How to Convert Your Sprinklers to Drip Irrigation
The question Why is my plant dying? is the reason we needed to convert to drip irrigation. This is the most asked question that we get around here at the farm. After converting to drip irrigation you will never go back to regular sprinkling systems again.
In 2019 our lavender plants suffered from not getting enough water from our overhead watering system. Then last spring we converted our overhead sprinkler system to a drip line irrigation system and the results were astounding!
2019 Lavender
We went from small plants that didn’t survive the winter to…
Large blossoming plants.
Now you might think well of course plants grow a lot in a year so that doesn’t help me in my decision to make the switch. But let me tell you our plants in 2019 did not make it through the winter because their root systems were not large enough to sustain them through their dormancy.
In 2020 our plants were triple the size and they blossomed! They were beautiful! And the best part? It is January in a high desert with temperature down to below zero and our plants are still green. Last year at this time our little plants had turned brown and crumbly. Not this year though, they are dormant but pliant.
What Supplies You Need
To convert to drip irrigation you only need a few things. We got our supplies from Drip Depot. We started by running poly tubing down each line of lavender. Then as the hose stretched from the water pressure we were able to punch a hole and pop a dripper onto every plant. They loved it!
We used these little converter parts to attach our drip line to our sprinkler line. Super easy.
Products we use
Hydro-Rain 1/2″ Drip-lock to MPT
Hydro-Rain 1/2″ Drip-Lock Elbow
Irritec Figure 8 Tubing End Clamp
Felco Hand Pruners (We’ve tried so many different pruners but these are the best)
Drip irrigation punch (out of the five brands we own this one is the easiest to use)
Recommendations
Each section of drip needs to have its own supply of water. Otherwise the pressure is not sufficient enough. You can have a section come on at different times so the pressure stays strong but don’t have all your drip coming off one water supply.
Full Tutorial
Our full tutorials are on our YouTube Channel.
For Lavender Plants
The drip watered every other day for 1 hour at a drip of 1/2 gallon per minute. Lavender does not like to have wet roots so be watchful of how much water your lavender is getting.
If you are in an area that has rain or moisture much of the year then you won’t need to worry about your lavender getting too dry and you are so lucky. If you are in an area that is dry like South Western United States then you need to make sure your lavender is well hydrated but has enough time to drain around the root system.
Lavender can take quite a bit of neglect but just make sure it is getting the balance it needs for watering.
Have fun planting and if you need some great ideas for what to do with your lavender Check Out Some of these posts or head over to our YouTube Channel Sweet Olive Farms for some fun lavender projects.
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