{"id":12840,"date":"2021-06-04T13:16:27","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T20:16:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/?p=12840"},"modified":"2024-06-13T12:37:29","modified_gmt":"2024-06-13T19:37:29","slug":"drip-irrigation-bucket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregalder.com\/yardposts\/drip-irrigation-bucket\/","title":{"rendered":"Drip-irrigation bucket"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is a white sage plant that I put in the ground in late winter. We haven’t had much rain since then so I’ve needed to water it about once a month. Instead of using a watering can or a hose, I find that this drip-irrigation bucket is the best method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post I’ll tell you why I sometimes prefer to water with this bucket, and then I’ll tell you how I make one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why water with a drip-irrigation bucket?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I could drag a hose down to the sage plant, but then I’d have to drag it back up the hill and coil it when done. Not only is carrying the bucket less work, but also with the bucket I can know how much water I\u2019m delivering whereas it\u2019s much more of a guessing game with the hose. Today, for example, I filled the bucket up a little over halfway so I know that I gave the sage about three gallons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further, I get to leave the bucket in place until it empties. With a hose I would have to stand there as I watered or leave and return to turn it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to a watering can, the drip-irrigation bucket can have an advantage too. Take this pumpkin, for example, which is planted on a slope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It would take a long time to water with a can slowly enough that the water didn\u2019t run off down the hill. With the bucket I can adjust the dripper such that all the water slowly percolates into the soil next to the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(You may notice that there’s a dripline under the pumpkin. Why am I not using that? If I did, then I’d be wasting water in that gap between the pumpkin and the broccoli.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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When not to water with the drip-irrigation bucket?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A watering can or hose is a better option for some plants though. For example, I use a watering can for very small vegetable plants that I recently put in. And I use a spot sprinkler or dripline connected to a hose to water large trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, the drip-irrigation bucket is my choice for medium size plants that don’t have access to my automatic irrigation system (yet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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How to make a drip-irrigation bucket<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How I make a drip-irrigation bucket, in four steps, using these materials:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. Drill a hole about an inch up from the bottom of the bucket with a 3\/16-inch bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Locate the hole under where the bucket\u2019s handle falls down, which makes it easier to carry. (Otherwise, the tube rubs your leg as you walk.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Cut a piece of 1\/4-inch polyethylene tubing<\/a> to about a foot in length. Then cut an angle on one end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. With needle-nose pliers, pull the tube through the hole into the bucket. If necessary, drill the hole a little bigger to fit the tube in. But be careful not to drill too big or else the hole will leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Insert a shut-off valve<\/a> into the end of the tube outside the bucket. This is your adjustable drip emitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now in motion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n