Over the last few years we have slowly got used to the obligatory heat wave in the German summer. Some people love the warmth, others whine, but regardless of whether the people are happy, the gardens are hard hit by such periods of drought.
However, devising an efficient irrigation system for the garden in advance can save time and panic when the heat hits us.
Water sprinklers – now also technical
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The classic method to irrigate larger areas are water sprinklers. They are available in small sizes so that they can be hidden in beds, but also as large stands that can be rotated to cover additional areas. The simplest system is only to connect Sprenger to the tap, so that it always blows when the tap is turned on. Gardeners with an affinity for equipment can also connect timers to the hoses, which are preprogrammed every week so that beds are always watered at the same time and for the same length of time. Even more complicated devices are equipped with sensors that measure the soil moisture and thus determine whether further irrigation is necessary.
The cheap hose variant
For those who do not want to spend a lot of money on their garden irrigation system, there are also quite effective options for DIY without losing much of their convenience. One of the easiest options is mainly using hoses. Cut these into suitable lengths – with cheap hoses without hose nozzles at the ends, hose points can be used to either couple two hose parts together or to attach one end of the hose to the faucet – and then just pierce holes in the top of the hose at the points where watering is to be carried out . When the tap is turned on, the water sprays on the plants.
For the sensitive plant
While such semi-automated procedures are practical and save time, some plants are too sensitive to thrive in such a unit system. Tomato plants, for example, do not like direct water, so they should not be watered from above, and also have different water requirements depending on the growth stage. For such cases, the faithful watering can is a good choice, which allows you to use water to your liking.
It is particularly environmentally friendly to immerse the watering can in the rain barrel – if it is not already dried out.
Be thrifty
For the sake of the environment, hobby gardeners are encouraged to think twice about whether the lawn needs to be pretty green. Withered yellowish grass is not a pretty sight, but lawns need a lot of water to keep them green in the rainless summer – and as soon as it rains properly again, the lawn recovers. The irrigation water should be prioritized for the more susceptible plants and crops. In addition, watering at the roots in the morning and directly on the ground helps to save water.
