RE: Watering in Summer

Please don't take this as a personal afront Michael but you do make me realize that a lot of people -- including, possibly, other members of this forum -- have the idea that it's an either/or situation:
 
Either we use drip or we waste/use a lot of water with traditional irrigation systems.
 
That's not the case.
 
I think I've made it clear that the essential key to water conservation is "right plant, right place".  In other words, using plants ("Mediterranean") that don't need much supplemental water.
 
After that, it's a matter of using an "effective" watering system that trains plants to have an extensive root system -- one that is what we call "drought tolerant".
 
I know many people believe an old myth that says "plant roots find water".  I'm sure plant roots don't.  Plant roots have no sensing organs, no radar, no brain to lead them to wet soil. 
 
Plant roots go where the water is -- where the gardener puts it.  If we water deeply and infrequently and just beyond the drip line, we train roots to go deep and wide.  And that's what gives them the abililty to hold up when the rainless season comes along or when the rainy seasons come along dry. 
 
My experience -- and that of my students and clients and associates -- is that using water wisely/effectively in the beginning leads to unthirsty plants in the long run.  I've done the numbers and in the long run, watering effectively with appropriate new versions of traditonal irrigation uses less total water than with drip.
 
 
And thanks to David F. for giving me (and all others) the opportunity to understand his irrigation approach and sytem better.
 
I should quit now otherwise I'll be accused of going from "tirade" to "obsessed". ;-)
 
Joe
 


Joe Seals
Horticultural Consultant
Pismo Beach, California
Home/Office: 805-295-6039

--- On Tue, 7/21/09, Michael Mace <mikemace@att.net> wrote:

From: Michael Mace <mikemace@att.net>
Subject: RE: Watering in Summer
To: "'mediterranean climate gardening e-mail forum for gardeners in these climates throughout the world'" <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2009, 1:16 AM

I've been pretty happy with my drip system, but then I have an acre of land
and couldn't afford to water it any other way.

Regarding the timing issue, if those drip tubes are above ground, you need
to give them time to cool off after they've been in the sun.  Watering in
the afternoon will give your plants a nice little dose of scalding water,
and because the tubes get soft when warm, you'll have more cases of joints
blowing apart.

Mike
San Jose, CA (zone 9, min temp 20F)


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