Applying water 5 to 7 days each week is preferable to maintain optimum soil moisture levels for most plant varieties. However, in some cases where plant varieties have a shallow root system in proportion to their height, and/or when “tight” (i.e. clay type) soils are present which promote wide shallow wetting patterns, applications of only 2 to 3 days per week may be preferred. In these cases, longer irrigation cycles are necessary in order to ensure that the plant’s water needs are met. This will lead to deeper moisture penetration and promote a corresponding root profile.
Care should also be taken when adapting existing mature plants to drip irrigation from other forms of irrigation. In many cases, it may be necessary to closely copy the operation frequency of the previous system in order to avoid excessive stress and possible plant loss. It should be noted, that plants requiring different irrigation frequencies should be placed on separate control valves.