Installing drip lines

Up until this point, I have used a watering jug to water my plants.

Once the weather gets warmer and I can turn on my sprinklers,

 I will install a drip line directly hooked to my irrigation sprinkler system.

Installing a drip line into a current sprinkler system can be a great way to save water, time, and money. Drip irrigation systems are more efficient than traditional sprinkler systems, as they deliver water directly to the roots of your plants, minimizing evaporation and runoff. Plus, they can help reduce your water bill and make your garden more sustainable.

 

If you already have a sprinkler system in place, installing a drip line can be a simple and cost-effective process. With these steps, you should be able to install a drip line into your current sprinkler system with ease.

 

1. Gather your materials: You'll need a drip irrigation kit, which typically includes a backflow preventer, a pressure regulator, a filter, and drip tubing. You'll also need connectors, stakes, and any additional parts necessary to attach the drip line to your current sprinkler system. I found this one at Home Depot.

2. Turn off the water supply: Before you start working on your sprinkler system, make sure to turn off the water supply. You don't want to accidentally flood your garden or cause any water damage.

3. Choose the right location for your drip line: The best location for your drip line will depend on your garden's layout and the types of plants you have. Generally, it's best to install the drip line near the base of your plants, so the water can seep directly into the soil.

 4. Connect the drip line to your sprinkler system: You'll need to connect the drip line to your sprinkler system using a T-joint or a Y-joint. Make sure to follow the instructions included in your drip irrigation kit.

5. Lay out the drip tubing: Once the drip line is connected to your sprinkler system, lay out the drip tubing along your garden beds, making sure to keep the tubing close to the base of your plants. Use stakes to keep the tubing in place.

6. Install emitters: Emitters are small devices that control the flow of water from the drip line. They should be placed near the roots of your plants, and the number of emitters you need will depend on the size and water needs of your plants.

7. Test the system: Once everything is installed, turn the water supply back on and test the system to make sure the water is flowing correctly. Check the emitters to ensure they're working and adjust the flow rate if necessary.

Planting

 It is finally a beautiful day in Twin Falls, ID

so that means it is time to plant

some seeds outside. 

Today I am planting the sweet peas

I started indoors, along with some

lettuce and spinach.

I had a hand full of lettuce and spinach sprouts

from starting them indoors.

I will take some seeds and directly plant some

outside today.

Sweet peas, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, carrots and 

a few other vegetables like the colder weather

and don't do well in the heat of the summer. 

You can look for planting instructions on the back of your seed packet.

Pay attention to the map on the back of the 

seed packet. This map will help you know

when it is a good time to plant this seed outside.

The zone map will also help you pick 

out seeds for your area.

All of the sweet peas, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and spinach

have been planted.

I will save the rest of my plants

until the weather is warmer to get them into the ground.

Typically, Mother's Day in Idaho is an excellent time

to plant everything outside because it is past the

last frost date.

If your plants become too big for your cells.

You can transplant them into a larger container.

I recycled a soda bottle to plant my

pumpkin and watermelon plants.

This larger container gives the roots plenty of 

space to continue growing.

Rock vs. Mulch

 One important decision that gardeners

need to make when creating their 

raised beds are what to use as a ground cover

around the bed, such as rock or mulch.

Let's explore the benefits of each option.

(Southern Idaho Landscape Center, n.d)

                                PROS                                                                    CONS

Low maintenance- doesn’t need to be replaced often.	Rocks can get hot under the sun.
Visually appealing look	More expensive
Good drainage from water	Weeds can still grow between rocks

                               

                                                   

(Southern Idaho Landscape Center, n.d.)

                            PROS                                                                        CONS                       

Helps retain moisture	High maintenance- needs replace more often
Prevents weed growth	Less visually appealing
Less expensive	Can attract pests

                               

           The choice between rock and mulch around raised garden bed 

depends on individual preferences and needs.

While rocks require less maintenance

and provide excellent drainage,

they can be more expensive and retain heat.

On the other hand, while mulch is cost-effective

and helps to retain moisture and prevent weed growth,

it requires more maintenance and attracts pests.

Weigh the pros vs. cons and choose the

ground cover that best suits your needs

and preferences.              

Dirt

 You can search your area

for a garden center that carries topsoil

or compost in bulk. 

We went to our local,

Southern Idaho Landscape Center

where they filled our truck with a yard of dirt.

We chose to get the garden soil which is a mix of topsoil and compost

to fill our garden beds with.

Garden centers have so many options to choose from,

depending on what you want to pay and 

what you are using the soil for. 

(Southern Idaho Landscape Center, n.d.)

We got 2 yards of bulk garden soil,

and it filled all 6 garden beds. 

Before I filled the bed with dirt, 

I chose to lay down a layer of leaves

that I raked up around my yard. 

Adding a layer of leaves is just a personal preference

but the organic material can add more nutrients 

to the soil as it decomposes. 

Each year you should add more compost

into your garden beds to replace the nutrients lost.

You will not need more topsoil only compost

each year.

Once again, every project at my house

is a family affair.

Building Garden Boxes

Not everyone has the luxury of having a large backyard to grow their own garden. If you're in a similar situation, building garden boxes is a perfect solution for you. Garden boxes are easy to build and can be placed on any flat surface, such as a patio or a balcony. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the steps on how to build garden boxes.

Materials needed:

 Cedar or redwood boards

Pressure-treated 4x4 posts

Screws

Power drill

Saw

Measuring tape

Level

 

Step 1: Determine the size of your garden box

The first step is to determine the size of your garden box. Measure the area where you plan to place your garden box and decide how big you want it to be. You can build a small garden box for a few plants or a larger one if you have more space. I decided to build mine 6ft. x 3ft.

 

Step 2: Cut the boards

Using a saw, cut the cedar or redwood boards to the desired length. Cut four pieces for each garden box, two for the length and two for the width. Make sure the boards are of the same length and width. We also cut the 4x4 posts to the width of the cedar boards.

Step 3: Attach the boards

Using screws, attach the boards to the 4x4 posts to form a box shape. Use a level to ensure that the box is even and straight. Repeat this step for every garden box you want to make. We made 6 boxes total.

Now place the boxes in your desired location and prepare for soil!