Maintaining trees can be too much work, especially if you have trees that are high-maintenance and need constant care. When you have way too many trees and plants that it is taking you too long to make sure they are always in the right condition, it may be time to catch up on one of the most ingenious solutions in the world of tree keeping – getting a drip irrigation system. Taking care of trees and other plant life can be very relaxing, but if they are causing you to be stressed instead, you may have too much on your plate.
Drip irrigation systems will not only take the load off your back but will also offer a lot of benefits for your trees. Though there are a lot of concerns you may have when starting such as how it works, if it is easy to maintain, and how long it should run, you will get the hang of it in a short time as it is actually easy to use.
What is drip irrigation and how does it work?
Drip irrigation is one of the greatest inventions to happen in the world of plant keeping according to most farmers and professional arborists. It has paved the way for cultivating agriculture and is also the reason why fresh produce can now be easier to yield and can feed more people and livestock than it has in the earlier years.
This system is mostly used by people who live in the hotter and drier places in the world, such as in Asia. It is also called “trickle irrigation” as it works by dispersing water in small droplets and sprinkling them on various plant life at different rates and pressure, depending on the specific need of the plant.
A system usually has the following parts: a pump unit, main and submain lines, a control head, and a dripper. Pump units get water from a specific source filters it, and then transports water into the pipes while the control head regulates the water pressure and discharge mechanism of the system. The main and sublines receive the water from the head and the drippers emit water to the trees.
How long should you run your drip irrigation system?
The duration of how you run your system would depend on your desired eater cycle. To have an estimate, you will need to compute how many gallons of water your tree needs and the capacity of your system’s emitter.
One of the methods in measuring how long you will need your system to sun is by getting a container and placing it under your emitter. Turn on the emitter for 5 minutes then turn it off. Measure the volume of the water that was dispersed into your container then multiply it by 12. This will give you the amount of water it will release in an hour.
Depending on your tree’s watering needs and how many there are, you can run your system for an hour or two. Of course, you will need to use the constant pressure that you used during your estimate or you will have to deal with overwatering or dehydration. If you want to change your water pressure, conduct the test again using the same pressure you want.
Is drip irrigation good for trees?
Although drip systems function to produce high-quality vegetables and fruits in certain countries, they can be used for trees as well. Drip irrigation systems offer many benefits, such as:
It saves you from hard work
Having a fully functional drip irrigation system can save you effort and time in watering your trees. You would not need to break your back to make sure that your trees are hydrated and there will be no need for you to go back and forth on your farm or lawn to collect water.
It is cost-effective
Getting an irrigation system will only set you back during the first month for installation costs but will save you a lot of money long term. Drip systems actually conserve water as they can disperse the liquid more efficiently and effectively.
It is better for your tree
When a system is used, you can set and monitor the watering of your tree. This would mean that you will not forget to water it and also will not put too much water into your tree. When water consumption is regulated, your trees will be happier and healthier.