Best practices watering your garden

July 15, 2018 by Matthew James Outdoor Plants, Perennials, Shrubs 2 Comments

Last updated on August 25th, 2024 at 08:16 am

This article is by – Matthew James

If you want your garden to thrive and grow strong and healthy plants, it is important to know all the important tips and tricks. One of the most important aspects of gardening is, of course, watering. Find out about the best practices for watering your garden, and make sure all of your plants are receiving as much water as they need, as often as they need.

Plumbing and Watering Basics

Before you start any project, it is always a promising idea to understand the basics and the main principles of the project. When it comes to best practices for watering your garden, it is a good idea to check out the plumbing inside your home to give you a better idea of what it involves. This aspect is important if you are using your plumbing system for watering purposes.

The first thing you want to know is where the shutoff valves are located and what each of the controls is. The first place to look is in the basement, as most valves can be found there, many times hidden behind access panels. You can test what each specific valve controls by closing them off one at a time while opening the faucets and flushing the toilets in your house. The area where the water line enters the home is usually the location of the main house shutoff valve.

To get the highest water flow rate into your garden, you will have to tap into the inside connection. You can tap into a one-half-inch water line, but you would get an even higher flow if you could tap into an internal connection of a three-fourths-inch water line.

Installing an Outdoor Faucet

If you want to make your garden watering much easier and get rid of the hose you constantly have to drag around, try installing a remote outdoor faucet. This involves digging up a trench, getting the proper tubing type, blowing out your system, and finally mounting the faucet itself.

Digging up a Trench

Before installing a trench, it is wise first to call a utility company to locate and deal with buried pipes and cables in your yard. After they have made it safe for you to dig up your trench, you can get to work. Burying your water line six inches deep is usually deep enough for our gardening purposes.

While digging, you may come across hard clay or rocky soil which will indicate that you have gone deep enough. If the ground is soft, on the other hand, you can even go up to 12 inches deep, which will reduce the risk of future damage.

If you want to prevent damage to the tubing under your trench, you can cover it with a couple of inches of soil and pour about two inches of a dry concrete mix before covering up the trench completely.

PEX or CPVC Tubing?

The best tubing solution for outside faucets is PEX tubing, which runs best underground. However, you would have to invest in a 3/4-inch PEX crimping tool, which can be a bit more expensive. This kind of tubing, however, is flexible, and it will not easily damage or freeze. If you want to keep it on the cheaper side, then go with CPVC plastic tubing, but keep in mind that, unlike with PEX tubing, you will need to install fittings in areas where you have to make turns.

If you are not up for digging trenches, you can install an exposed plumbing system. In this case, however, copper pipes are the best choice.

The Blow-Out

First of all, it is important to blow out your system before the winter, and the freezing temperatures arrive. The easiest way to do it is with your home air compressor.

The first thing to do is install the blow-out valve below the surface in a gravel pit. To cover the system, you can use the valve box of your sprinkler system. Then close the main shutoff valve and connect the air compressor hose to it with the help of a reducer and a standard air hose fitting. Now simply open the faucet and the valve and let the water drain out. If there is any remaining water, close the faucet and blow it out with the compressor.

Mounting the Faucet

To mount the faucet, you can cut out a hollow PVC fence post. However, any material can be used for making a post. To protect the PEX from sunlight which can reduce its lifespan, you should let it run inside the post. The post should be set up at least 18 inches deep in the ground to be sure it will stay stable. Finally, simply screw on a sill cock flange to the post and install a screw-on backflow preventer.

Final Thoughts

Before starting any green project in your garden, make sure you have all the tools needed for the project. Learn about all the best practices, and follow the advice given here and your garden will thrive. Doing some additional research and drawing a layout is always a good idea to avoid unnecessary mistakes.