Most vegetables prefer soil that’s neither soggy nor dry, and
earthworms and beneficial microorganisms do too. When there’s
too much water, these organisms drown. Too little, and you find
yourself with dead plants and a reputation as a “brown thumb.”
How much is too much, and how little is too little? How often
should you supply water, and how can you remember to do so? Drip
irrigation answers these dilemmas, giving plants the perfect
amount that they need to thrive, and saving water at the same
time. Irrigation also keeps water off the leaves of the plants,
preventing nasty maladies like leaf mildew, and you’ll suffer
fewer weeds by delivering water only to the plants that you want
to grow. The chief drawbacks to drip irrigation are cost, the
use of plastics, and the time and trouble for installation and
maintenance. For these reasons, I believe that drip irrigation
is best reserved for your vegetable garden. For the rest of your
yard, try to find plants that are adapted to your climate and
don’t need supple