Small Garden Irrigation Ideas
- Use a sprinkler to irrigate a small garden.Crop sprinkler image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
Small gardens are easily irrigated, with either an installed or a moveable system of applying water to the plants. Gardeners with very small gardens may need to use only a hand watering can or large bucket to supply the irrigation their plants need. - Although generally considered for use on turf lawns, overhead sprinklers effectively irrigate small gardens as well. A simple ring-shaped, or "doughnut" sprinkler emits a fountain-like waterfall from the holes spaced on the top and sides of the doughnut. Decorative sprinklers in whimsical shapes mount atop short metal poles and, when connected to a garden hose, disperse water only a short distance, suitable for use in a small garden.
- Position a soaker hose--similar to a regular garden hose but with holes all along its length--on the ground near the base of the plants. Connect the back end of the soaker hose to a garden hose. The water travels the length of the hose, seeping from the holes along its length, watering the roots of the plants. Soaker hoses are more efficient than sprinklers, as very little water evaporates. Once placed in a small garden and covered with mulch, the soaker hose remains in place for the entire growing season. Simply disconnect the garden hose when you are not watering to keep it out of the way.
- Install a simple drip irrigation system in a small garden using a do-it-yourself kit. Dig small trenches for the feed lines or lay them on the soil, depending on the model. Connect the emitters and attach the entry point to a garden hose or spigot, depending on the specifications of the kit manufacturer. Some models can be removed in severe winter areas, and others can be left in place in even the northernmost gardens.
