Installing an Irrigation System

For your garden to survive it is essential to have an effective watering plan and this can be made somewhat easier by installing an irrigation system.

There are many products on the market that allow just about anyone to install their own irrigation system.

The first thing you will need to do is set out a plan of where the irrigation needs to go, taking into account your water supply, the types of plants that you will be watering, and the flexibility in water management that you will need.

Flexibility in water management is particularly important, as this will allow you to supply varying contents of water to specific plants to ensure all the plants in your garden are getting their optimum requirements.

"The principle behind drip irrigation is to deliver water directly to the base of the plant, as opposed to indiscriminately watering the ground around the plants. This means that all the water being expended is being used to nourish the plant, while wasting less in the surrounding soil, and losing less to evaporation." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Another factor that you should consider is having a timed irrigation system where you can supply water to your plants on a regular basis even if you are away on holiday for an extended period of time. These timed watering systems are very cost effective and can save you a lot of money that could otherwise be lost in plants that die due to a lack of water, and they also reduce waste by delivering the water directly to where it is needed, instead of indiscriminately watering the whole area.

There are a wide variety of soaker and sprinkler type water systems and they all have their specific benefits for your garden.

If you are unsure what your garden requirements are, many of the home irrigation systems have information to help you make educated decisions but if that still leaves you in doubt then a consultation with a garden professional could save you a lot of time and money.

Before buying anything check out the prices from the online garden supply stores as you will generally get a better price than buying elsewhere and if you do find you need help from a professional, you can simply get their recommendations and buy the products elsewhere to save money.

You can find some helpful resources and watering supplies at good prices at http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html.