Master Gardeners are part of a network of not-for-profit associations across North America. Members share a common interest – a passion for gardening and a willingness to share (at no cost) environmentally responsible gardening knowledge within their communities.Operating under the umbrella of the British Columbia Master Gardeners, the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners chapter was established in 2010 and its members have volunteered 10,000 plus hours throughout the Thompson Shuswap region.
How many times have you meant to turn the sprinkler on when it was your day to water? It’s frustrating to find out that you forgot. But there is something that you can do to make sure that does not happen and to ensure that you are also saving water while growing healthier plants.
You can accomplish this by using drip irrigation with a timer. Drip irrigation uses less water than overhead watering. According to Lee Valley Tools you can save from 25 percent to 70 percent on water usage. You can set the days and the times that you want the system to turn on and for how long each time. The City of Kamloops Water Use Regulations change depending on the drought level. The website currently states that the preferred time for automated irrigation is 12–7 a.m. Irrigation is not permitted between 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Some of the benefits of automated drip irrigation instead of overhead watering are:
- A reduction of fungal diseases, such as black spot on roses and late blight on tomatoes
- Doesn’t need to be moved every 30 minutes like a sprinkler
- Reduction of blossom end rot on tomatoes from irregular watering.
By using a moisture meter to check the root zone you can fine-tune your watering schedule even further
Well-watered plants will produce more fruits, vegetables, and flowers
A drip irrigation system can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. The basic system components you will need starting at your water source are:
- Manual On-Off or Timer (available with WIFI)
- Screen or Disk Filter
- Pressure Regulator
- Back Flow Prevention Component
- Swivel Adapter
Onto this add 0.5” mainline tubing to get your water to your garden area and then customize your system depending on whether you are setting up a system for an inground garden, raised bed, hanging basket or container garden.
For an inground garden you would add mainline connectors to your drip tape (flat tubing that expands when filled with water) from the mainline tubing. Having shutoffs on your connectors allows you to isolate a garden area. At the end of your drip tape you will need end caps. You may need drip tape elbows for 90-degree corners as well as tees. There are several sizes / thicknesses of drip tape but 5/8” is common with 8” or 12” drip spacing. A punch tool, tubing hold down stakes (metal staples) and goof plugs (to fix a mistake) are also needed.
Raised bed gardens may need a tubing mounting clamp and self-piercing drip emitters to customize your solid drip tubing
For hanging baskets full circle sprayers, 0.25” tubing and barbed connectors may be used.
Kits are available and contain everything you will need for your specific project type. Timers are usually not included.
Your local drip irrigation specialist (Delta Water or Southern Irrigation) can help you put your system together. YouTube can assist you with the installation.
When a cactus grows in your garden without any help, listen to what it has to say.
Valerie Boyda is a Master Gardener with the Thompson Shuswap Master Gardeners. She lives west of Kamloops with her husband and two cats on the north shore of the Thompson River. She loves gardening, photography and fishing and has a keen interest in regenerative landscaping with native plants and trees