Installing a Drip Line

I have never grown a garden.  Honestly, because we move so often, I don't even have house plants.  A few weeks ago, my daughter and I planted a vegetable garden.  We haven't grown any food yet, but nothing has died yet either. 

Initially, I thought it would be pretty easy.  Former owners had already put in garden boxes and we have a sprinkler system.  My yard has 7 sprinkler stations.  5 in the front yard and 2 in the backyard.   I can't really afford to water an area that large everyday-nor do I have time to hand water every morning while trying to get everyone off to school/ work.  Then, b/c we're in a drought (Our governor has even called on a state-wide prayers for rain and we're praying), we are only allowed to use sprinklers once a week. I needed a solution to my water problem.

I know that drip-lines are the best way to water your garden, but that sounded really expensive and technically difficult.  I've got to tell you that starting this blog has been good for me.  It has really given me confidence to try new things (like wearing hot pink).  I figured, if it was a dismal failure, maybe I could at least get a funny post out of it. 

I went to my local hardware store a bought this kit.  Here's my review:
It came w/ an instructional DVD that I'm sure is fabulous, but I knew I wouldn't have the patience to sit through it.  It also came w/ a booklet w/ step-by-step instructions and colored photographs with each step. Fabulous!  Really easy to follow. I think all instructions should have a colored photograph for each step.

 My biggest problem that I was installing it AFTER, I had planted my garden.  I had to move some plants around so they would line up w/ the holes a little better.  The other challenge was that the tubing comes rolled up and it didn't want to lay flat.  I would bury sections under the dirt and it's fine now.  My only complaint is that I wish it would have come w/ more support stakes.  You can buy them separately, I just haven't made it back to the store.

Overall, I think it's a great systemand  for around $60 I think it will pay for itself. I think if you installed it before you planted your garden, it would only take around 30 minutes.

Here's my garden.  The drip line is brown, so it doesn't really show up.  Click on the pick to see it larger.

Linking up here.