Sprinklers, which spray water into the air where it is easily evaporated or lost to the wind, are inherently inefficient. They spread water over large areas, regardless of whether there are roots ...

I do not like drip systems, especially those placed underneath landscape fabric or a layer of mulch. You can’t see what is happening and you will lose plants before you discover you have a problem. I ...

Last spring, my mom set up her garden with drip irrigation. Even though she has a sizable yard filled with vegetables, ...

Tackling that confusing, intimidating and frightening maze of pipes running under your lawn and throughout your garden beds doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Contra Costa Master Gardener Steve Griffin ...

Drip irrigation applies water through small holes called emitters in a network of hoses or pipes rather than through broadcasting sprinklers or hoses. It delivers the water more closely to the root ...

The gardener who can do a thorough job of watering with hose in hand is rare indeed. Assuming that the hose spews out about 3 gallons per minute in a circle about 4 feet in diameter, I roughly ...

With a second year of below-normal rainfall, California is sliding into another drought cycle. Here in the north valley, total rainfall for the current Water Year (October 2020 through March 2021) ...

The gardener who can do a thorough job of watering with hose in hand is rare indeed. Assuming that the hose spews out about 3 gallons per minute in a circle about 4 feet in diameter, I roughly ...

As your drip irrigation system ages, you need to check regularly for problems, particularly if the system is more than five years old. Over time those little emitters and tubes can start popping off ...

The performance of drip irrigation systems is critically influenced by clogging mechanisms that reduce hydraulic efficiency and compromise water distribution uniformity. Sediment deposition, calcium ...

Drip irrigation systems are probably the most efficient for our climate, but they do require some periodic maintenance. It’s pretty easy to do this maintenance yourself, and it won’t take long. It ...