When planning a garden, it is essential to think about efficient irrigation tailored to your needs. Depending on the plot area, terrain and the number, specificity and arrangement of plants, different solutions will be used. Garden irrigation is often carried out by a system of pop-up sprinklers or by drip lines. In this article, we will look at the drip line. When will a drip line be a better choice than, for example, tape? What materials should it be made of? And how does a drip line with pressure compensation differ from a non-compensated version? Find out in this article!
Check out the drip lines at the Onninen wholesaler
What should the drip line be made of?
The drip line is a pipe made of plastic, usually polyethylene. It should be highly flexible, have increased wall thickness, and be resistant to UV rays and breakage. Using a plastic material is essential if you plan to conduct irrigation in an arc, e.g. in a garden with a non-standard shape.
Inside the drip line, emitters (or drippers) are installed at equal distances, the role of which is to ensure an even outflow of water from each of the holes. The outflow of water along the length of the line depends on the emitters. It is worth paying attention to their quality. They should be constructed in such a way as to offer uniform emission regardless of the slope of the substrate.
Is drip line or tape better?
Drip lines are perfect for watering long, narrow areas, which is why they are often installed near hedges and parallel to planted trees. The water flow from the emitters allows for optimal watering of plants growing on unusual surfaces, e.g. with a complex shape or planted on slopes.
Drip tape is as easy to install as a drip line, but less flexible and more susceptible to mechanical damage. It works well in the case of small distances between planted plants, cultivating species with small root balls, straight sections and even terrain.
It is used primarily for watering crops under cover, e.g. in greenhouses and foil tunnels. Water is distributed through holes located close to each other. In typical home gardens, tapes are not usually used. The lack of flexibility does not allow for free bypassing obstacles or changing the shape of the line.
When is it best to choose a pressure-compensated drip line?
There are two types of drip lines available on the market.
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Drip line without pressure compensation - the water flow from the emitters is influenced by the supply pressure. The water flow can therefore vary and gradually decrease with the length of the line. This is a cheaper solution, intended for watering smaller gardens, flower beds and hedges, when the vegetation covers a section no longer than 80 meters. The water should reach every plant without any problems. With longer rows, it is necessary to divide the line into shorter sections, which is associated with an increased risk of failures and water loss. - Drip line with supply pressure compensation - pressure compensation allows for the optimization of the entire irrigation system with very long lines measuring at least 110 meters. Pressure-compensating emitters provide a constant, uniform flow rate over the entire length of the line, which translates into an even water outflow - regardless of the slope of the terrain and the distance from the water source. This variant is perfect for watering the ground cover, dense plantings, hedges or trees, especially those growing on uneven areas and slopes. This type of drip line is considered more durable and more economical.
Drip lines at the Onninen wholesaler
In the Onninen plumbing wholesaler you will find modern underground and above-ground drip lines with pressure compensation, based on patented technologies. Having trouble choosing? Contact us! We will be happy to help you complete all the elements of an automatic garden irrigation system.