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Low volume or micro-irrigation is ideal for virtually all landscaping applications. It is used throughout the world and is suitable for both small residences and large commercial projects. Some typical applications are as follows:
- Trees and Shrubs
- Ground Cover
- Patio & Container Plants
- Vegetable Gardens
- Flower Beds
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- Medians & Pathways
- Island Planters
- Indoors
- Hanging Baskets
- Hedges
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Low volume/micro-irrigation may be broken into 4 categories.
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Drip - Drip emitters are the most precise option, delivering water directly to the soil at the root zone at very slow application rates. Drip emitters are suited to shrubs, trees, hanging baskets etc. Because of the low discharge rate, the watering cycle is usually longer. |
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Bubblers - Bubblers are most often used for shrubs and trees. With their higher discharge rates, they have short watering cycles. Because bubblers can operate at high pressures they are particularly useful for conversion from conventional sprinkler to low volume systems. |
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Micro-Sprays - Micro-Spray is the suggested method of irrigation when low volume overhead irrigation is desired. Ground covers, ice plant etc. are often irrigated with micro-spray emitters. Also plants like ferns, which prefer some humidity, will benefit from this method. |
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Laser-Drilled Emitter line - Emitter line is best suited for watering closely spaced plants, hedges, vegetable gardens etc. New plantings of ground cover could also use this emitter line. Other applications include planter boxes and rings for large pots and containers and loops around large trees. |
These 4 options can be combined in any application, but keep in mind that each method may have different watering cycles. Hence, it is generally recommended that the different methods be put on separate circuits and operated independently, either manually or through a multi-station timer.
