I'm planning to expand my garden for next year and I'm interested in setting up an irrigation system. I visited a U-pick farm and saw they used what seemed to be a larger diameter fabric hose running along the rows with smaller hoses connected at intervals. There weren't any sprayer heads, just some kind of cap at the end that might also serve for connection purposes. I'm not sure how to get something like that or whether it could connect to a regular garden hose from my house. I want to water directly at the roots instead of spraying over the plants, as I'll be implementing pest control methods that require this type of watering.
3 Answers
It sounds like you're looking for a drip irrigation system, which is a great choice. I set one up last year, and it cost me around £200 including a timer. The main expenses were the timer and about 50m of 13mm hose, while the other parts like drippers and connectors were pretty affordable at about £10 per pack. It definitely beats manual watering!
Totally, I think what you saw is commonly called drip tape.
Check out Toro Drip Tape; it’s what I’m using in central Texas and it works great!
What you need is a drip tape kit! I recommend checking out this [kit here](https://amzn.to/41e3V1u), which I'm currently using. It's crucial to get a complete kit since the parts aren’t interchangeable. You can easily connect it to your faucet with a good timer; I suggest one with two outlets so you can hook up your hose too. Here’s a solid option for that: [this timer](https://amzn.to/3TXS4kn). Remember that drip systems run for a longer duration than sprinklers. To find the right watering time, test it out until the water has soaked 6 inches deep in the soil. Watering deeply yet less frequently is key for healthy plants!
That sounds way cheaper than I expected! I'm not focusing on the timer yet, just want a simpler way to get water straight to the roots for now.