In most of the eastern and midwestern regions of the United States, rainfall is abundant throughout much of the year and plants thrive with water from this natural source. Not so in California, where long dry summers require supplemental irrigation for plants and lawns. Enter drip irrigation.
At Details Landscape Art, drip irrigation has become the standard method of watering plant material. It is efficient, economical, low maintenance, and conserves one of California’s most precious resources—water.
Why Drip Irrigation Replaced Sprayers
Before the widespread use of drip irrigation, most California landscapers watered planting areas with overhead sprayers. Water was delivered through underground PVC pipe to spray heads mounted throughout the garden.
While this system worked, it was inefficient. Water was applied not only to the plants but also to bare soil between plants. Weeds flourished, evaporation was significant, and much of the water was wasted.
Drip irrigation changed all of that.
Developed by the Israelis in the late 1960s and 1970s, drip irrigation quickly became the preferred method of delivering water directly to the root zone of plants. Instead of watering everything, the system water is applied only to the base of each plant.
How Drip Irrigation Works
A typical drip irrigation system begins with a control valve connected to half-inch black polyethylene tubing.
The tubing snakes throughout the garden among shrubs, trees, perennials, and groundcovers. Smaller quarter-inch “spaghetti tubing” branches off from the main line and extends to individual plants. At the end of each spaghetti tube is an emitter that slowly delivers water directly to the root ball.
We prefer to run the half-inch tubing above ground and conceal it beneath the bark. If tubing is buried, dirt often works its way into fittings and connections. Buried tubing is also much more difficult to repair when emitters fail or when new plants are added to the garden.
Accessibility is important. Irrigation systems are not static. Plants grow, gardens evolve, and occasional repairs are inevitable.
Matching Water to the Plant
One of the major advantages of drip irrigation is the ability to customize water delivery.
Different plants have different water requirements. A Japanese maple, a rose, and a manzanita should not necessarily receive the same amount of water.
Emitter sizes are selected according to the needs of each plant. Common emitter sizes include:
- ½ gallon per hour
- 1 gallon per hour
- 2 gallons per hour
Larger emitters are available for mature shrubs and trees.
This flexibility allows each plant to receive the appropriate amount of water without wasting resources.
Watering New Plants Versus Established Plants
When a garden is first installed, the plants are babies.
Their roots are confined to a relatively small root ball and require more frequent watering while they establish themselves in the surrounding soil. During this period, shorter and more frequent irrigation cycles are appropriate.
As plants mature, deeper and less frequent watering becomes beneficial. This encourages roots to grow downward into the soil rather than remaining near the surface.
Allowing the soil to dry somewhat between irrigation cycles also promotes healthier root development and helps avoid many of the problems associated with overwatering.
Other Uses for Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is not limited to ornamental gardens.
The same principles can be applied to:
- Vegetable gardens
- Raised planting beds
- Fruit trees
- Vineyards
- Container gardens
In many cases, separate irrigation valves are installed for different planting areas so that each area can be watered according to its particular needs.
A Water-Wise Solution
Water conservation continues to be an important consideration in California landscaping. Drip irrigation remains one of the most efficient methods available for delivering water to landscape plants.
By applying water directly to the root zone, reducing evaporation, discouraging weed growth, and minimizing runoff, drip irrigation helps create healthier plants while using less water.
At Details Landscape Art, we consider drip irrigation an essential component of a successful landscape. When properly designed and installed, it provides reliable, efficient watering for many years while helping gardens thrive through Sonoma County’s long dry summers.