What to Know About Drip Irrigation

This week we are discussing drip irrigation. Simply put, it’s like regular irrigation, but better! It provides a way to elevate your landscape solutions. Like when you add some ice cream to apple pie, it just makes things better! Of course, the standard irrigation a person gets for their property is usually a sprinkler system. These are commonly referred to as irrigation systems also. Although we will mention sprinklers in this blog, it will not be our primary focus. We want to showcase drip irrigation, a unique service that can help bring your landscape to the next level.

The word “drip” is a common word that typically makes people picture water slowly falling out of a faucet or “dripping.” However, the popular term “drip” fits much better in this case. The slang word “drip” means sexy or cool. That is a spot-on description of drip irrigation. It is definitely what the cool kids are using, and it makes your landscape look sexy.

Drip irrigation consists of pliable and flexible tubing that connects to individual drippers. The drippers are positioned at the root of each plant. This placement allows an exact amount of water to reach that particular plant, based on its needs. Every time the drip irrigation system runs, it provides a customized solution to your property’s hydration needs. Drip irrigation targets plants on your landscape and their required specific amounts of water. It helps you avoid the damage caused by over-watering them or under-watering them.

Why choose drip irrigation over a sprinkler system?

First of all, we want to note that there is nothing wrong with using a sprinkler system. Sprinkler systems work for lawns and low groundcovers because they require a consistent water application throughout the entire landscape. If your landscape has a mixture of plant life such as flowerbeds, trees, and shrubs, then a sprinkler system is not the optimal choice for your landscape’s needs. Plants that tend to stay wet can quickly become diseased, which ultimately impacts your entire landscape. On occasion, a sprinkler system will allow taller plants to take all the water it gives out, acting as a barrier and ultimately preventing the water from getting to the rest of your landscape. 

Sprinkler systems are also not the ideal product for those wanting to save water. There is, however, one exception in which a sprinkler system is a likely better option. If your specific landscape has many animals and pests on it, drip irrigation is not recommended. (We really mean a lot! The problem should be extremely noticeable!) Animals and pests can chew their way through the drip irrigation tubing for an easier water source. This is an extremely rare situation that is more likely to occur in rural communities and not suburban areas. 

Why use drip irrigation?

Drip irrigation works best when your landscape has various shrubs and hedges, trees, and perennials because they require distinct and exact amounts of water. The fact that you can mix and match, which also choosing precise water amounts for all the individual sections or parts of your landscape, is the ultimate selling point that makes drip irrigation so unique and essential for your property.

What are the benefits of drip irrigation? 

Earlier, we brought up that sprinkler systems do not save water. Drip irrigation saves more water than sprinklers do. In terms of spraying and shooting out unlimited amounts of water into the air before it hits the landscape, the concept of sprinkler systems can seem wasteful. A drip system only lets out the exact amount of water needed for every individual piece of your landscape and does not add water to other parts of your landscape that do not need water. Therefore, drip irrigation allows you to use less water and ultimately cut the cost of your bills.

In addition to only letting off the exact amount of water needed, a drip irrigation system will not overwater your plants. This leads to less of a chance of your landscape getting diseases and extra weeds. Drip irrigation also does not allow for puddles to form. It can even add some more free time to your schedule! How? By operating with a timer, of course! You can set up timers for your irrigation so that they water your plants at the right time of day. This takes into account rainfall and other conditions that may play a factor in your landscape. 

Another sexy thing about drip irrigation is that the tubing we talked about is mostly completely invisible to the eye. It blends right in with your landscape, and more often than not, goes unseen. It is commonly tucked under layers of mulch and becomes hidden by the plants it helps to grow. Even the drippers can be placed inside garden boxes, planters, and other numerous objects. Although they are invisible, they can still get the job done. 

When a drip irrigation system uses precise amounts of water for your plants’ individual needs, it allows your plants to grow healthier and quicker. Your neighbors will think you have a secret way with plants! Since the system is invisible to the eye, you can take credit for being a plant magician, and we won’t let your secret out. 

So, after all of these facts, we hope you agree with us in saying drip irrigation is the way to go! It will elevate your landscape to the next level and make it have a “drip” to it. 

Call us at Resource Landscaping today, and let us get started on your drip irrigation system! 

Make sure to ask us about all the other services we provide and how we can share our smarter approach to landscaping and resource management with you! We proudly serve the residents of Ontario, Chino Hills, and Rancho Cucamonga, CA.