Irrigating Gardens, Hedges & Containers
Unlike lawn watering, a broad variety of methods
are available for watering gardens.
Shrub sprays and shrub
rotors attempt to blanket
plantings with heavy watering from above (using the same methods as lawn
watering, but from atop tall risers). The inherent wide spacing of these
sprayheads, unfortunately, tends to result in gaps (referred to as 'rain
shadows') in the coverage. The heavy (or in the case of rotors - sharp)
spray of these heads is often damaging to delicate or flowering plants.
Micro-irrigation is a term used to describe a
variety of low-flow irrigation devices from misters and drip emitters to
micro-sprays.
These devices provide a more efficient means of watering beds and
containers (typically 40%-60% less water consumed than conventional
sprays) by supplying a lower applied volume closer to the root
zone. Benefits include reduced water loss due to evaporation, reduced
soil impaction and leaching (washing out) of nutrients, and decreased
likelihood of fungal and other afflictions caused by foliar drenching.
Micro-irrigation systems have more heads than conventional 'shrub
spray' systems, each servicing a smaller area or even an individual
plant. This allows for a more precise tailoring of the irrigation
system to individual plant water needs. Because they are considered
to be water conservation devices, micro-irrigation systems continue
to be exempt from Stage 1, 2 & 3 CRD Water Restrictions.
Micro-sprays are the method of choice for watering
shrub, perennial, and annual plantings. Hedges and row plantings such as
vegetables are often best served by drip emitters or
emitterline, which is a flexible tubing with
pressure-compensating emitters built right in. Planters and hanging baskets,
because they have only a small water storage capacity, will require the
slow, controlled release of drip emitters.
Micro-irrigation is, by nature, flexible and adaptable,
with some types of micro-sprays and most emitters even being movable. Older,
conventional spray systems can most often be easily upgraded to take advantage
of the benefits of a more precise micro-irrigation system.
