Drip Irrigation: 10 Tips for Success - The Celtic Farm

How to make your drip irrigation system a success

Running a flower farm has forced me to learn quite a bit about drip irrigation and watering systems, probably more than I would ever want to know. I thought I’d put together a Drip Irrigation tips post, and hopefully save some poor souls from the mistakes I have made over the years, save some beautiful plants and some money.

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Here is my list of Drip Tips:

Do it right the first time.

We all have busy lives, and I have recognized time is our most valuable resource. If I had a dollar for every “temporary” irrigation line or drip I have put in place, well, I’d have a ton of dollars. Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, they are all villains in the game of irrigation. Easy, do-it-yourself kits, aisles with components, and irrigation gadgets are plentiful and beckon the gardener to just get it done. I would advise you to take a step back, take a deep breath, and put something in for today that will let you expand your system…in other words, do a little planning with the big picture in mind. There are some links at the end of the article to help, and great irrigation references.

Use Quality Irrigation Components.

Quality. Quality. Quality. Irrigation components are expensive, and the upfront cost for a quality drip system can be hard on the pocket book. But take it from someone who has tried to cut corners, that cheap set of drip emitters on Amazon can bring your system to its knees, waste water and ruin your water flow plan and possibly your landscape. I recommend some of the online drip irrigation specialty retailers as a first pick, and the typical brand names you find at the home improvement stores as a second.

Know Your Water System Characteristics

Are you on city water? Well? Irrigation or ditch water? There are 3 primary water source characteristics you should know before starting:

• What is your water pressure?
• What is your irrigation flow rate?
• Does your water have particulate matter and biologics?

Knowing the characteristics of your input water system will save you time and effort, and prevent water disasters