abstract ones on your etsy shop! xx

    1. Bee Girl

      Definitely a win win! I have already begun painting again! I’m so glad you like my abstract paintings! They’re fun to make, too 🙂

  6. 1st Man

    I can’t wait to hear how well it works through the season. That’s on my short list as soon as I get the flower beds in. It seems overwhelming to figure out what to buy and get it installed, but I know I can do it!

    As for your time…;you do have you 101 in 1001 list…I’m just sayin! LOL! 😉

    1. Bee Girl

      Yes! Do it! I was overwhelmed while we were picking everything out at the store, but Tool Lady’s brain works differently than mine, so she had it all figured out pretty quick 🙂

      Oh yes…that 101 in 1001 list…I must chip away at that bad boy…it seems to come in waves!

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