Keeping up with watering your garden can be a challenge. Schedules and weather conditions can all leave flowers and vegetable gardens thirsty. If you install one of the best garden drip irrigation kits, you’ll solve this common problem.
When set to a timer, the best irrigation drip kits water automatically, and they’re easy to install and maintain. You’ll even find drip irrigation systems geared toward different types of gardens. Learn how these worry-free watering systems work and why the following products rank as best in class.
Many of the parts that make up a drip irrigation system can be found at your local store, but irrigation kits have everything you will need in one. That way there is no room for error if your individual components will function with each other or not.
What to Consider When Choosing a Drip Irrigation System
You will soon be familiar with the different types of emitters, but first you can focus on creating an ideal system. The size and type of garden, along with the type of soil and other factors, are worth noting and planning for. Here are some factors to keep in mind when buying a drip irrigation system.
Garden Size
The size of your garden will determine your system’s setup and the kit that you need. For smaller gardens, a single kit is often enough to install an effective drip irrigation system. Larger gardens may require additional lengths of tubing and emitters. You may even find that you’re better off with two separate systems. This is when you drip water at different times to different locations around your property.
Plant Types
Different plant species require different amounts of water. Depending on what you’re growing, you might have to get creative with your drip system. One of the great values of a drip irrigation system is how flexible they are. If designed correctly, a single system can water a wide variety of plants.
Flow Rate
Once you’ve determined the plants and soil you have, you can determine the water pressure and choose your emitters. Even plants with low water needs can suffer in fast-draining, fast-drying soils. In this case, you’ll need to increase the size of point-source emitters or use in-line tubing with closer emitter spacing.
Types of Sprinkler Heads in Drip Irrigation Kits
Drip irrigation systems require several different emitter nozzles. Depending on your garden’s design and needs, some of these nozzles will be better suited than others. Before you attempt to plan out your irrigation system, do some research. You should familiarize yourself with the following types of emitter nozzles, each with strengths and weaknesses worth considering.
Micro-spray sprinklers
Micro-spray sprinklers are helpful devices that can make the most of a low-pressure drip irrigation system. They go next to taller plants or are used to hit a few plants with greater water usage needs while leaving less needy plants alone. They’re designed with improved spray range over other emitter types with the same pressure.
Point-Source Emitters
These are great for plants that don’t do well with water on their leaves (like tomatoes and eggplants). Point-source emitters are non-adjustable, preset nozzles that distribute a set amount of water to a plant per hour. They’re excellent for use with “satellite” plants in planters and hanging baskets as well as sensitive vegetables.
In-Line Drip Emitters
For those with a more laid-back approach to garden irrigation, in-line drip emitters are a fast and easy way to drip water. These hoses are smaller in diameter than the main hose but may come in various lengths. Emitters are built into tubing allowing you to place the hose in between plants and provide water without putting emitters in the main hose. This is a low-maintenance and leak-reducing irrigation method.
What Irrigation Kits Do We Have To Offer?
We have several drip irrigation kits from DIG. Here is a short list of a few of the most popular
DIG ML50 Raised Bed Drip Kit
The ML50 Raised Bed Drip Kit can be used in a wide range of layouts including planter boxes, vegetable gardens, and plants in close flower beds to satisfy watering needs.
DIG GRWKIT-12 Home Grow Drip Kit
DIG’s GRWKIT-12 Home Improvement Grow Drip Kit can be used to grow up to 12 potted plants with any medium in small to large spaces, indoor or outdoor. The kit includes a 12-outlet manifold, micro tubing to extend the emitters to the plants, and 12 1-GPH PC drip emitters with a check valve.
DIG Adjustable Micro Sprayer Irrigation Kit
DIG’s adjustable micro sprayer kit is a complete kit designed to water a garden of up to 500 square feet and is ideal for flowerbeds, shrubs, groundcovers, container beds, and under tree canopies. The kit has all the parts needed to install a system with eight adjustable micro sprayers starting from an outside hose faucet, and can be automated using one of DIG’s battery-operated or solar-powered controllers.
DIG Living Wall Modular Vertical Garden Kit
Grow a variety of plants including perennials, herbs, and succulents with DIG Vertical Garden Wall Mounting Kits. DIG’s Living Wall Modular Vertical Garden kit is designed with expandable wall mounting brackets from which up to four large and four small pots can be hung vertically. The kit also includes an integrated professional watering system to deliver controlled amounts of water into each individual pot using pressure compensating drip emitters with a check valve.
