Keeping your lawn and plants hydrated during the summer can be a challenging task, even more so in recent years when we've experienced some pretty severe droughts.For homeowners who don't have a sprinkler system, dragging out the hoses and sprinklers every day after work can be a time-consuming — and costly — job.One solution to cut down on your water consumption is investing in a low-drip, or low-flow, irrigation system. A low-flow system allows water to slowly drip either onto the soil or directly into your plants' root systems through a network of hoses and pipes. The goal of the system is to conserve water because it doesn't allow for runoff or loss of water to non-growth areas. It goes directly to the roots.
The system is widely used by farmers and greenhouse operators, but the technique has gained traction by everyday gardeners to keep their plants and vegetables growing strong. It can be especially beneficial when municipalities face water restrictions, which Indianapolis did during last summer's drought. The system can also cut down on the number of weeds that grow in your yard."You're not going to lose any water to evaporation or runoff," said Charles Watkins, owner of Indianapolis-based All-Green, Inc.Low-flow systems consist of a hose, which can be placed below or above ground, that contains small holes, or drip emitters, that are typically spaced about 18 inches apart.
"It's primarily used for mulch beds and shrub beds," Watkins said. "But it can be used for lawns as well. It uses less water, but can take a little bit of work to get it installed. It takes a special kind of hose for the drip irrigation."Low-drip systems can be fairly inexpensive, depending on the size of the area where you are installing it.There are other ways to cut your water consumption. Watkins said using something other than the typical Kentucky Blue Grass that grows on yards across Indianapolis can also decrease water usage. Rhizomatous Tall Fescue is a hybrid grass developed with a longer root system that can absorb more water. The grass is known for quickly growing a deep root system, which makes it more adaptable to drought, heat and soil conditions. Aside from the root system, RTF looks much like typical Kentucky Blue Grass.