Drip irrigation: Design, install, maintain it easily

Drip irrigation is a method of slowly delivering water to all types of plantings, from planters to gardens to greenhouses. In three not so difficult steps,you can design and build a drip irrigation system that places a precise amount of water where you need it, prevents overwatering, conserves water, saves money and keeps water off foliage, reducing disease such as powdery mildew. Drip irrigation eliminates hours of hand watering, can be fully automated with a timer and will reduce weeding time. Drip systems can be applied to gardens, vineyards, greenhouses, row crops raised beds, window planters, decks and patio pots, existing landscapes, hillsides or flat terrain.

Master Gardeners have successfully retrofitted most of the Discovery Garden on Hwy 536 west of Mount Vernon. As a home gardener, you can also do-it-yourself using the guide found on the Ask a Master Gardener blog this month. The blog features a step-by-step recipe for installing your own drip irrigation. See skagitmg.org/diy-drip-irrigation/.

Step 1: Identify the water source, hose bibb, gravity fed from a cistern or will you pump water from a lake or a creek? Also calculate your flow rate.

Step 2: Identify areas you want to water.

Step 3: Assemble.

This is easily accomplished – go to http://www.skagitmg.org/blog – and you will find detailed and precise instructions guiding you through all the details of each of the steps. Information is provided giving a novice gardener all the tools and information they will need for calculating water flow, designing flow reduction solutions, timers, filters and pressure regulators. It sounds daunting, but with a bit of resourcefulness and planning, using the Skagit Master Gardeners' Do-It-Yourself guide you should be all set to install a DIY drip irrigation system in your own home garden.

Information: skagitmg.org/diy-drip-irrigation/.

Bob Bryan has been a Skagit County WSU Extension Master Gardener since 2009. He has taught the art of drip irrigation in the Know and Grow seminars offered by Skagit County Master Gardeners.