Before you start planting, it’s worth setting up your irrigation system for the season.
“If you’re planning a veggie garden, irrigation is a crucial component,” Shouse says. “In spring (particularly in climates with harsh winters), you’ll want to blow out the underground water lines with an air compressor and then turn on your exterior water valve (basically the same steps you should have done before winter, but in reverse).”
From there, it’s about setting up a system that can water your plants for you.
“Once your water is on for the season, it’s time to invest in an automatic watering timer and a good drip line to ensure your veggie beds are getting all the hydration with none of the hassle,” Shouse says.
She also recommends a few reliable options.
“Melnor makes an intuitive and reliable timer, and DripWorks is a great option for drip tape with varying emitter spacing and all the fittings you’ll need for setting up your lines to deliver water directly to the base of your plants efficiently. It may seem a bit daunting at first, but YouTube videos are your friend, and once you have your configuration dialed in, you’ll never go back to hand watering or overhead sprinklers (which are the No. 1 cause of fungal and pest issues on beloved edible crops like tomatoes).”
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