Deck & Patio Water Solutions (Part II)

In this 2nd installment of efficient and money-saving irrigation methods, I tackle the problem of deck and patio irrigation. If your deck or patio has easy access to tap water, one of the simplest methods may be traditional drip irrigation. If you don't, keeping your patio plants from wilting in the summer heat can be a time-consuming chore. Watering by hand can require many trips to the tap, and is not the best use of water. The large quantities of water delivered all at once can't be absorbed fast enough by plants before water is wasted down the drain holes. I have a few simple solutions that are easier and use water more efficiently.

1) Pop bottle drip irrigation
Why not put the extra pop bottles or milk jugs you have lying around the house to good use? Just punch a small hole with a nail in the bottom of your plastic bottle, and bury it 1/4 - 1/2 way in the soil next to the plant. For greater water flow punch a few more holes. Then simply fill the jug with water and replace the cap. This will help limit water evaporation and keep the bugs out. Try adding some fertilizer to the jug with a teaspoon, to feed your plants while watering. Not only is this the cheapest method, but it can be used in containers or in the garden. For more info check  and here.

2) Syphon watering system

All you need is a large container of water, some flow control valves, some tee joints, and you standard drip irrigation tubing, all of which can be found at your local hardware store. Or you can substitute typical drip irrigation tubing with aquarium air line tubing and two-way flow valves found at pet stores, which may be a bit cheaper. The key point with this system is that the water source needs to by elevated above the plants you're watering. I used painter's buckets for my containers, which could be hung on hooks if you have a wall nearby, or simply elevated on a table or cinder blocks. One end of the hose is placed in the water source. A main line of hose runs from the water source, and branches off to water each plant. Each branch is made using a tee joint, and between the tee joint and the plant is a flow regulator. Alternatively, you could skip the tee joints and run a separate piece of hose to each plant with a flow regulator. This system will need to be monitored for a week or two to make sure plants are each getting the proper amount of water, so give yourself plenty of time if you are using this for vacation watering. To get the system started, you will need to immerse the entire length of tube in water. If your container ever runs completely out of water, you will need to immerse the hose again to get the water flow started again, or you can use a suction bulb to suck out the air from the watering end.

3) Solar pump watering system

Similar in set up to the syphon watering, this system can work over longer distances by using a pump powered by the sun. The water flow is improved if raised above the height of the plants they are watering. The nice thing about this watering system is that the water flow will increase on sunnier days, when your plants need it most. You will need tee joints, and either flow regulators or drip water emitters.



For more information on efficient patio and deck watering try:

• Garden Guides
• My Brown Thumb
• Buddy Garden Solar Pump Drip Irrigation
• Buddy Garden Syphon Drip Irrigation