Key Tips on How to Stop Wasting Money on Irrigation
When it comes to gardening, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. The plants might die, you might get sick from all the chemicals in your soil… and we all know how expensive irrigation is! It’s hot during the dry months, and the plants might not survive without extra water. But don’t worry: even if you’re on a tight budget and don’t have much money to spend on garden supplies or chemicals, you can still save money by watering your plants better.
This blog post outlines several strategies to help you save water and cut down your irrigation costs. Dive in!
Irrigate Better
If you’re looking to irrigate your garden more efficiently, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Choose crops that are well adapted to your area and climate. For instance, in drier areas, you can try out drought-tolerant plants.
- Use the right irrigation systems. This can be either drip or sprinkler irrigation.
- Find and rectify any leaks in your irrigation systems
- Mulch your plants
- Harvest rainwater
Use Soaker Hoses
Soaker hoses are an excellent way to keep your trees, shrubs, lawns, and perennial beds watered even in the drier months. They use less water and keep the soil moist evenly. This method leaves the foliage dry. Besides, they are flexible and can be snaked around easily throughout your yard. Also, since they deliver water directly to the roots, there is minimal water loss through evaporation.
Install a Sprinkler System
If you have a large lawn, your irrigation system is likely already pumping water from the tap into your sprinkler system. But if you’ve been wasting money on wasted water and poor results, this might be a good time for an upgrade.
Here are a few reasons you should use sprinkler irrigation systems:
- They ensure optimum water usage and uniformity
- They are highly efficient
- Sprinkler systems are cost-effective and convenient
- They conserve water by up to 30% – 50%.
- They help in weed prevention
- Water can be applied at low rates.
There are several different ways to go about installing a new sprinkler system:
- Install a timer on each nozzle so they turn on at different times during the day (for example, one in the morning while another turns off at night). This can save up to 50% of what would otherwise be wasted during the watering time!
- Use rain sensors that detect when it rains outside and automatically turn off all your sprinklers until they detect moisture again (you’ll still need to turn them back on when required manually. Once installed, there should be no human intervention since everything else will operate automatically.
Install Drip Irrigation Systems
Drip irrigation is an efficient and cost-effective method of watering plants that uses a network of drips and pipes to deliver water directly to the plants’ root zone. This ensures optimum nutrient absorption.
It works by running water through a series of pipes and emitters. Each emitter has a small hole in its base where water will flow when the system is turned on. The holes are connected to flexible pipes that allow water to travel from one emitter to another until it reaches the end of the system. A typical drip irrigation system contains several well-positioned emitters in your yard.
Drip irrigation systems have many benefits, which include:
- They save water: this cuts down your water bill and minimizes water wastage through runoff and excessive evaporation.
- They are easy to set up and maintain: Drip irrigation systems are simple enough that even beginners can install them easily. Also, they require little maintenance, so you will have fewer costs and time replacing parts, fixing problems, or paying an electrician.
- They are environmentally friendly: The system helps conserve water and has less pollution to the atmosphere.
Find Leaks In Your Irrigation Systems
Sprinkler and drip irrigation systems leaks are a common problem and can waste a lot of water. If you’re having trouble finding your sprinkler leaks, here’s what you need to do:
- Turn off the water source before starting any repairs (or call someone who knows how).
- Check for hidden sprinklers by turning off each valve until all valves are closed except for one (the leaky one).
Select Drought-tolerant Plants
You must select the right plants for your yard that match your water usage and availability. If you want to save money and energy when watering your garden, you should select the plants based on:
- Your climate: Choose climate-resilient plants, especially if growing in places with limited water. For instance, if you live in drier areas, you should grow plants that can stand extreme conditions like citrus trees and tropical fruits like mangoes and avocado trees.
- Your soil type: Soils have different drainage. You should add organic matter to enhance their drainage capabilities.
Harvest Rainwater
Fresh water is a scarce resource that needs to be preserved. Water harvesting is a great way to reduce agriculture’s activities in the environment, maintain water quality, improve soil quality, and save money on irrigation. You can store the harvested water in:
- Tanks
- Dams
- Cisterns
- Ponds
Use Mulch
Mulching is a crucial method that helps minimize water loss through evaporation. This cuts your irrigation bill and reduces the growth of weeds in your garden.
Use Alternative Water
Since water is becoming scarce, you need to look for innovative water sources to keep your plants irrigated. The source should provide quality water, protect aquatic environments, and increase the weight of equitable water access. Besides, it should be safe enough not to affect the growth and development of your plants. Some of the sources are:
- Harvested rainwater
- Graywater
- Groundwater from boreholes
- Excess water stored in dams during heavy rains
- Air conditioning condensate
Contact Us Today!
Are you looking for a way to cut your irrigation bill? At Mazero, we provide a wide range of high-quality irrigation products and specialized services to assist you in scaling up your irrigation efforts at a lower cost. Here is part of what we offer:
- High-quality sprinkler irrigation systems
- World-class drip irrigation systems
- Water storage tanks
- Dam liners and dam equipment
- Irrigation systems installation and management services
- Borehole drilling and installation services
- High-quality and durable borehole equipment
Contact us today, and our team of experts will be ready to assist you and tailor a service that suits your needs. We are one call away!