Drip irrigation for a summer residence.

Even experienced summer residents know how difficult it is to care for their garden plot - especially when the summer heat sets in. A lot of time and effort goes into providing watering. Is it possible to optimize this task and somehow speed up the process? Automatic or drip irrigation will help take a good half of the worries off your shoulders, which is quite possible to organize with your own hands. Due to numerous questions on this topic, we decided to write a detailed guide on how to make automatic watering in your dacha with your own hands at minimal cost.

Advantages of automatic watering systems

Before moving on to the construction of the system, it would be a good idea to find out exactly what advantages it has and what benefits it can bring to the gardener.

• Perhaps the most important advantage is that you will have more free time. Now you don’t need to stand with a hose for hours or, for good measure, carry water in buckets. Plants are watered automatically without your participation.
• The second advantage is saving water. Not every dacha has water in abundance, so drip irrigation becomes a real godsend for many gardeners.
• Since water will be supplied regularly, the yield of vegetables and fruits will increase significantly. By the way, the plants themselves will also look much better.
• You can choose the time of watering - for example, in the morning and evening.

Automatic watering has many advantages - convenience comes first

Does the automatic system have any disadvantages?

Unfortunately, there is no ideal irrigation system. Drip irrigation also has certain disadvantages, although compared to the large number of advantages, they are not so significant. The water supply may break, which will lead not only to interruptions in water supply, but also to a complete lack of water in the area.

Naturally, you will need to purchase materials and equipment, and these are already certain expenses. The whole point is that when you set up your dacha with your own hands, you already save money than if you bought a ready-made kit.

There are three main types: drip, sprinkling and root. Each of them will be discussed in detail.

Materials for the automatic watering system “Zhuk”

Sprinkling

When organized according to the sprinkling principle, special nozzles are installed on the site. They spray water, perfectly simulating rain. Hence the name – sprinkling.

Irrigation pipes can be located both underground and above it. If possible, it is better to hide them in the ground. This type of irrigation organization is considered more durable and accurate.

Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of sprinkling. Among the advantages, I would like to note the uniform distribution of moisture throughout the irrigation area, humidification of not only the soil, but also the air. This is a significant advantage when it comes to a greenhouse. Fruits and leaves are perfectly washed with water - a real imitation of rain!

Irrigation system - sprinkling

However, just like after real rain, a crust often forms on the top layer of soil. This impairs the supply of oxygen. A lot of water is consumed, and electricity works under heavy load. It is ideal for large areas, but in other cases it is better to look for another irrigation system due to its inefficiency.

The technology for assembling such a system is as follows. First you will need to draw a diagram and indicate all the buildings and plantings in it. This should be done in the fall, so that already in April-May you can admire a first-class, lush lawn.

Automatic watering assembly (video)

In general terms, to create a sprinkler system you will need a kit consisting of a pumping station, an uninterrupted source of water, a water supply system and sprinklers. There can be many sources of water: central water supply, another body of water, . The pump allows you to maintain the required pressure, and the pipeline is easily assembled from PVC pipes. Why polyvinyl chloride? Such pipes have many advantages. For example, they are easy to assemble and connections with fittings are very reliable. As for the sprinklers themselves, they are purchased with different spray angles. It all depends on the requirements of your site.

When all the components have been purchased, you can begin constructing the trench. Its depth is 30 centimeters. PVC pipes are laid in the trench and assembled into a pipeline. Before digging a trench, check the integrity of the system and its functionality. If everything is stable and working well, you can bury and sow the lawn.

Thus, to arrange a plot with a green lawn, it is best to set up automatic watering, which is called sprinkling.

Let's talk about drip irrigation. The most common drip irrigation system, “Zhuk,” is used for watering shrubby plants. It has also proven itself well in areas where the number of plantings is small. For example, in gardens. The trees are located at a great distance from each other, the crops are planted in parallel. Aboveground or underground location of the system is allowed.

If we talk about the advantages of drip irrigation, economy comes first.

There is no need to buy a pump; water is consumed minimally. But organizing the system can cause certain difficulties for beginners. It is labor intensive. And if the pipeline is located underground, from time to time it will become clogged with debris.

Drip irrigation scheme

Assembling an automatic watering system begins with the purchase of flexible hoses that are easy to pierce. They are pierced with thin tubes and water is supplied to each bush separately. A pump is not required - the pressure that arises due to the water being at a height is quite enough.

Water flows slowly out of thin tubes. It is enough to cover the trees in the garden with hoses once - and the soil will be constantly moist. Do you want to create several irrigation branches at once in your dacha? In this case, you will definitely need a manifold assembly or an assembly of fittings.

Installation of a drip irrigation system (video)

Root irrigation

If your dacha has plants that require special care and the area is limited, we recommend that you pay attention to a kit for organizing root watering. Irrigation is carried out underground. It prevents roots from growing over the surface. The roots begin to strive for a source of moisture and do not climb up. The plant stays in the ground much more firmly.

Let's weigh the pros and cons. Do-it-yourself automatic watering at the dacha itself is quite economical. It does not require powerful water pressure and can work perfectly due to the difference in height between the vessels. Since the entire set is underground, minimal evaporation is guaranteed.

Root watering for grapes

Disadvantages include labor-intensive assembly and the likelihood of system clogging. The organization of root irrigation in an already landscaped area can hardly be called convenient. It is especially not recommended to install such a greenhouse kit when the plants begin to form inflorescences or fruits. A root irrigation system made in the fall will be much preferable.

Since water does not flow to the surface, but directly into the soil, it is better to use this system for irrigating perennial plants.

During the harvest period, they especially need moisture. To increase the efficiency of the system as a whole, sand and gravel are placed in the root zone. A drainage layer is created, like in a flower pot.

The water supply is exactly the same as in previous watering methods. Pipes can be flexible or rigid - it all depends on what exactly you prefer, what kind of soil, plants, and so on.

How to control automatic watering?

Agree, when the irrigation system is fully automated, it is much easier and more pleasant to manage. Unlike the manual method, the computer control method is more expensive, but it quickly pays off with many years of quite comfortable use, a magnificent view of the site and a brilliant harvest.

To install computerized auto-irrigation control, you do not need to have any special knowledge. Humidity sensors are placed in regulated areas. As soon as the ground becomes dry, they signal the central computer that it is time to water. You can do without sensors. Simply set up automatic water supply at specified intervals and the garden will be watered at a certain frequency. For example, every day at 7 am or every 2 days at 18.00. Each device has its own specific installation instructions, so we will not describe them in detail.

Interestingly, some modern models can be controlled using a mobile phone and the Internet. That is, being several tens of kilometers from your dacha, you pick up your phone, launch the mobile application - and water starts flowing through the pipes!

Drawing conclusions

Automatic watering system at the dacha – useful and effective innovation that requires certain financial, time and labor investments. However, connecting an automatic system quickly pays off. You can turn to professionals or assemble it yourself.

We advise you to think about the functionality in advance - fortunately, the modern market has many options and a rich set of components for each specific case. We hope you found this article helpful - ask questions!

Automatic watering system - once you invest and have a well-deserved rest!

By installing drip irrigation with your own hands, you can significantly speed up ripening and get a wonderful harvest of vegetables, berries, fruits, and significantly save money. Every gardener knows the benefits of moisturizing the roots of a plant. A self-created drip irrigation system will ensure uniform distribution of water and fertilizer to all plantings on the site.

There are several types of self-assembly of this kind of structures. It is enough to familiarize yourself with them and make a choice of the appropriate option for a particular area.

For those who want to install drip irrigation on their own and want to save money, it will be enough to purchase only the necessary components or select analogues from improvised means, without spending a penny on parts, depending on the structure being installed, since there are several types of irrigation systems.

How to install an irrigation system in the form of drip irrigation in a summer cottage?

Before you begin to independently install a structure for drip humidification of something, you need to take into account the volume of water reserves in the bucket; it should be enough to fully charge the siphon.

The siphon is a vertical arc-shaped pipe installed in such a way that one end is open to transmit water and is immersed in a tank of water, and the other end is connected to the pipeline of this irrigation system. The height of the siphon depends on the volume of the tank and the water intended for watering the plants.

Through the siphon, water is driven by the last portion of liquid raised from the bucket to the upper level of the siphon.

The photo shows how the liquid from the tank flows through the irrigation water supply until the levels in the tank and at the end of the siphon are equal. You can regulate the speed of water supply to the tank using a tap.

From the tank, the liquid enters the distribution system, which consists of hoses, a watering pipeline with a certain size of holes for spraying water.

During the installation of drip irrigation, you can form different shapes, for example, ring shapes for irrigating shrubs or trees. Simple rectangular systems for watering beds are made from ordinary pipes.

To regulate watering, a special subsystem design is used, which consists of a rain valve, a lever, a pusher, a tank cover and a spring.

In order for the valve to work, it is necessary to carefully make a special recess on the tank lid, where rainwater will collect, which will act as a load at a certain moment.

To fit onto the pins of the tank cover, holes are drilled along its edges.

The recess on the lid should be of such a size that, on the one hand, the weight of the collected rainwater is sufficient to close the valve, and on the other hand, so that after the rain, when the water evaporates, which is about a day later, the lid can be lifted by a spring, and the valve was able to reopen.

In the process of installing a drip irrigation system, it is necessary to correctly attach the pusher, the upper end of which should be attached to the tank lid, and the lower end to the lever.

An emergency subsystem cup is installed on the pusher. The principle of creation and operation of a rain valve is similar to the function of a float valve in a sanitary cistern.

It is known that the rate of moisture extraction from the soil depends on the depth of the root system relative to the ground surface.

The deeper the roots are, the lower the rate of water being extracted. Experience shows that roots extract at least 40% of precious moisture from the upper layers of the soil.

Plants with the most developed surface roots may die during drought. The main number of roots are located in the soil layers at a depth of 20-25 cm.

When installing your own drip irrigation system design, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of planting and growth of the root systems of grown plants.

The emergency subsystem mechanism includes a cup and an emergency drain valve. After filling the tank with water, the glass is filled, which should close the valve, which in turn will block the flow of water into the tank.

The valve should open from water pressure after its level rises above the top edge of the glass.

When making calculations with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account the value of the given pressure, and with the help of a spring and a fitting, create a certain force in the rod. If the set pressure limit is exceeded, the rod moves to the right.

The operating principle is as follows:

At the moment when the ball retainer moves to the side up to the annular groove, the balls fall into this groove under the influence of the spring, thereby fixing the rod and opening the way for fluid to enter the distribution network through the valve.

In the video you can see the stages of installing drip irrigation for your dacha with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself automated watering system

You can create an automated drip irrigation system thanks to a simple scheme, with the help of which at a given time every day, without human intervention, the irrigation system will start and turn off.

In this drip irrigation design, a hose with through holes is connected to the pump. These holes in the hose can be made with a hot awl. Through such holes, water will be distributed freely and it will not be afraid of congestion. The distance between the holes should be within 30-35 cm of each other. A hose with holes made according to the design is laid across the area. To avoid clogging, it is necessary to place pieces of boards in several places.

To set the system startup time, the pump power must be taken into account. The data is recorded using a circuit to automatically start the pump. This type of drip irrigation system will allow the owner to visit the dacha only once a week, since the irrigation of the beds will be carried out independently by this design.

This drip irrigation option is beneficial for lawn grass. After all, its root system is located at a depth of about 15 cm and in the heat, constant watering of lawns is necessary, otherwise there is a possibility of the top layer of soil drying out quickly, which leads to the death of plants. And the costs of a new lawn are quite high. Using the example of lawn grass, which is most susceptible to the harmful effects of wind and sun, it is clear where the soil dries out most quickly, and the benefits of regular and systematic watering are visible.

What problems can arise in the operation of drip irrigation systems?

It is known from practice that with an economical supply, it may happen that all the water flows out in the first sections of the system, but may not reach the outer sections.

And in the case of strong pressure of water pumped from a well, there may be an overconsumption of it, and as a result, waterlogging of the soil. This problem can be solved by purchasing a special dispenser in the store or making a similar dispenser with your own hands from an ordinary plastic bottle, using the principle of the toilet flush system and connecting it at the junction of the distribution pipes with the liquid supply point. Using this device, you can regulate the rate of water supply both to the beds and to individual plants.

What materials can be used to make droppers?

An important role in the irrigation system is played by drippers that are installed on water supply pipes, since through them water is supplied to the root system of plants.

To save money when creating a drip irrigation system with your own hands, you can use plastic elements from medical blood transfusion systems as droppers for irrigation.

Providing water to plants and plantings is one of the concerns of homeowners. Some water the vegetable beds, some water the flower beds and lawns, and some need to provide water for the garden. In any case, the procedure takes quite a lot of time. But that’s not all: with the usual method, a crust forms on the surface, which prevents plants from developing, so you have to loosen the soil. All these problems can be solved by drip watering the plants. You can buy ready-made kits, order turnkey development and installation, or you can do everything yourself. This article will discuss how to make drip irrigation yourself.

Operating principle and varieties

This technology was tested several decades ago. Its results were so impressive that the system became widespread. The basic idea is that water is supplied to the roots of the plants. There are two ways:

• poured onto the surface near the stem;
• fed underground into the root formation zone.

The first method is easier to install, the second is more expensive: you need a special hose or drip tape for underground installation, and a decent amount of excavation work. For temperate climates there is not much difference - both methods work well. But in regions with very hot summers, underground installation has shown itself to be better: less water evaporates and more of it gets to the plants.

There are gravity systems - they require a water tank installed at a height of at least 1.5 meters, there are systems with stable pressure. They have a pump and a control group - pressure gauges and valves that create the required force. There is completely. In its simplest form, it is a valve with a timer that opens the water supply for a specified period of time. More sophisticated systems can monitor the flow of each water supply line separately, testing soil moisture and sensing the weather. These systems operate under the guidance of processors; operating modes can be set from the control panel or computer.

Advantages and disadvantages

Drip irrigation has many advantages and all of them are significant:

• Labor intensity is significantly reduced. The system can be fully automated, but even in the simplest version, irrigation requires literally a few minutes of your attention.
• Reduced water consumption. This happens due to the fact that moisture is supplied only to the roots, other zones are excluded.
• Eliminates the need for frequent loosening. With a dosed supply of water to a small area, a crust does not form on the soil; accordingly, it does not need to be broken.
• Plants develop better and productivity increases. Due to the fact that water is supplied to one zone, the root system develops in this place. It has a larger number of fine roots, becomes more lumpy, and absorbs moisture faster. All this contributes to rapid growth and more abundant fruiting.
• It is possible to organize root feeding. Moreover, fertilizer consumption due to point supply is also minimal.

The economic efficiency of drip irrigation systems has been proven many times, even on an industrial scale. In private greenhouses and vegetable gardens, the effect will be no less significant: the cost of creating the system can be reduced to a small amount, but all the advantages will remain.

There are also disadvantages, but there are very few of them:

• For normal operation water filtration required, and these are additional costs. The system can function without filters, but then it is necessary to consider a purge/rinse system to remove blockages.
• Drippers become clogged over time and require cleaning or replacement.
• If thin-walled tapes are used, they may be damaged by birds, insects or rodents. Places of unplanned water consumption arise.
• The device requires an investment of time and money.
• Periodic maintenance required— blow out the pipes or clean the droppers, check the fastening of the hoses, change the filters.

As you can see, the list of shortcomings is quite long, but all of them are not very serious. This is a really useful thing in the garden, garden, flower bed or.

Components and layout options

Drip irrigation systems can be organized using any water source. A well, borehole, river, lake, centralized water supply, even rainwater in tanks will do. The main thing is that there is enough water.

A main pipeline is connected to the source, which supplies water to the irrigation site. Then it goes along one side of the irrigated area and is muffled at the end.

Opposite the beds, tees are inserted into the pipeline, to the side outlet of which drip hoses (pipes) or tapes are attached. They have special droppers through which water is supplied to the plants.

It is advisable to install a filter or filter system between the outlet of the source and the first branch onto the bed. They are not needed if the system is powered from the home water supply. If you pump water from a lake, river, rainwater tank, filters are required: there can be a lot of contaminants and the system will clog too often. The types of filters and their number are determined depending on the condition of the water.

Drip hoses

Hoses for drip irrigation are sold in coils from 50 to 1000 meters. They already have built-in water flow points: labyrinths through which water flows before entering the outlet. These oozing hoses provide the same amount of water throughout the entire line, regardless of the terrain. Due to this labyrinth, the flow rate at any irrigation point is almost the same.

They differ in the following characteristics:

• • Tube stiffness. Drip hoses can be hard or soft. The soft ones are called tapes, the hard ones are called hoses. Hard ones can be used for up to 10 seasons, soft ones - up to 3-4. Tapes are:
    • Thin-walled - with a wall thickness of 0.1-0.3 mm. They are laid only on the surface, their service life is 1 season.
    • Thick-walled tapes have a wall of 0.31-0.81 mm, service life - up to 3-4 seasons, available for both above-ground and underground installation.

Watering can be organized using tapes or hoses

The maximum length of the irrigation line is determined so that the unevenness of the water output at the beginning and end of the line does not exceed 10-15%. For hoses it can be 1500 meters, for tapes - 600 meters. For private use, such values ​​are not in demand, but it is useful to know)).

Droppers

Sometimes it is more convenient to use droppers rather than tapes. These are separate devices that are inserted into a hole in the hose and through which water is supplied to the root of the plant. They can be installed in arbitrary increments - put several pieces in one place, and then several in another. This is convenient when organizing drip irrigation of shrubs or trees.

There are two types - with standardized (constant) and controlled water release. The body is usually plastic; on one side there is a fitting, which is inserted with force into the hole made in the hose (sometimes rubber rings are used for sealing).

There are also compensated and uncompensated droppers. When using compensated ones at any point in the irrigation line, the water release will be the same (approximately), regardless of the terrain and location (at the beginning or end of the line).

There are also spider-type devices. This is when several thin tubes are connected to one output. This makes it possible to simultaneously water several plants from one water outlet point (the number of droppers is reduced).

Spider-type dripper - you can water several plants from one water distribution point

Main pipes and fittings

When creating a system for laying a main pipeline from a water source to an irrigation zone, plastic pipes and fittings are used from:

• polypropylene (PPR);
• polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
• polyethylene:
  • high pressure (HPP);
  • low pressure (LPP).

All these pipes tolerate contact with water well, do not corrode, are chemically neutral and do not react to the application of fertilizers. For watering a small greenhouse, vegetable garden, or lawn, a diameter of 32 mm is most often used.

Main pipes are plastic. Choose any specific type: PPR, HDPE, LDPE, PVC

In places where the lines are drained, tees are installed, to the side outlet of which a drip hose or tape is connected. Since they are smaller in diameter, adapters may be needed, and their outer diameter should be equal to the inner diameter of the hose (or be slightly smaller). You can attach tapes/hoses to fittings using metal clamps.

Bends can also be made through special fittings, which are installed in a hole of the required diameter made in the hose (as in the photo above).

Sometimes, after the tee, a tap is installed on each water distribution line, which allows you to turn off the lines. This is convenient if drip irrigation is used for moisture-loving plants and those that do not like excess water.

If you don’t feel like choosing components and selecting sizes and diameters of fittings, you can buy ready-made ones from various manufacturers.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation: examples of devices

There are many options for designing the system - it easily adapts to any conditions. Most often the question arises about how to organize watering independent of electricity. This can be done if you install a sufficiently large water container at a height of at least 1.5 meters. This creates a minimum pressure of approximately 0.2 atm. It is enough to water a small area of ​​a vegetable garden or garden.

Water can be supplied to the container from a water supply system, pumped by a pump, drained from roofs, or even poured into buckets. A tap is made at the bottom of the container, to which the main pipeline is connected. Next, the system is standard: a filter (or a cascade of filters) is installed on the pipeline up to the first branch on the irrigation line, and then there is distribution to the beds.

For the convenience of introducing fertilizers on the highway, it is possible to install a special unit. In the simplest case, as in the photo above, it can be a container on legs, in the bottom of which a hole is made and a hose is inserted. A shut-off valve (faucet) is also needed. This cuts into the pipeline through a tee.

If necessary, you can water both shrubs and fruit trees. The whole difference is that the tape or hose is laid around the trunk at some distance. One line is allocated for each tree; bushes can be watered several times on one line. Only in this case you need to use a regular hose into which to insert droppers with the required water flow.

If low pressure in the system does not suit you, you can install (see photo below) or a full-fledged one on the main water supply. They will provide water even to far-flung areas.

Can water be supplied directly from the source? It is possible, but not advisable. And this is not due to technical difficulties - there are not many of them, but to the fact that plants do not like cold water. That is why most small-scale drip irrigation systems - for greenhouses, vegetable gardens, orchards and vineyards - use storage tanks. The water is heated in them and then distributed throughout the area.

Drip irrigation: how to calculate the system

There can be one container from which water is supplied to the system - common, as in the picture above, or separate for each area. If there is a significant distance between irrigation objects, this may be more profitable than pulling a main pipeline.

The required volume is calculated depending on the number of plants and the volume of water for their normal development. How much water is needed to water vegetables depends on the climate and soil. On average, you can take 1 liter per plant, 5 liters for bushes and 10 liters for trees. But this is the same as the “average temperature in the hospital,” although it is suitable for approximate calculations. You count the number of plants, multiply by the consumption per day, and add everything up. Add 20-25% of the reserve to the resulting figure and you know the required volume of capacity.

There are no problems with calculating the length of the main line and drip hoses. The main line is the distance from the tap on the tank to the ground, then along the ground to the watering site, and then along the end side of the beds. By adding up all these lengths, the required length of the main pipeline is obtained. The length of the tubes depends on the length of the beds and on whether water will be distributed to one or two rows from one tube (for example, using spider drippers you can distribute water for two to four rows at the same time).

The number of tees or fittings and taps (if you install them) is determined by the number of pipes. For each branch using tees, take three clamps: press the hose to the fitting.

The most difficult and expensive part is the filters. If water is pumped from an open source - a lake or river - you first need a coarse filter - gravel. Then there should be fine filters. Their type and quantity depend on the condition of the water. When using water from a well or a well, you do not need to install a coarse filter: primary filtration occurs on the suction hose (if used). In general, there are as many cases as there are solutions, but filters are needed, otherwise the droppers will quickly clog.

Homemade drip hoses and droppers

One of the most significant costs when constructing a system from ready-made components yourself is droppers or drip tapes. They, of course, provide the same amount of water throughout and the flow rate is stable, but in small areas this is not necessary. You can regulate the supply and flow rate using taps built into the beginning of the irrigation line. Therefore, there are many ideas that allow you to distribute water to plants using ordinary hoses. Watch one of them in the video.

It is difficult to call this system drip irrigation. This is more of a root watering: water is supplied in a stream under the root, but it works, perhaps only a little worse and is more suitable for plants with a root system developed deeper. This method will be good for trees, fruit bushes, and grapes. They require a significant amount of water, which must go deep into a decent distance, and this homemade drip irrigation system can provide this.

In the second video, real drip irrigation is organized. This was done using medical droppers. If you have the opportunity to stock up on used material, it will turn out to be very cheap.

The amount of water supplied is controlled by a wheel. From one hose you can supply water to three or four rows - if you take a hose of sufficient diameter, you can connect not three devices to it, but more. The length of the tubes from the drippers allows watering two rows on each side. So the costs will really be small.

Droppers can be used almost without modification. This is the case if the system had a bag. An example is in the photo.

Waste into income - watering for young plants is provided

It is almost also possible to do drip irrigation for house plants. It is suitable for those flowers that love constant moisture.

Constantly moistening your flowers on the balcony? Easily! Watering from a drip

The cheapest drip irrigation: from plastic bottles

There is the cheapest and fastest way to organize water supply to plants without hoses and large containers. You will only need plastic bottles and small lengths - 10-15 cm - thin tubes.

Partially cut off the bottom of the bottles. So that you get a lid from the bottom. This way the water will not evaporate. But you can cut off the bottom completely. At a distance of 7-8 cm from the cap, make a hole in the bottle into which a thin tube is inserted at a slight angle. Bury the bottle with the cork down or tie it to a peg, and stick the peg into the ground next to the plant, pointing the tube towards the root. If there is water in the bottle, it will run down the tube and drip under the plant.

The same design can be made by turning the bottle upside down. But this option is less convenient: it is more difficult to pour water, you will need a watering can. What this looks like, see the figure below.

As you can see, there is a second option for drip irrigation from plastic bottles. A wire is stretched over the bed, and bottles with holes in the bottom or lid are tied to it.

There is another photo option for using bottles, but with standard droppers for watering. They are fixed to the neck of the bottles and in this form are installed under the bush.

This option, of course, is not ideal, but it will give the plants the opportunity to develop better if you can rarely visit the dacha. And two liters from a bottle can be decisive in the battle for the harvest.

Watering a garden for a summer resident is often a process that takes a lot of time and effort. In this regard, today a lot of ways have been invented to make it easier, up to complete automation. There are both traditional methods of irrigation and watering, as well as ready-made systems manufactured in industrial conditions. Let's look at them in more detail, and also decide which of them are suitable for use on a summer cottage. A do-it-yourself watering system at the dacha can be made using one of the methods we described.

Drip irrigation system for tomatoes - a practical solution

Classification of irrigation systems

To decide on the choice of a country waterer, you should know the strengths and weaknesses of each type of device. There are a wide variety of types of sprinklers, sprinklers and sprinklers on the market. We have divided all modern irrigation systems that can be done by hand into three types:

1. Drip. Such a system supplies moisture to each plant in small portions, precisely maintaining the required level of humidity at the roots. It is one of the most economical because it does not allow too much liquid to be released, which also has a beneficial effect on plants. Its disadvantage is the need for regular preventive maintenance - cleaning the IVs and the system as a whole.
2. Subsoil. This type of irrigation allows you to supply moisture directly to the roots of plants, which makes watering more efficient and economical.
3. Splashing. This system is also called “sprinkling”, which explains the principle of its operation. Using special devices, water is sprayed over the plants. In some types of watering systems, the water-spraying tip rotates around its axis, which allows for the most uniform watering. Used on lawns and large flower beds. It is rarely used in vegetable beds, since it waters not only the plants, but also the spaces between the rows, and can also touch the paths.

Before organizing an irrigation system, you should consider the location of the beds, the types of plants that need irrigation, as well as the location of the paths. Otherwise, you will soon have to dismantle and re-lay the pipes. It should be remembered that it is advisable to water flowers and lawns using sprinkler systems, vegetables - at the root, and a drip system is optimal for grapes.

Automatic watering with your own hands

Scheme of automatic watering in a greenhouse with the necessary materials

Irrigation systems are also classified according to the method of water supply. There are automatic and manual watering. The first one works according to a pre-defined algorithm, which can be changed by the owner as necessary. For example, water will begin to flow at a certain time, or its flow will be subject to the readings of the soil moisture sensor. The second involves direct outside intervention. If the owner decides that the garden needs watering, all he needs to do is open the valve.

However, automatic water supply is still more convenient to use, so before installing an irrigation system, it is worth considering the possibility of using automation, especially since it is not difficult to build it yourself. The simplest way to automatically turn on the pump is a timer. There are sockets combined with a timer.

If you need to water your garden or flower beds every day, you can use a daily timer. That is, every day at the same time at the dacha the pump will turn on. If you need to run the irrigation system from time to time, it is better to use a weekly timer.

Also, an automatic irrigation scheme can be organized if there is a centralized water supply. Then you will need additional equipment - a valve with a built-in timer. Typically, automatic watering is used to turn on the sprinkler. However, with some effort it can be adapted for other irrigation systems. For example, watering grapes involves daily moistening of the roots, which is quite difficult to arrange with large volumes of vines, but the drip method is optimal.

Features of drip irrigation

You can arrange drip watering of plants at your dacha for little money, since this type of irrigation is quite inexpensive. First, you need to decide how water will be supplied to the irrigation system. The process can be carried out from a water supply, or from a container in which irrigation liquid is stored. More details about drip irrigation:,.

If round-the-clock irrigation is required, it is advisable to use a container with water from which the liquid will flow uninterruptedly. However, it is necessary to ensure that there is always water in the tank. If you decide to use a water supply system, into which water is supplied at certain hours, it turns out that the plants will be irrigated only during these periods of time. If the water supply system operates around the clock, it is worth installing a valve with a timer at the inlet of the system, which will shut off the water from time to time. Next, let's look at ways to supply water to the garden:

1. Drip tape. An extremely convenient watering device, but it must be used correctly. The tape is laid in the garden along the row with vegetables so that the water from it flows directly to the plants. If there are several rows, you can use a splitter, which is mounted at the beginning of the bed. It will help to optimally distribute the parts of the tape.
2. Hose with holes. This is a DIY analogue of a watering tape. A hose made of hard material is suitable for it, which will allow you to make holes in it. Then it is used in the same way as the prototype - tape.
3. Instead of a watering hose, you can use small-diameter PVC pipes. It is convenient to make holes in them using a hot awl.

Underground irrigation device

Root irrigation has an undoubted advantage over other types - it is the most economical, that is, it reduces water costs by half compared to ground irrigation. However, it is more difficult to arrange, and it is also suitable for those areas where constant digging of the soil is not required. In this regard, it is used for watering shrubs, grapes, and fruit trees.

To install an underground irrigation system, you will need crushed stone as well as a plastic pipe. All work is carried out when plants are being planted at the dacha. The sequence is as follows:

• when digging a hole for a seedling, you should make it deeper and wider - each of these parameters must be increased by 30cm;
• pour crushed stone into the hole to a height of 20 cm;
• install a pipe at the edge of the pit so that it penetrates 10 cm into the crushed stone, and part of it protrudes above the ground level (15-25 cm long);
• pour soil onto the crushed stone to a height of 10 cm;
• plant the plant as required by the planting conditions;
• plug the end of the pipe with a temporary plug to prevent debris from getting into it.

Water the plant by directing the stream from the hose directly into the hole in the pipe. Savings are achieved due to the fact that water goes directly to the roots of the plant and does not moisten the soil on the surface.

Classic sprinkling

This sprayer covers different areas depending on the position of the faucet handle.

Sprinklers can be mounted to water any plants. This type of irrigation is the least economical, but there are many options for its construction. Sprinklers work successfully in strawberry beds, in vegetable gardens, in areas with fruit trees and shrubs. If a lawn is planted under a tree, the sprinkler will water the grass at the same time.

You can make a stationary and portable sprinkler on your site with your own hands. Let's look at the differences between both types:

1. When using a stationary type of sprinkler, the pipes through which water is supplied are supplied directly to the irrigation site. They can be underground and located in the soil at a depth of 30-40 cm, or above ground. In those places where sprinklers will be installed, pipe sections are installed vertically. At their ends, sprinklers spraying water are fixed.
2. A portable sprinkler is built on the basis of a hose on which a sprinkler is mounted. These sprinklers are simply placed in the right places in the garden.

A filter for a drip irrigation system will keep the pipes clean longer

Beginners often make mistakes when organizing irrigation systems. We have collected recommendations from experts that will help many avoid disappointment:

1. Drip type. The drip irrigation system is quite demanding on water quality. In this regard, it is advisable to install a filter at its input. Otherwise, the holes through which water is supplied to the plants will regularly become clogged with scale and other debris. When installing a drip system, it is necessary to test it and select droppers with optimal flow rates. According to those who use this type of irrigation at their dacha, it is quite economical and does not require a large investment. You can reduce the cost of the design even further by installing it yourself or using plastic bottles.
2. Radical. It is very important to know how much water is needed for each type of plant, for which you should study the norms for your region. For example, in a southern area, a five-year-old tree needs 4 buckets of water every 7 days. Automatic watering for root irrigation is rarely used. However, its installation will be justified if you need to care for a large garden with many fruit trees and bushes.
3. Sprinkling. Sprinklers require careful installation. It is important that the ground under the sprinkler is moistened, but do not allow excess moisture. Otherwise, the roots of the plants will rot, which will lead to their death. Note that this method of moisturizing is used much more widely than it might seem. For example, if you install a sprinkler under a tree, jets of water will wash away dust and insects from its crown and water the lawn located there at the same time.

We have described standard ways to organize watering a garden. If desired, you can combine them and implement your own solutions into the system. The result of your efforts will certainly please you - the plants in the garden will appreciate the care. At the same time, the owner will have more free time, which he can spend on a pleasant rest in the yard of his own home.