About Garden Irrigation

Man has been trying to set up ways to irrigate his garden since early times. A perfect example of this can be seen at Machu Picchu, Peru, and ancient, abandoned city. We can learn a lot by looking at this elaborate, yet simple irrigation system, and even use those same principles today.

These Peruvian people perched gardens, tier style, on the side of a mountain and used a mountain spring from a higher place to do the hard work of irrigation through a rudimentary and yet quite successful system of channels, which supplied water to the people and through channels running through the plant beds.

How Garden Irrigation Works

Water Supplies

Water is pooled from a source that is higher than the garden. This allows gravity to take care of getting the water to the plants. That water can be from a holding tank, pond, natural spring or domestic water supply. Consider using rain barrels, if possible.

Feed Systems

Rather than using stone-lined channels as the Peruvians did, although you certainly can use them, you will use a series of garden or other hoses to get the water to the plants. You may need a pump if you are not depending on gravity to get the water to its destination.

Laying Out the Hose System

A complex or simple system of hoses with dual fittings is laid out at the edge of the garden. At each bed or row, a double hose fitting is placed to allow for attachment of two hoses between the rows of plants in the garden. It is preferred to have a shut-off valve somewhere between the source of water and the first place it is split off to supply the plants.

Types of Irrigation Hoses

If your system is fed by a pump, you will use soaker hoses. Soaker hoses are designed with permeable pores from which water very slowly escapes the hose and gets to the soil. If your system is fed by gravity, use sprinkler hoses.