Contributed by E. Dianne Campbell
This summer is projected to be another dry one, according to the 2025 edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The venerable prognosticators boast an 80 percent accuracy rate, so this is not good news, particularly for gardeners.
Folks wishing to avoid the prospects of another summer of heart-stopping water bills or anxiety about wells running dry might consider drip irrigation. With the possibility of saving 30 to 50 percent of water usage, it’s worth the thought.
Drip irrigation, also sometimes called trickle irrigation, slowly delivers water where it is needed so there is no run-off and little is lost to evaporation. Vegetables, annuals, perennials, and woody shrubs generally need about an inch of water per week, so home gardeners can plan watering zones and control timing to match the weather and their plants’ particular needs.
On May 16, 10 a.m. to noon, a free seminar at the Pleasant Grove Community Garden will explain and demonstrate how the conservation can be attained. Rick Hernandez, Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent for Fluvanna, and Jane Shepherd, Fluvanna Master Gardener Conservator of the Butterfly Garden, will team up to discuss, instruct, and demonstrate how a drip irrigation system can be installed.
Shepherd says she has a two-fold inspiration for looking into the process – the high cost of public water and the desire to conserve water as an increasingly precious resource. “I’m not a very tech-savvy person, so I was intimidated by the challenge of trying to install a system on my own,” she says. “Luckily, Rick Hernandez agreed to share his expertise in a hands-on workshop we can offer to Fluvanna County residents. We hope other gardeners will be more confident after observing a small system being planned and installed.”
The seminar will explore the pros and cons for the home garden, review the equipment and tools required, and provide participation in the planning and installation of a system. It will be presented in the Community Garden at Pleasant Grove Park, Friday, May 16, 10 a.m., to noon. Attendance is limited to 20 people at a time, so pre-registration is essential. Contact B. Redman at the VCE Fork Union office, 434-591-1950, or bredman@vt.edu.
