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Evergreen LandscapingBlogbest irrigation system
28 May 2015
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Vegetables and Herbs for the California Drought

California droughtThe drought is big news in California. Many people who garden, or who would like to start gardening, wonder if growing vegetables and herbs is a good idea in the California drought.

While all vegetables and most herbs need more water than drought tolerant landscape plants. There are some choices, and growing methods, that are better for drought conditions than others.

California Drought Tolerant Herbs

When it comes to herbs, there are many choices that require infrequent watering. Most Mediterranean herbs do well in California. All of the following culinary herbs are happy with minimal water:

  • Rosemary
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Sage
  • Marjoram

These herbs also can be grown in pots and planter boxes. This way, the water is restricted from seeping into the surrounding ground. Bury the pots in the ground, or insulate the containers on the outside with straw bales where the sun is hottest. This can help the plants use less water while preventing the containers from getting too hot above ground.

When you do apply water after the soil surface has dried out, water deeply and completely. Give more water to larger, established plants. Watering early in the morning, late afternoon, and at night also help prevent evaporation.

Vegetables for the California Drought

As with herbs, vegetables that do best in drought conditions require infrequent, but deep watering. If you want to grow vegetables that need the surface to stay moist and humid like lettuce, many peppers, cucumbers, basil, and chard. Consider using a row tunnel, or extra mulch, to keep in moisture and keep humidity up.

Vegetables that thrive with deep, less frequent watering include:

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are the most frequently home-grown vegetable crop. And happily, they are fairly drought tolerant. They naturally do best when the first two inches of soil becomes dry. Followed by a deep watering.

Melons: Melons do well planted in mounds with a hollow at the center used for watering. Humidity and moisture on their leaves often leads to mold. They are also naturally more drought resistant.

Potatoes: This crop is easy to grow, especially in containers. They prefer planting in winter or spring when rain is still most likely. Then, they are ready for harvest before the hottest months of summer.

Summer and winter squash: Like melons, these vegetables also grow well in mounds. Where water can be concentrated a few times a week, or as needed, depending on conditions.

Other Ways to Beat California Drought When Gardening

Using straw, compost, or agro-fabrics to mulch around plants reduces evaporation. Many mulch materials are inexpensive, or even free. If they are organic, they will break down and add texture and some nutrients to the soil over time.

Using timers and an automated irrigation system also helps you get the right amount of water at the best time of day or night. Working with a landscape contractor can help you set up an herb or vegetable garden. They will help you keep your gardening through the California drought.

Looking for more gardening tips during California drought? Call 805-773-5395 

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26 Jul 2013
2 Comments By Evergreen Landscaping Archive , , , , ,

Best Irrigation Systems for a Home Garden

 

Are you tired of dragging hoses and sprinklers around in your garden? Sprinklers are labor intensive and the least efficient way to water any garden. Besides their inconvenience, broadcast sprinklers are not watering only the veggies but the weeds too. To save time, effort and water, consider installing a more hands-free and water efficient system.

Best Irrigation Systems

Back to Basics

One of the oldest systems of watering is the use of furrows. Shallow furrows along plant rows allow you to apply water directly to the plant roots. Use a circular furrow for individual plants. There are no materials to buy, but you still must haul a hose or buckets to fill the furrows. Another drawback is that water is lost via evaporation until it soaks into the soil.

Soaker Hoses

Soaker hoses that seep water work in a manner similar to furrows. They can be chained together to reach all the plants in the garden or separate hoses with quick connect fittings are used to water different areas with one hose. There is still some hose wrestling to do, but most of the water goes directly to the plants with minimal evaporation loss.

Above Ground Drip Systems

Kits for building your own custom drip system are found in any home improvement store. The black tubing and fittings in these kits do not require any tools other than a sharp utility knife. Tubing is sealed off by bending and clamping it. Drip fittings are directly screwed into the tubing by hand. Such a system is very water thrifty.

Below Ground Drip Systems

Other drip irrigation kits, similar to the above ground kits, are installed below the soil level. Especially if you have raised beds, this type of irrigation system is very handy. A main tube is installed through the center of the bed frame with a quick connect on one end that protrudes from the frame. Smaller feeder tubes branch off the main tube. Small holes punched through the feeders apply water directly to the plant roots. Tool less barbed tees and unions let you create a pattern customized to the placement of plants in the bed.

Fully Automated Irrigation Systems

Drip systems can be augmented with check valves, filters, timers, and moisture meters and so on in order to build a completely automated system. The trade-off between the simplest and hand-free systems is upfront cost. The cost is paid back by less work for the gardener and a lower water bill.

What’s the Best Time of Day for Drip Irrigation?

When you are using drip irrigation for your irrigation system, such as sprinklers or manually controlled options, you are going to be able to slowly place more water into your system. A manual drip irrigation system allows you to take advantage of the rainfall that takes place before having to do everything on your own.

There are a few varying opinions when it comes to the best time schedule for this kind of irrigation system, and you really have to pay attention to the rain forecast before you decide to set up everything to run automatically. How often you decide to run the irrigation system will really depend on the amount of water that your plants or garden needs on a regular basis.

Start in the Morning

The best start to water your plants is the morning in most cases because that is when there will be the lowest amount of evaporation. This means that the water will be able to set on the plants and in the soil without being removed by the sunlight. The sun is another important factor to look at when making sure that you are giving your plants enough water during the day.

Avoid Watering in the Evening

You will want to avoid watering your plants with your drip irrigation system at night because this kind of schedule will actually increase the probability that some kind of disease will infect your plants. There are mixed opinions when it comes to watering plants around nightfall, but it is usually just better to keep things safe by sticking to an earlier water irrigation schedule whenever possible.

Follow the Directions

When you are dealing with drip irrigation system that was provided by a specific manufacturer or supplier, you may be able to get some tips from the information that came with that particular system. Different irrigation systems are going to have different settings for water pressure and other factors, so it is important to make sure that you actually understand your irrigation system before you begin to water everything on a drip system for the first time. In most cases, you will be able to find some maintenance and proper usage guidelines that come with the materials that you used to create your own drip irrigation system.

Can’t decide which irrigation systems is best for your garden? Contact us For a Free Consultation or call 805-773-5395.