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Do-it-yourself watering systems for the garden. Irrigation system at the dacha: which option is better to organize with your own hands? Drip irrigation design mistakes

In order for vegetation to grow and develop normally, it needs moisture. However, the weather conditions are often not pleasant with their surprises - scorching sunny days are replaced by torrential rains. Doing drip irrigation with your own hands is one of the best options for organizing an irrigation system in a suburban area.

This is a solution with numerous advantages. Do-it-yourself drip irrigation for a summer residence does not require the regular presence of a person, which is very important for those who travel out of town exclusively on weekends. Therefore, many owners of suburban areas are interested in the question of how to do it?

A person who does not have special knowledge and experience can create drip irrigation with their own hands for a summer residence. This system is very economical and has earned many positive reviews due to its undeniable advantages:

water is not overused, since the plants are irrigated locally;
the level of moisture in the soil can be adjusted;
the number of weeds is reduced;
the balance of air and water is maintained in the soil;
the root system is fed and watered synchronously;
there is no need for constant monitoring;
minimal energy consumption;
gives plants resistance to fungal processes;
it is much easier to grow garden plants.

After the drip irrigation system was invented, it gained great popularity. At first, the main industry for its application was greenhouse farming, and then open soil where vegetables and fruits are grown. This system is also used in viticulture.

A modern drip irrigation device is a flexible hose into which droppers are mounted. Droppers help to even out the moisture supply around the entire perimeter. This hose is installed on the surface of the earth. In some cases, it is buried in the soil along the entire required irrigation perimeter. Today, drip systems are presented on the market in a wide range.

It will also not be a problem to create drip irrigation for your dacha with your own hands. However, the drip irrigation device, despite the differences in different models, has no fundamental differences. It consists of the following mandatory elements:

node that takes in water. Its role can be played by various containers that rise to a height of one to two meters. Water is supplied either independently, or a suitable pump is used for this purpose. Water can come from a river, pond, well, borehole, lake or water pipe. It all depends on your desires and capabilities;
The filtration unit is one of the most important elements of the system, determining its performance indicators and service life. It is designed to purify water and protect droppers from clogging;
main-type pipeline - its task is performed by pipes made of polyethylene or PVC with a diameter of at least 32 mm. This is where the drip tape or tube fittings are installed. When creating drip irrigation with your own hands, you can use the simplest option, like a regular garden hose, with which you water your garden. The only condition is that it should not allow light to pass through so that algae does not grow inside;
distribution-type pipeline – these are pipe lines into which droppers are mounted. They can have different shapes - flat or cylindrical, a certain gap must be maintained between them, ranging in size from 10 centimeters to one meter;
hardware elements and fittings – connect all of the above elements, creating a single system. It is possible to use both threaded connections and adapters in this capacity. To connect the system to the water source, a variety of elements are used in the beds, such as tees, corners, reducers, couplings, plugs and fittings. The latter can be with or without a faucet. Taps allow you to water crops that require different amounts of water. When creating drip irrigation with your own hands, you should keep in mind that the use of fittings made from ferrous metal alloys is prohibited. This material is not resistant to corrosion processes, and rust subsequently clogs the system.

Drip irrigation scheme

A drip irrigation scheme is an extensive water supply network that supplies moisture to the root systems of plants. The drip irrigation scheme is very simple - first, it is supplied from a well, lake, water pipe or other source of water to the water intake unit, and then, through main pipes and drip tubes, it moves directly to the roots of the plants. Drip irrigation, compared to conventional irrigation, does not disturb the natural structure of the soil. Plants will not get burned even with excessive sun activity, which is caused by moisture getting on the leaves.

You can create a similar scheme both in a greenhouse and in open ground. You should do drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands in order to provide plants that are not provided with precipitation with the necessary amount of moisture. Lack of water will lead to their death. Do-it-yourself drip irrigation in a greenhouse is a significant help for a person who does not have the opportunity to constantly care for cultivated plants.

After you create drip irrigation in a greenhouse with your own hands, you will notice a significant increase in plant productivity, the incidence of plant diseases will decrease, and their appearance will improve. This will provide you with economical water consumption. In this case, excessive moistening of the surface layer of soil will not occur, with normal moistening of the deeper layers. Each plant will receive water in the required quantity.

The design of a modern drip system can be automatic - this allows you to determine the exact dosage for each plant and will facilitate the organization of fractional watering. The circuit can be equipped with connected rain sensors - if it rains in sufficient quantities, water will not be supplied.

Automatic elements allow you to determine convenient conditions for turning on irrigation, for example, at night, when a sufficient amount of water is collected in the water supply system or well. The fairly high price of automatic elements is justified by the numerous advantages of such a scheme - it absolutely does not require human participation, so you can leave the dacha for a fairly long period of time.

How to make drip irrigation with your own hands

Even a novice summer resident can create drip irrigation himself. Some components should be purchased in specialized shopping centers. When choosing distribution pipes, you must first determine their exact suitable length and diameter. This should be decided based on the planned water flow and a suitable irrigation scheme.

However, when doing drip irrigation yourself, it is better to choose the simplest possible scheme, with a minimum number of branches and components. Since each element that is part of this system represents a kind of blocking zone, which leads to the accumulation of dirt.

Creating drip irrigation yourself is a fairly simple task. It is enough to create a simple plumbing system, since its excessive complexity will lead to difficult movement of water and will require frequent repairs.

In various shopping centers and stores you can purchase all the necessary elements to create such a structure. They have a wide price range. The cost of a specific component is determined by its quality, materials used to create it, operational and technical characteristics.

How to make drip irrigation with your own hands from scrap materials? It is possible to use various plastic pipes or flexible hoses, however, certain conditions must be met:

water should be supplied in the same volume through which it comes out through the holes so that it evenly irrigates all the plants;
The droppers should not be too narrow to avoid clogging.

To create a reliable, convenient and effective drip irrigation system, flexible soft medical hoses are suitable. The diameter of the main hose should be 1-2 centimeters. It is also possible to use used medical systems with thick needles (for containers with solution) as hoses. Half-meter-sized tubes that fit over the needles are also useful. The needles are inserted diagonally into the main hose - and the irrigation system is ready.

Clogging of such droppers occurs quite rarely, and they are very convenient to clean. This system has the only drawback - it quickly becomes overgrown with algae, subject to direct sunlight. However, this drawback can be easily corrected - the structure can be covered with black material that does not allow sunlight to pass through.

Before starting installation, you should mark out the planting plan, determining the duration of each bed and the gap between them. If all the plants on the site are evenly distributed, you can create a structure based on the finished plantings and the space between them. The tubes are cut into pieces of suitable length and connected into a single system. It is better to place the tubes with a slight slope, adding strength to the structure using pegs.

The length of the line should not be too long, and should be approximately 6-8 meters. Holes are punched in suitable places where tubes and needles are inserted. After installation is complete, the system should be tested under high pressure conditions. You also need to check how quickly the water flows out. The speed is adjusted by changing the inclination of the hoses.

To prevent frequent clogging, a filter should be placed on the hose. In its role, you can use foam rubber, which is easily removed and washed. To prevent direct sunlight from causing algae to grow, a lid covers the water tank and foil covers the tubes.

DIY drip irrigation system

The DIY drip irrigation system comes in two main varieties. The most popular is the do-it-yourself drip irrigation system, which is based on drip tubes or drip tapes. The drip tube is made of polyethylene, its diameter can reach 20 millimeters, and the wall can be two millimeters thick. The droppers are connected to the tubes externally or internally.

The material used for making drip tapes is also polyethylene. They roll up into a tube and connect under the influence of temperature. The role of droppers is played by miniature holes that remain after the connection, or are made on the outside. Such tapes have a thickness of up to 300 microns. A suitable do-it-yourself drip irrigation system is selected based on individual preferences, capabilities and requirements, the size of the irrigated area and the types of crops.

The drip tube system is designed for high pressure and long-term use. Similar systems are used to irrigate orchards and vineyards, as well as in landscape design. They allow you to supply water over long distances, and are capable of supplying up to 2 liters of water within an hour. For the winter, such a structure can be disassembled and reassembled in the spring.

Drip tape systems are designed for use in low pressure conditions and are used to water vegetable crops in garden beds. Such a system consumes water according to certain standards. Some models have adjustable water supply intensity.

Drip irrigation from a barrel

Drip irrigation from a barrel supplies water using gravity; the water intake tank supplies it by gravity. Instead of a barrel, you can use any type of container filled with a network plumbing system or a natural water source. Drip irrigation from a barrel can also be provided by rainwater.

Drip irrigation from a barrel can become clogged with algae, plankton or suspended particles, as well as the result of corrosive processes. Therefore, the material used to manufacture the barrel must be a material that is not susceptible to corrosive or destructive processes. It can be a material of synthetic origin, plastic, galvanized iron. The barrel must be covered to prevent leaves, debris or dust from falling into it.

The volume of the barrel should be selected based on individual requirements and the general need of the vegetation of the site for water. So that the system is able to irrigate the garden, and there is no need to constantly replenish moisture reserves. The process of water supply must be continuous.

It is better to place the barrel at a height of 1 to 2 meters above the ground to ensure suitable pressure. The water should be as clean as possible. The drain hole should be located approximately 10 cm from the bottom to prevent accumulated sediment from entering the hose. Any type of filtration element is suitable for this design. The filter must be washed regularly. Droppers designed for use in low pressure environments should be used. Drip irrigation for a greenhouse from a barrel is the best option.

When creating drip irrigation for a greenhouse from a barrel, you should start by installing a submersible pump with a power capable of supplying water along the entire perimeter of the site. To remove the tube, you can drill a special hole in the lid or in the bottom of the barrel. The sealant and sealant are placed here. The main pipe around the perimeter of the greenhouse is routed with a fitting. Each pipe or hose is equipped with a plug. The design can be supplemented with various automatic, electronic or mechanical elements, such as a timer.

DIY drip irrigation from plastic bottles

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation from plastic bottles is a solution that is very popular due to its many advantages. One of its main advantages is its simple device - a bottle made of plastic is dug around each plant. Small holes are made in it. The bottle is filled with water, it gradually seeps through the holes made. Thus, the root system of plants is evenly supplied with moisture.

Creating drip irrigation from plastic bottles with your own hands requires minimal financial costs, since empty plastic bottles can be bought for a completely symbolic price, or found at home at home or in your neighbors. Also, its arrangement is simple. This does not require special knowledge or skills. Anyone can create drip irrigation from bottles with their own hands. Its creation will greatly simplify caring for plants in a greenhouse. You can safely leave the area for quite a long time.

Another advantage of the decision to make drip irrigation from bottles with your own hands is the autonomous operation of the system. Unlike other systems, it does not require a water tank - just fill the bottles with water. Thus, the question of how to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse is solved very quickly and simply.

In addition, the plants are irrigated with water corresponding to the air temperature in the greenhouse. This helps to improve the condition and increase the yield of various crops. If any element of the system fails, it is very easy to replace it with a new one - to do this, you just need to dig out the bottle and replace it with a new one.

Do-it-yourself drip irrigation from polypropylene pipes

Compared to using conventional metal pipes, DIY drip irrigation using polypropylene pipes has numerous advantages. They are light in weight. Such drip irrigation can be done with minimal financial costs.

The internal walls of such pipes are almost completely free of various deposits. Pipes made of polypropylene can last more than half a century. They are suitable for constant intensive use and are resistant to condensation. Installation of such a system is simple.

Drip irrigation design mistakes

When looking for an answer to the question of how to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse, people often make mistakes at the design stage, as well as during operation:

excessive water saving, and small volume of supplied moisture. Since the drip system results in increased yield and growth, the root system requires more moisture. The drip system can rationalize water consumption. However, water should be provided in the amount the plants need to avoid the exact opposite of the desired result. Therefore, the container should be selected in accordance with the needs of the crops being grown;
choosing the wrong drip irrigation system. The system should be selected based on the conditions of a particular site. A pipeline with a diameter that is too small is not suitable for a large area. You should also pay attention to the pressure level of the system;
choosing a dripper with the wrong flow rate - it may not be suitable for the soil type. A properly selected dripper turns the ground into a smooth, damp strip;
errors made during installation. When installing an irrigation system, you should strictly follow the instructions.

The following tips will help you understand how to make drip irrigation in a greenhouse as efficient as possible:

before installation, draw a detailed diagram of the room, indicating its size and location of plants;
select hoses of the appropriate type;
think about how the water containers will be located. What volume will be optimal for your site, how the tank will be filled, how the pipelines will be laid, and where the fittings will be located;
if possible, it is best to use rainwater for irrigation;
the water container must have a minimum volume of one hundred liters, regardless of the size of the greenhouse;
calculate what spare parts and system elements you will need, and in what quantities.

How to make drip irrigation with your own hands. Video.

It is clear that plants need to be watered. Let's consider various options for watering systems.

Watering methods. There are three most basic methods of irrigation - sprinkling, drip irrigation and subsoil (not taking into account watering plants by hand from a watering can). Watering the plants of a flower garden or lawn occurs from above (by sprinkling). The entire operating mechanism of the well-known professional automatic watering system is based on this principle. To water trees or individual bushes, containers and hangings, a micro-irrigation and drip irrigation system is used. Such irrigation systems are absolutely indispensable both in the garden and in the greenhouse. For irrigating hedges and large garden capricious perennials, subsurface watering using special porous hoses or pipes is suitable.

Conventional irrigation system consists of a pump, hoses and sprinklers, and one of the most common methods of watering is the so-called sprinkling. The principle of this method is as follows: the hose is connected to the sprayer, the water is turned on and, as soon as sufficient water pressure is provided, the sprayer (or otherwise sprinkler) begins to spray water.

The simplest are sprinklers that continuously spray a stream of water over one sector and at a certain angle. Rotating sprinklers have a more complex design and are more expensive. In this case, the water is distributed evenly over the irrigated area, watering is carried out in the shape of a circle.

DIY watering system impossible without installing a pump. The pump provides the high water pressure necessary for normal operation of the sprinklers. It is clear that the higher the pressure and performance of the pump, the stronger the water supply. Pumps can be surface pumps (installed next to the well) and submersible (required when groundwater lies at great depths). If your pump pumps poorly or is broken, we have discussed methods for self-repair and adjustment of pumps earlier.

This watering method is quite common and understandable, so we won’t dwell on it too much. If you want to water with such a scheme, you only need to lay a line, and in the simplest case, just unwind the hose while watering and connect the sprayers through the three-pieces.

The ideal watering method is drip irrigation.

The essence of the drip irrigation system is that the water supplied through the drip irrigation system is supplied directly to the roots of the plants. And this, of course, is the advantage of drip irrigation over all other types of irrigation. Water is supplied to the plant root zone, instantly absorbed, and the plant uses it 100%. This way the water is given directly to the roots of the plants. This is its main advantage. In addition, drip irrigation can be carried out even in the hot sun without fear of water getting on the leaves of the plant, which often leads to sunburn.

Drip irrigation is a convenient, economical and effective system for automatic watering of a summer cottage, greenhouse or vegetable garden. You can buy ready-made, but it’s very simple make a drip irrigation system on your own, while saving a certain amount, which is always nice. Towards creation drip irrigation systems on a summer cottage it is best to start before the start of spring field work. At the end of winter - it's time. But, in principle, you can do it at any time.

Drip irrigation is ideal for watering a DIY greenhouse and many other applications.
When creating your own system drip irrigation You can't do without purchasing. It is impossible to make water filters, water supply taps, main pipeline pipes, drip hoses, individual drippers and start connectors on your own. But you can use any available tools, an old hose, faucet, etc. Creation DIY drip irrigation systems start with planning.

Draw a plan of the site, indicate on it the beds and individual plants that need drip irrigation.
Think over and indicate on the plan the placement of pipelines, drip hoses and individual droppers, shut-off valves. If the site is located on an area with a pronounced slope, then place the main pipes horizontally, and the drip hoses - downhill.
Mark all pipe connections; this will be needed when counting splitters and connectors, taps and plugs. Tees are used for connections; start connectors installed directly into the pipe will help you do without them.
Decide on the type of equipment required and brand, this affects the cost of the entire drip irrigation system.
Choose plastic pipes for the main water supply. They are less expensive, lightweight and do not rust. They can be used to supply fertilizers dissolved in water to the watering site without restrictions.
Consider the water supply of the drip irrigation system. In the absence of running water, the most economical solution is to install a 1.5-2 meter filled water container on a raised surface. Keep water in an open container away from direct sunlight.
Pipes and hoses can be laid directly on the ground, suspended on supports or buried in the ground. Laying on the ground is the simplest and most economical method. However, in this case, as in the case of suspension, buy opaque pipes and hoses, which will prevent algal blooms. For buried pipelines, use products with thick walls.
Be sure to use fine water filters in your drip irrigation system, which will reduce the likelihood of clogging of drippers and drip hoses.
To achieve complete automation of a drip irrigation system, use electric controllers powered by autonomous batteries.
Begin installation of the purchased equipment after the formation of the beds.
Before watering for the first time, be sure to flush the entire system. To do this, remove the end caps and run water until clean water flows from everywhere.
When operating a drip irrigation system, do not forget to periodically clean the filters.

For those who have the opportunity to come to the dacha only on weekends, and during the working week in hot weather, plants have a hard time without watering, and sometimes they may simply not wait for you.

Proposed watering device diagram- simple and accessible, does not require large expenses.

I used 5-liter plastic canisters as a storage tank and a funnel (the top must be cut at an angle accordingly). Now we assemble our device: place the storage capacity at an angle and, using adhesive tape, attach it to a wooden plank, at the opposite end of which a counterweight (P) is installed. The drive can rotate on an axis (O) from stop A to stop B, fixed to the base. A funnel is also attached to the base, to the hole of which a pipe for watering is attached.

In the figure: 1 - barrel with a water valve, 2 - storage tank, 3 - funnel, 4 - base, 5 - filling pipe, A, B - stops, 0-axis, P - counterweight

Water from the barrel enters the storage tank and, filling it, shifts the center of gravity of the storage tank until the weight of the water exceeds the weight of the counterweight. After this, the storage tank overturns, water flows through the funnel into the pipe and flows through the holes onto the beds. Having emptied, the storage tank returns to its place under the influence of a counterweight to be filled with the next portion of water. You can regulate the volume of incoming water using the valve on the barrel.

It is not always immediately possible to coordinate the work of the counterweight and the water tank. Try changing the counterweight, axle position, and drive angle. It is important that as a result of the adjustment, the counterweight can overcome the weight of an empty storage tank, and the weight of a storage tank filled with water can overcome the weight of the counterweight.

The second method is more automated, but just as easy to implement.

As an automation, you can make it yourself or buy a simple simple circuit that will turn on the pump at a certain time every day. However, now it was necessary to ensure that water reached all the plants. To do this, I took a piece of some old hose and pierced several holes in it with a hot awl, it’s just easier, because the hose is rubber. I made holes approximately every thirty, maybe a little more, centimeters. Moreover, the holes were through. First I pierced the hole from right to left, then from top to bottom. This will help water flow out of the hose evenly, even if it becomes clogged somewhere. Next I connected this leaky hose to the pump. Then, to keep it from getting clogged, I simply placed several boards at a distance of about a meter from each other, and laid the hose on top of them. Moreover, I stretched the hose across the entire garden.

Now every day at exactly nineteen o'clock my DIY irrigation system turns on and starts watering the garden. Knowing the power of your pump, you can determine the required time, which will be enough for quality watering. The goal has been achieved - you can come to the dacha once a week, or less often - the plants will not be damaged.

Automatic watering (autowatering)

Automatic irrigation systems- These are irrigation systems for household plots and garden plots, capable of automatically providing optimal and regular watering of your green spaces. Thanks to a wide range of components and materials for the device automatic and semi-automatic irrigation systems, high-quality irrigation of both small (3-4 acres) plots and large areas is achieved: park areas, stadiums, golf courses. The system is controlled by a device - a controller, a mini-computer that takes into account many factors to select the optimal irrigation mode. Programming the operation of the entire irrigation system makes it possible to take into account not only the shape of the area being watered, but also the individual daily dynamics of the moisture needs of different groups of plants. As a rule, automatic irrigation systems provide the ability to connect very useful sensors: soil and air humidity sensors, rain sensor, and even mini weather stations. This equipment allows you to reduce water consumption by 20-50% compared to simpler irrigation systems. All of the above advantages naturally require corresponding investments. If you have free money, then this is your choice.

Irrigation rates

Proper watering any plants can take away a huge part of your time, which will be spent on landscaping the site, for this reason, take such an important event with great seriousness. For each type of plant there are certain watering norms, and if they are fully observed, you can achieve the best results in landscaping your green corner.

There are a few things to remember plant irrigation rules: it is better to water less often (about 2 times a day), but abundantly. It is believed that ten liters of water, which is poured by an irrigation system per square meter, can completely moisten the soil layer to a depth of approximately 10 cm. Minor frequent watering during periods of great drought does much more harm than any good: water up to the main volume the entire root system does not reach at all, a hard crust appears on the surface, it increases the evaporation of water and interferes with the full respiration of the soil. In addition, all surface roots of the plants also develop well; they will suffer during the next drought. You also need to know that the bulk of the roots are located in the soil layer at a depth of about 20–25 cm, and in order to completely wet it, the irrigation system needs to pour about 25 liters of water per 1 m2. Automatic watering of a lawn is slightly different; any lawn grass needs to be watered a little less - the entire root system of the lawn falls to a depth of about 15 cm, but during periods of extreme heat, refreshing watering can be carried out. All watering rates completely depend on the mechanical composition of the soil - light soils are watered more often and not very abundantly.

Water temperature for irrigation. Water temperatures below 10-12 degrees cause shock to plants and weaken them; for this reason, watering the lawn and plants directly from a well or borehole is undesirable. It will be optimal if, when watering plants, the water temperature is approximately equal to or slightly higher than the soil temperature. For this purpose, storage tanks are used, the volume of which ranges from 200 to 5000 liters, everything will depend on the irrigation area. There, all the water is heated and settled to ambient temperature. In order to create the necessary pressure in the automatic watering system, they are placed slightly above the surface, approximately 2-3 meters or more. A difference in all levels of about one meter completely creates about 0.1 bar of pressure. A huge number of auto-irrigation system sprayers can operate at a minimum pressure of 2-3 bar; for this reason, special additional pumps are often simply installed in these tanks.

If your site has automatic irrigation, then there is no need to worry that the water for irrigating the garden, which enters the irrigation system directly from deep artesian wells, will be very cold for irrigation. The created pressure in the irrigation system is 2.5 - 3.5 atm. throws water dust out of the sprinklers at tremendous speed, for this reason the plant water reaches an already heated level, comparable to the normal temperature of any rainwater. The main thing that you will need to pay attention to when watering plants is the exclusion of a sharp, destructive, mainly, contrast between the temperature of the upper layer of the territory and the temperature of the water.

The amount of water available to plants depends on many factors. Including the type and depth of the soil, the depth of the root system, the rate of water loss through evaporation, the temperature and the rate of moisture entering the soil.

The rate of water extraction from the soil is a function of root concentration. The deeper the root system, the lower the speed. More than 40% of the water is extracted from the upper root layer.

The water entering the soil moves at the same speed as the field moisture capacity is created. The movement of water in the soil from bottom to top is carried out by capillary forces. Loss of water through evaporation affects only the top layers of soil. During periods of prolonged drought, it is easy to recognize plants with a shallow root system.

Correct watering time especially important for the development of vegetable crops and obtaining maximum yield. In addition, watering standards must be observed. For example, for water to penetrate to the root system, it is not enough to simply wet the soil surface. According to the observations of experts, a 3-centimeter layer of water penetrates the soil to a depth of 25 cm. To wet an area of 0.5 hectares to such a depth, 130,000 liters of water should be spent. During prolonged drought, frequent minor watering does not benefit the plants, since the water does not reach the main volume of the root system, and a hard crust appears on the ground. At the same time, plants form superficial lateral roots, which also suffer during prolonged dry weather.

Sandy soils dry out much faster than clay soils and require more frequent watering. To find out how things are with soil moisture in the area, you need to dig a hole 20-30 cm deep with a scoop. If the soil at such a depth is slightly wet or dry, you should water it immediately.

Vegetable crops require the most moisture during intensive growth, that is, from late spring to mid-summer, when plant development is determined precisely by the water supply. In late summer, excess moisture can harm some crops. For example, melons and watermelons are not watered during the ripening period. Tomatoes can also crack from excess moisture before they have time to turn red. But still, most plants require watering at the rate of 10-15 l/m2 per week. Watering norms for ornamental crops are close to those for vegetables.

The main amount of water is absorbed by plants in spring and summer. Particular attention should be paid to watering when planting trees and shrubs so that the soil fits tightly around their roots. Plants in open ground in summer are susceptible to natural drying under the influence of sunlight, although they receive enough moisture from winter precipitation. It is interesting that a layer of rainwater of 1 mm gives 10 m3 per 1 hectare, that is, 10 tons. Snow cover 40 cm thick - 1000 tons of water per 1 hectare, or 100 liters per 1 m2. It is necessary to ensure that the soil near walls, fences and under trees receives full moisture, since there are certain difficulties when watering in these places. Plants in pots and tubs dry out quickly and require regular watering in summer.

And further. Sometimes garden ants interfere not only with you, but also with your plants. Therefore, you need to know how to deal with ants in the garden or garden, and then nothing will interfere with your harvest.

– a progressive, complex system that requires careful and painstaking care. The more acres are planted, the more thoughtful this option should be, providing the crop with the proper water content.

Types of automatic watering

Automatic watering at the dacha is the best opportunity to simplify your life and save an impressive amount of money. In case of rational distribution of irrigation liquid, the consumption of this raw material can be saved. The practical side of the issue implies the presence of three basic types of irrigation systems.

Rain technology involves water entering from above. In this way, the plant leaves are irrigated, dust is removed from them, while the soil remains unchanged. This type is the most effective because it is as close as possible to natural hydration.
The drip variety is the most economical because it does not involve the expenditure of water on the surface of the plant or on the soil that is nearby. In this case, the roots are not affected either - it turns out that the soil is fully moistened to the extent necessary. This type of irrigation is an ideal solution for those with a large garden area and a limited amount of water.
The subsurface form of automatic watering for the garden and garden involves saturating the soil with moisture, while the top layer remains dry. That is, water comes from within, and this form of interaction helps protect the stems and leaves of plants from rotting, and also prevents the growth of weeds.

In general, the system can operate on an automatic or mechanical principle. In the first case, you will not need to monitor the amount of water and frequency of watering the beds. This is due to the fact that all functions are clearly adjustable and subject to automatic control.

On a note! This type of installation is designed to last over 10 years, but manufacturing will require a considerable amount of money. Sometimes a semi-automatic scheme is used that launches the option at the required time. Automatic watering at the dacha can be organized with your own hands, but for this you will have to carry out a set of rational measures to prepare for work.

Making your own drip irrigation function

The essence of the method is to supply water from a storage tank under a certain pressure, and the pipes are equipped with special droppers, which are located in close proximity to the root system. The disadvantage of operation is that normally water is supplied only to the nearest droppers, while other elements suffer from a lack of water.

Advice! With increased pressure, the first nearby elements will experience excess moisture, so it is necessary to develop a high-quality pressure system.

If you decide to use this particular irrigation system, you should pay attention to several of its constituent elements:

Pipeline type system, presence of distribution units. Traditionally, preference is given to products made of metal plastic.
Valves – these components are required to regulate the water supply process, that is, if the limit is exceeded, the valve prevents subsequent supply.

Counter - this element is needed to obtain information about the amount of water that is spent. Without it, problems may arise in determining the amount of water supplied to the plants.

Filters for water are presented in great abundance, so the user will not have difficulty choosing the right one, based on the quality of the water supplied. If the level of contamination is high, you should give preference to products with an automatic washing option.

Fertilizer units - they can be specially mounted separately from the tank and serve for high-quality application of liquid and granular fertilizers. The fertilizer will react with the water in the pipes and be supplied to the plant through a dripper.
Connecting and silencing mechanisms must be used in places where pipes branch.

So, the answer to the question of how to make automatic watering at the dacha is quite simple, so it is necessary to rationally ensure the organization of this system by first drawing a diagram of the site and depicting beds with plants on it. This will allow you to calculate the number of connectors and droppers required.

Do-it-yourself watering and sprinkling

Sprinkling is an automatic system, often used for watering lawns, but this method is also relevant for owners of vegetable gardens, summer cottages, and garden plots. If the work occurs on an automatic basis, maintaining a balance between the frequency of irrigation and the degree of moisture absorption plays an important role. This principle has a huge advantage - it does not disturb the soil cover. Due to strong water jets, there are no unnecessary holes left, so the root system has the right to maintain its integrity. An important task for the owner of such a system is that it is necessary to ensure complete control of the pressure and intensity of the jets in order to avoid soil waterlogging.

To install rainwater irrigation equipment on a personal plot, it is necessary to ensure the installation of pipes and the distribution of irrigation systems for a uniform flow of water throughout the entire plot.

Advice! In case of water make-up bushes and trees mechanisms must be mounted higher. An important part of the entire system are the 20 mm pipe elements, and you also need to pay attention to the taps themselves and sprayers with nozzles. Irrigation must be uniform, otherwise there is a possibility of drying out or rotting of the root system.

If you have decided to do automatic watering at your dacha yourself, you are five minutes away from answering this question correctly. A rational approach to business will allow you to achieve optimal results and create a high-quality working system without much difficulty.

It's no secret that plants need to be watered. There are three main methods of watering a garden or summer cottage: drip, rain and subsoil. This list also includes manual watering from a watering can. Many summer residents, in order to save time and effort, install an automatic irrigation system on their site.

This irrigation system is a structure consisting of a pump, sprinklers and hoses. For subsurface irrigation, porous pipes and hoses are also needed.

What types of irrigation systems are there?

The most popular way to water plants, flower gardens and lawns is sprinkling, that is, when watering occurs from above. Such devices are considered the simplest and easiest to use. They continuously spray a stream of water at a certain angle in one area.

There are also more complex models, for example, rotational. In this case, the water hits the ground around the circumference more evenly. Due to such a complex design, the cost of such a unit is much higher than usual.

Principle of operation The irrigation system is as follows: the hose is connected to the sprayer and the water is turned on. When a stable water pressure is established, the sprinkler begins to function. The operation of such an installation is impossible without a pump. Its performance affects the water pressure. Pumps can be installed either near the well or deep in the ground. Submersible pumps are installed if groundwater is located in the very depths of the soil.

Hedges and some large garden plants require subsurface irrigation. Drip irrigation is suitable for trees and bushes. The operating principle of this type of irrigation is as follows: water flows through a special design directly to the roots of the plants. It is instantly absorbed, which means that the trees or bushes use all the water. This irrigation system can be used both in the country and in the greenhouse.

The irrigation system is usually used from spring to autumn. The maximum water temperature should not exceed 32 degrees.

There are also manual and automated irrigation. In the first case, the user turns on the solenoid valve and opens the tap. Watering time is independently regulated. The automatic system begins to work according to the specified program. Typically 4 to 6 valves are used simultaneously. Watering times may vary. It all depends on the program and the preferences of the owner.

You can install additional drain valves that run on batteries. Some summer residents use precipitation and soil moisture sensors and automate the irrigation system, after which it operates autonomously. You can buy such equipment, but it will be cheaper and more economical to make an irrigation system yourself.

Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation systems

Each irrigation method has its pros and cons. Advantage Irrigation systems based on the sprinkling principle is that this design is very easy to operate. The following steps are sufficient:

lay a highway;
unwind the hose;
can be watered.

In addition, this method is considered “ natural", as it imitates rain.

Drip irrigation is considered ideal for plants, since the water does not settle on the leaves, but goes directly to the root system. This method of watering is also better for the summer residents themselves, since in this case the volume of water spent is much less than with sprinkling. Unlike other irrigation methods, the drip system can be used even in full sun. Water gets to the roots without harming the leaves. After all, everyone knows that under no circumstances should you water the leaves of plants in direct sunlight; when the water evaporates, the leaves get severely burned.

Subsoil systems Watering is perfect for capricious plants. However, installing pumps is a rather labor-intensive and costly process.

Cost of irrigation systems

If you decide to buy an automatic watering system, then it is worth keeping in mind that, in addition to the design itself, you will also have to pay for installation. The price of the work depends on the topography of the site, landscape features, irrigation area and personal wishes of the customer.

The irrigation structure itself can be purchased for between 2000 and 3000 rubles. For example, a drip installation " Water strider"costs 2,400 rubles, a system operating on the principle of sprinkling is slightly cheaper - 2,000 rubles. But do not forget that, in addition to these installations, you cannot do without purchasing a pump, hoses, pipes and timers. Therefore, together with the installation, this will cost a tidy sum, so it is much more advisable to make the irrigation system yourself.

How to make a watering system with your own hands?

Before you start creating an irrigation system, you need to buy the necessary equipment and make a plan. The irrigation scheme is very important, since it is according to it that the amount of materials will be calculated. Also on the diagram you need to indicate the places where the pipeline and hoses will pass. Need to count number of pipe joints so as not to make a mistake with the number of plugs, connectors and disconnectors. It is better to choose plastic pipes; they are much more practical and durable than metal ones. If there is no main water supply on the site, you need to stock up on a water container, which will be located on a hill. Depending on which irrigation method you choose, you need to mark the hoses, bury them in the ground, hang them, or lay them on the lawn.

Creating an irrigation system

Principle of operation The irrigation system is as follows: water from the barrel enters the storage part, after it is filled, the center of gravity shifts and the storage tank tips over to the funnel, through which the water goes into the irrigation pipe. When empty, the drive returns to its original position. The volume of water can be adjusted by installing a special valve on the container.

If you purchased a pump, you can make a more automated watering system. In the hose you can make holes, through which water will flow to the plants when the pump is running and pumping water.

In any case, whether to buy or make a watering system yourself is up to you. It all depends on the available amount of money that you are willing to spend on your garden plot.

By installing drip irrigation with your own hands, you can significantly speed up ripening and get a wonderful harvest of vegetables, berries, fruits, and significantly save money. Every gardener knows the benefits of moisturizing the roots of a plant. A self-created drip irrigation system will ensure uniform distribution of water and fertilizer to all plantings on the site.

There are several types of self-assembly of this kind of structures. It is enough to familiarize yourself with them and make a choice of the appropriate option for a particular area.

For those who want to install drip irrigation on their own and want to save money, it will be enough to purchase only the necessary components or select analogues from improvised means, without spending a penny on parts, depending on the structure being installed, since there are several types of irrigation systems.

How to install an irrigation system in the form of drip irrigation in a summer cottage?

Before you begin to independently install a structure for drip humidification of something, you need to take into account the volume of water reserves in the bucket; it should be enough to fully charge the siphon.

The siphon is a vertical arc-shaped pipe installed in such a way that one end is open to transmit water and is immersed in a tank of water, and the other end is connected to the pipeline of this irrigation system. The height of the siphon depends on the volume of the tank and the water intended for watering the plants.

Through the siphon, water is driven by the last portion of liquid raised from the bucket to the upper level of the siphon.

The photo shows how the liquid from the tank flows through the irrigation water supply until the levels in the tank and at the end of the siphon are equal. You can regulate the speed of water supply to the tank using a tap.

From the tank, the liquid enters the distribution system, which consists of hoses, a watering pipeline with a certain size of holes for spraying water.

During the installation of drip irrigation, you can form different shapes, for example, ring shapes for irrigating shrubs or trees. Simple rectangular systems for watering beds are made from ordinary pipes.

To regulate watering, a special subsystem design is used, which consists of a rain valve, a lever, a pusher, a tank cover and a spring.

In order for the valve to work, it is necessary to carefully make a special recess on the tank lid, where rainwater will collect, which will act as a load at a certain moment.

To fit onto the pins of the tank cover, holes are drilled along its edges.

The recess on the lid should be of such a size that, on the one hand, the weight of the collected rainwater is sufficient to close the valve, and on the other hand, so that after the rain, when the water evaporates, which is about a day later, the lid can be lifted by a spring, and the valve was able to reopen.

In the process of installing a drip irrigation system, it is necessary to correctly attach the pusher, the upper end of which should be attached to the tank lid, and the lower end to the lever.

An emergency subsystem cup is installed on the pusher. The principle of creation and operation of a rain valve is similar to the function of a float valve in a sanitary cistern.

It is known that the rate of moisture extraction from the soil depends on the depth of the root system relative to the ground surface.

The deeper the roots are, the lower the rate of water being extracted. Experience shows that roots extract at least 40% of precious moisture from the upper layers of the soil.

Plants with the most developed surface roots may die during drought. The main number of roots are located in the soil layers at a depth of 20-25 cm.

When installing your own drip irrigation system design, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of planting and growth of the root systems of grown plants.

The emergency subsystem mechanism includes a cup and an emergency drain valve. After filling the tank with water, the glass is filled, which should close the valve, which in turn will block the flow of water into the tank.

The valve should open from water pressure after its level rises above the top edge of the glass.

When making calculations with your own hands, it is necessary to take into account the value of the given pressure, and with the help of a spring and a fitting, create a certain force in the rod. If the set pressure limit is exceeded, the rod moves to the right.

The operating principle is as follows:

At the moment when the ball retainer moves to the side up to the annular groove, the balls fall into this groove under the influence of the spring, thereby fixing the rod and opening the way for fluid to enter the distribution network through the valve.

In the video you can see the stages of installing drip irrigation for your dacha with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself automated watering system

You can create an automated drip irrigation system thanks to a simple scheme, with the help of which at a given time every day, without human intervention, the irrigation system will start and turn off.

In this drip irrigation design, a hose with through holes is connected to the pump. These holes in the hose can be made with a hot awl. Through such holes, water will be distributed freely and it will not be afraid of congestion. The distance between the holes should be within 30-35 cm of each other. A hose with holes made according to the design is laid across the area. To avoid clogging, it is necessary to place pieces of boards in several places.

To set the system startup time, the pump power must be taken into account. The data is recorded using a circuit to automatically start the pump. This type of drip irrigation system will allow the owner to visit the dacha only once a week, since the irrigation of the beds will be carried out independently by this design.

This drip irrigation option is beneficial for lawn grass. After all, its root system is located at a depth of about 15 cm and in the heat, constant watering of lawns is necessary, otherwise there is a possibility of the top layer of soil drying out quickly, which leads to the death of plants. And the costs of a new lawn are quite high. Using the example of lawn grass, which is most susceptible to the harmful effects of wind and sun, it is clear where the soil dries out most quickly, and the benefits of regular and systematic watering are visible.

What problems can arise in the operation of drip irrigation systems?

It is known from practice that with an economical supply, it may happen that all the water flows out in the first sections of the system, but may not reach the outer sections.

And in the case of strong pressure of water pumped from a well, there may be an overconsumption of it, and as a result, waterlogging of the soil. This problem can be solved by purchasing a special dispenser in the store or making a similar dispenser with your own hands from an ordinary plastic bottle, using the principle of the toilet flush system and connecting it at the junction of the distribution pipes with the liquid supply point. Using this device, you can regulate the rate of water supply both to the beds and to individual plants.

What materials can be used to make droppers?

An important role in the irrigation system is played by drippers that are installed on water supply pipes, since through them water is supplied to the root system of plants.

To save money when creating a drip irrigation system with your own hands, you can use plastic elements from medical blood transfusion systems as droppers for irrigation.