Soil fertility and moisture conditions are critical to the success of your drip irrigation system. Without the proper moisture in the soil, the chances of flooding due to excess water is greatly increased. Of course, even the most diligent gardener will eventually run into a situation where over-watering is inevitable.
To prevent flooding from the sprinkler, make sure you know how much water should be reserved for your drip irrigation system. Since you can’t keep track of the exact amounts that you’re watering, knowing what the ideal amount is would be a good starting point. Here are some guidelines to follow:
Knowing how deep your soil is in relation to the groundwater table is also helpful in determining the amount of water you should be using. According to the pros at https://www.creativelandscapesla.com/, for a well-drained area, the water table should be no more than six inches below the surface. Any further than this and the water may still rise when it should be falling.
To avoid over-watering, it’s best to control the number of times the irrigation system is run. Once the system is running several times a day, you’re going to get the most benefit out of it. However, once the sprinkler is turned off, the ground will begin to dry out.
Try to set up a rule in which the sprinkler is only run when there is no longer water left in the sprinkler head. It’s not a bad idea to put the sprinkler in a place where it won’t have to work as hard. This means taking the sprinkler off the ground and placing it in a stand that will sit on a table or in the corner of the yard.
Another way to avoid over-watering is to know the approximate depth of the groundwater table. The depth should be approximately one foot below the surface. This should be considered the average depth of the soil in relation to the water table.
Watering is something that needs to be done in moderation. Too much or too little can cause problems. When watering, the best thing to do is leave the sprinkler running on dry areas until the water level has reached the level indicated on the drip irrigation system.
Some things that will help keep the sprinkler running properly are pre-soaking the garden and securing the drip irrigation system to a trellis or post. Since watering helps the roots thrive, it’s best to make sure that they can soak up the water as it’s coming off the sprinkler head. And since drips tend to settle at the bottom of the ditch, you need to make sure that they don’t get stirred up.
Over-watering your plants is probably the worst thing that can happen to your drip irrigation system. For the best results, water the plants about every two weeks. If there’s a drought in your area, you may want to consider watering more often.
Placing your drip irrigation system in a dry part of the yard such as a drainage ditch or in a compost pile would be the best idea. This would give your plants more time to absorb the water and not have to worry about overwatering. Keep in mind that the compost pile may not be a good place to use in dry areas of the yard because it can become soggy very quickly.
Monitoring the soil condition of your garden is another way to determine how much water to use. To determine this, dig up the ground around the plant and look for clay and other types of clays. A normal pH and temperature should be established before doing this.
As you can see, watering your plants and sprinkler system is just a matter of common sense. It’s important to know how much water your plants need so you can adjust the sprinkler accordingly. Remember, the best solution to over-watering your plants is by not watering them at all.