Most St Louis homeowners immediately picture either the standard rotating or oscillating sprinkler when they hear the term "lawn irrigation." Or they may envision a more sophisticated underground lawn irrigation system with "pop-up" sprinkler heads rising up from the turf, watering the lawn, then retracting again.
Drip irrigation, however, is installed, and remains, completely underground. For some applications, it is clearly superior to both completely above-ground and standard underground "pop-up" sprinkler systems. Simply put, drip irrigation is a network of underground emitter lines which water your lawn, drip-by-drip. This type of underground sprinkler system is a solid option wherever you live.
An emitter line is a piece of polyethylene tubing with holes drilled into it at regular intervals. These underground emitter lines should be buried approximately 4-6" below the surface and include air vents and automatic flushing tips. Emitter lines are placed underground in one of three ways: 1) hand-trenching; 2)mechanical trenching and 3) vibrating plow, which pulls the emitter line behind it. Which method you choose depends on your particular application needs.
Advantages of underground drip irrigation over sprinkler system irrigation in the St Louis area:
* No water loss from evaporation
* No water spraying where it shouldn't, like on windows
* Drip irrigation systems are totally safe from damage from above, whether intentional or accidental
* No unsightly water on hillsides, walkways or fencing
* A reduced number of water supply valves, which means you need less water flow
* Your particular landscape, with its berms, slopes and flat areas, will dictate the spacing of emitter lines and flow
* Grass roots grow deeper to seek the water, making the lawn more drought resistant, and reducing thatch build-up
Heavy clay soils call for maximum spacing of drip irrigation emitter lines -- approximately 18" from each other. In non-clay soils, closer spacing is more appropriate. However, the closest your lines should ever be is 12", with emitter holes 12" apart from each other. In order to not disturb your emitter lines, be careful to bury them away from areas which will be replanted often.
Drip irrigation, however, is installed, and remains, completely underground. For some applications, it is clearly superior to both completely above-ground and standard underground "pop-up" sprinkler systems. Simply put, drip irrigation is a network of underground emitter lines which water your lawn, drip-by-drip. This type of underground sprinkler system is a solid option wherever you live.
An emitter line is a piece of polyethylene tubing with holes drilled into it at regular intervals. These underground emitter lines should be buried approximately 4-6" below the surface and include air vents and automatic flushing tips. Emitter lines are placed underground in one of three ways: 1) hand-trenching; 2)mechanical trenching and 3) vibrating plow, which pulls the emitter line behind it. Which method you choose depends on your particular application needs.
Advantages of underground drip irrigation over sprinkler system irrigation in the St Louis area:
* No water loss from evaporation
* No water spraying where it shouldn't, like on windows
* Drip irrigation systems are totally safe from damage from above, whether intentional or accidental
* No unsightly water on hillsides, walkways or fencing
* A reduced number of water supply valves, which means you need less water flow
* Your particular landscape, with its berms, slopes and flat areas, will dictate the spacing of emitter lines and flow
* Grass roots grow deeper to seek the water, making the lawn more drought resistant, and reducing thatch build-up
Heavy clay soils call for maximum spacing of drip irrigation emitter lines -- approximately 18" from each other. In non-clay soils, closer spacing is more appropriate. However, the closest your lines should ever be is 12", with emitter holes 12" apart from each other. In order to not disturb your emitter lines, be careful to bury them away from areas which will be replanted often.
About the Author:
Learn more about drip irrigation in the St. Louis area . Stop by MPR Supply's site where you can find out all about underground sprinkler systems #2 and what they can do for you.
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