Ideal Bite

When can a dribble turn into a cash flow?

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 08/16/2007 - 1:01am.

The Bite:

When it comes to sprinklers. Outfit your garden with a microdrip irrigation system to reduce the amount of water you use, then watch the cash and time savings flood on in.

The Benefits:

Micro water waste. Microdrip systems use 20%-50% less water than conventional sprinkler systems.
Macro money savings. Microdrip systems cost about a third more than your standard sprinkler system), but once installed, it'll save the average household more than $30 per year.
Bigger plants, faster. The slow, even distribution of water to the roots of your plants helps them grow faster.
Saving time, if you're used to standing in the yard with your hose or running around trying to move your sprinkler (without getting drenched).

Personally Speaking:

Heather's gorgeous rose bushes would like to thank a volunteer stint at EarthPledge and classes at the NY Botanical Gardens for turning her into a microdrip-touting madwoman.

Wanna Try:

DripWorks and The Drip Store - buy drip irrigation systems online.
Drip Watering Made Easy - a free, downloadable handbook covers all the basics.
Visit Your Local Nursery - it'll have the goods and the know-how, and may even offer DIY classes.

Hey Guys, I clicked in here as an extension of today's bite and am getting ready to get rid of TONS of my lawn and put in ground covers and plants and want to switch to drip irrigation for all my beds. (I'm in south florida, we use more water for our lawns than entire countries). I couldn't get the above download you reference on this tip from august 16, 07. Can you help? thanks,Sue PS: I love the new look...

Posted by: Sue | April 06, 2009 at 07:07 AM

Sue, the pdf (and another that looks helpful) is available on the "Support" page of the company's website, but it appears that their links aren't working. You might try contacting Raindrip through their "Contact Us" page here >> (http://www.raindrip.com/cms/index.php/contact/). They might be better able to help you out.

Posted by: Amanda | April 06, 2009 at 07:55 AM

I love the water saving tips!! I would like to mention satellite irrigation as well. As a landscape professional in the midwest, I often see irrigation watering the lawn in the rain quite often. Satellite irrigation uses current weather information, info from the last few days, and weather prediction technology to decide how much water your lawn and landscape requires at that time. No more watering for 20 minutes through the rain, or right before we get rain. The trick is finding someone to set it up properly. www.irrigation.org has tons of certified irrigation professionals to help. I have clients whose satellite systems paid for themselves within 1-2 years of water savings. Find a professional, and don't be afraid to call them and ask to turn the water down if you see that it needs to. p.s. As a professional, if you plant the right plant (or grass), in the right place, irrigation is unneccessary.

Posted by: Laura | April 06, 2009 at 07:56 AM