We have all either noticed or taken part in the new green movement. We all know the importance recycling, we now take our own shopping bags to the grocery store, we are fuel conscious by buying hybrid or electric cars, and email has taken the place of letters. But are we as green as we should be with our most important commodity. Water is essential in our daily lives. From the showers we take, to brushing our teeth, to washing clothes, the food we cook, to quinch our thirst, and to water our plants. I have always taken the approach that someone else would do my share and that one single person can not or could not make a difference. Water is the life line of a farm or plant nursery. We have to have it, the plants have to have it, and we would not be in business without it.
One of the ways we are "green" is the use of our drip irrigation systems. Drip irrigation is a low flow, low pressure watering system that drips water right to the root zone of our plants. When we water with a hose or overhead sprinklers we are wasting water either by runoff or watering weeds or other undesired plants. Drip irrigation can provide optimum moisture levels in the soil at all times, resulting in less water lost to the sun and wind. With drip irrigation, water is not wasted on non growth areas, and the root zone is maintained at a steady moisture level.
Drip irrigation is simple and inexpensive to use. If you can connect a garden hose to a water faucet then you can install a drip system. We have fittings that will adapt to a garden hose or faucet, from there you will run the tubing on the ground by the plants you wish to water, and lastly punch a hole into the tubing and place an emmitter near the root zone. Simply turn on the water supply and you will have water going to the root zone of your plants without the waste of time nor water.
Over the last year we have planted additional acreage in peaches, blueberries, blackberries, and muscadines.We had to plant the majority of the acreage during the hot months of June and July, our nursery schedule does not allow planting at other times. Because of the use of drip we were able to successfully plant with little or no plant loss.
Yesterday before I left work I turned on a single valve and was able to water 2 acres of peaches, 1 acre of blueberry, and a 1/2 acre of blackberries with our drip system. Not only was I being green with the conservation of water, I was able to get home and enjoy time with the ones who mean the most to me. I think I may wear a green shirt to work tomorrow.
Save money and lower your water usage.
Give us a call with any drip irrigation questions. We will be happy to assist in the layout of your drip system.
Drip Irrigation
Advantages and Benefits of Drip Irrigation System
· Water Efficiency
· Water only goes where needed
· Ease of Installation
· No special tools or glue required
· Reduced pest problems and weed growth
· Only water the roots plus increase fruit yield and plant quality
· Works anywhere in the home garden
· Save money and lower your water usage
My husband recently set up drip irrigation for the 20 trees we still have at the house in 15 gallon pots (apples, crabapples, peaches, persimmons, asian pears, jujubes and figs). Whether it is simply a coincidence and the tress would have had a growth spurt regardless I don't know, but they are all pushing new growth faster than they were before.
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