Many commercial fruit and vegetable growers use a "drip irrigation" system for watering and easy delivery of fertilizers to their row crops. We can use the same concept for our home vegetable gardens, ornamental and fruit trees, flowers, shrubs and vines. The system does not work for grass.

Drip irrigation is beneficial in flowerbeds because water is delivered to the base of the plants in small amounts over a long period of time through a tape with small emitters or a hose delivery system. Moisture in the soil remains constant over time and provides roots with the correct amount of water. You will avoid the problems of over-wet plants, including suffocation of the roots and promotion of disease such as root rot. Drip irrigation also helps keep the soil temperature more constant.

Drip irrigation reduces water loss by up to 60 percent and is extremely easy because hoses and sprinklers do not have to be changed frequently. Adding a layer of mulch will also help hold moisture in the soil and reduce temperature fluctuations.

Cynthia Branch Mills, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension

Access your water supply and install your manual valve. This valve is the key whereby amateurs, like you and me, can experiment to our hearts' content without fear of disrupting water supply needed elsewhere on the line you tapped into. If you have potted plants on a deck, you have an ideal setting that lends itself to creatively hiding individual emitters to each potted plant. Likewise, hanging ferns are great targets for drip systems. If you have many such plants, you'll be amazed at how much time you'll save by allowing them to self-water through your personally designed system.

Harlan Frymire, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension