Drip Irrigation is the New Normal
I design and install drip irrigation systems
(I convert existing popup sprinkler systems to drip, too!)
Popup sprinklers are fantastic for irrigating lawns,
but they're rubbish for ornamental beds.
Popup Sprinklers
- About 50% of the water doesn’t reach the roots.
- All of the soil surface is moistened.
- Leaves & stems are regularly wet all year.
- As plants grow or are added sprinklers now spray
into a wall of leaves leaving plants behind dry.
Waste !
Weeds !
Fungus !
Drought !
Trenching ??!
Drip Irrigation
-
Over 90% of the water reaches the roots.
-
Relatively little soil surface is moistened.
-
Only the rain wets leaves and stems.
-
Drip is easily changed, reduced or expanded. No new trenching necessary.
Drought-stressed plants lose their ability to fend off pests & disease.
Water will only get more expensive. Summers are drier, hotter & longer. Winter snowpacks now melt too fast. We’ve less water available in summer. Demand only increases. Think California.
Pacific NW natives? Natives are awesome, but they're not a quick fix. No native evolved for the new climate. Their mortality rate has skyrocketed. UW, WSU, OSU and others tell us that this is a new climate norm. No. These plants are not going extinct, but it sounds like it might seem that way.
Drought tolerant plants? That's a good plan, but you need to manage your expectations. There are water-caveats. Until they're established (months to years), until they're the size you want (more years) or if you require their color to 'pop' and to flower reliably (every year) then it takes more water than you think.