| Vegetable gardening is different than general lawn | | | | as soaker hoses: place alongside the row of |
| care. Overhead sprinklers work well for watering | | | | vegetables just a couple of inches from the base |
| grass but vegetable gardens benefit much more | | | | of the plants. |
| from an in-ground irrigation system that delivers | | | | Drip emitter systems are water outlet heads |
| the water directly to the plants' roots. Of the | | | | which are connected to feeder hoses |
| three methods discussed here, two don't even | | | | underground. They basically act like an |
| require any tools for installation. All can be left in | | | | underground sprinkler. The water seeps out of |
| place for the entire growing season and one of | | | | the emitter outlet head at a slow rate and |
| them can be left in place all year long. | | | | saturates the soil. |
| Soaker hoses are fibrous hoses, kind of like a | | | | Drip emitter feeder lines are installed by driving a |
| wire strainer, that allow water to seep out along | | | | flat spade into the soil, wiggling it back and forth |
| the entire length. They are primarily made of | | | | and laying the feeder line into the resulting |
| ground up, recycled automobile tires. These usually | | | | "trench." The water emitter head is then attached |
| work best when gardening with the traditional row | | | | to one end of the feeder hose. The other end of |
| method. | | | | the feeder hose is attached to the main line |
| Lay a soaker hose about 3 to 4 inches from the | | | | coming from the spigot. The feeder hose is then |
| base of the plants. You can bury them in mulch | | | | buried in the trench simply by stepping on the soil |
| and leave them in the garden until the end of the | | | | or sod with your foot. |
| growing season. Lay all or part of one soaker | | | | Each emitter waters an area of several square |
| hose in each row of your garden, then wind it | | | | feet; this distance varies with the manufacturer |
| around to the next row, space and length | | | | of the irrigation system. They are available as kits, |
| permitting. For installing multiple soaker hoses, use | | | | as well as ala carte. You can leave these in the |
| a hose coupler that allows you to attach two | | | | ground all year round. This type of irrigation |
| soaker hoses to the spigot. | | | | system is best for intensive vegetable gardens, |
| Drip irrigation tapes are essentially flat garden | | | | annual or perennial flower gardens, trees and |
| hoses with a series of holes all along their length. | | | | shrubs. |
| If you get the kind that are | | | | Soil-borne disease organisms can be splashed onto |
| pressure-compensating, you won't need to install a | | | | the leaves of the plants when using sprinklers. |
| flow regulator at the spigot. Without either of | | | | Irrigation systems reduce the possibility of pests |
| these, the water pressure can cause the hose to | | | | and diseases attacking garden vegetables because |
| burst before the water reaches the end of the | | | | they deliver water directly to the roots. |
| hose. Use drip irrigation tapes in the same manner | | | | |