Fall Planting for Beauty and Pollination

Autumn is the best time for planting and enjoying flowering perennials. Choose fall-flowering shrubs or smaller perennials and plant them with an ample amount of well-composted soil in October* to ensure that your plants thrive. The coming rains and cooler weather will help their root systems develop fully and enable your garden to become the spectacular showcase that you, and the birds, bees, butterflies, bats, and other local beneficial insects in your neighborhood, have been dreaming of. (*Consult your local planting zone guide)

2015 Heirloom Exposition - Pure Food for the World

The sights and sounds of the 5th annual National Heirloom Exposition are just around the corner. The expo's mission: to reconnect us to the pure, healthful food of our heritage. The world is being taken over by national and multi-national corporations, whose reach has not just extended into the food industry but appears to have taken it over. The goal of these corporations is to make the most money for their shareholders, not to provide nutritious food for our health.

Iceland-Land of Fire and Ice (And So Much Water!)

The Land of Fire and Ice

Recently my wife, Nancy, and I had the good fortune to spend two weeks in Iceland, the incredible "Land of Fire and Ice". In stark contrast to the drought stricken western United States, where we live, Iceland almost appears to have more water than they can handle. We should all have such problems!

Plant Now for a Fall Vegetable Garden

Although most of the country recently experienced a terrible heat spell, two months from now we'll be wishing we had planted some vegetable crops in late Summer. Crops do surprisingly well in the cool fall weather with fewer insects and weeds, and more rain. No, I'm not talking about tomatoes and peppers, but now is the perfect time to plant brassicas, beets, carrots, chard and other cool season vegetables. These crops tend to be loaded with nutrients and taste even sweeter when they are harvested under more temperate conditions. Take advantage of these factors and extend the time that you'll get the freshest veggies from your garden.

The New and Improved 2015 DripWorks Planning Guide

A Garden Sketch Becomes Reality

We fear the unknown. It's not a failing. It's a human survival mechanism that warns us to be cautious whenever we encounter something new and potentially dangerous. Most of the time that fear is unsubstantiated and we discover the monster we imagined was much worse than the one we actually encounter. If we're lucky, we find a mentor, a guru, or guide that can lead us (often kicking and screaming) past the pitfalls in our path and around the obstacles that might trip us up along the way to enlightenment.

The same applies to learning something new, like drip irrigation. That's why DripWorks has put together the 2015 Drip Planning Guide, a condensed compendium to help you find your way to saving water, time, and money through drip irrigation. Whether you’re new to drip irrigation, or a seasoned pro, this guide is designed to answer your questions and alleviate your fears. So don’t sit there wondering if drip irrigation is for you. Jump in. We’ll have you up and growing in no time.

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Six Smart & Simple Drip Irrigation Kits

Getting Started

As we pointed out in our previous blog, July is Smart Irrigation Month, a time set aside to bring awareness to the problems presented by worsening drought and a diminishing water supply. It's also an opportunity for homeowners, landscapers, and farmers to learn about the solutions (such as drip irrigation) that are readily available to provide relief. If you’re new to drip irrigation and wondering how to get started, you won't find a faster or easier way to get up and running than one of DripWorks' complete kits. Available in Economy, Standard, and Deluxe versions, each kit is designed for a specific purpose and everything required is included for you to quickly install a drip irrigation system.

Take Advantage of Smart Irrigation Month

DripWorks is synonymous with smart irrigation and July is Smart Irrigation Month, typically the peak for water demand and the perfect time for the irrigation industry to promote efficient water use. I'm reasonably sure that any of you who receive this blog are already on board, having installed (or considering installing) drip irrigation on your property. But if you're interested in saving money on your utility bill and protecting community water supplies, then read on.