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Square Foot Gardening Forum
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Watering systems - Page 3 Toplef10Watering systems - Page 3 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Watering systems - Page 3 I22gcj10Watering systems - Page 3 14dhcg10

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Watering systems

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vortex
CapeCoddess
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Post  vortex 3/26/2015, 2:56 pm

I'm using a combination of micro sprinklers and drip irrigation. The drip is more of a supplement to the micro sprinklers when the plants start to become more dense as they grow.

What's nice is that I can change the sprinkler heads and get a different pattern. For example I can use a basic 360 pattern while my corn is short, but as it get taller and the stalks thicken up I can switch to a narrow pattern between rows.

Plus I can turn each individual sprinkler on and off, so that's a plus. That also means for my corn I can leave the extra sprinklers turned off until I switch to the narrow band spray.

With a timer, two "kits" (each had 50' of hose, 6 sprinklers, and several different heads, and a backflow preventer), and a few odds an ends I don't think I had $100 into it all. Best investment for irrigation I've made. I was using a rainbow sprinkler before, but I recouped my investment in the first two months or so just by the amount of water I saved.

Not to mention that with a timer I don't have to actually drag myself out before dawn to start the water.
vortex
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Post  Triciasgarden 3/26/2015, 6:39 pm

smiles  Welcome to the forum Vortex!
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Post  Triciasgarden 3/26/2015, 6:41 pm

sanderson wrote:Can't pick out chips with those gloves when I amend.  I do use that type when planting flowers because of the dirt and small wood chips.  Also, glass, wires, etc. that still show up from sloppy workers who built the house 20 years ago and the 13 cu. yd. of black compost we spread and mixed in the dirt.  I have wide hands so to get gloves that fit, they often have extra length on the fingers. Embarassed  The knit cotton gloves don't have extra finger length.  

Ahhh, that makes sense! My hands are small, so it is hard to find garden gloves my size.
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Post  vortex 3/27/2015, 1:39 am

Triciasgarden wrote: smiles Welcome to the forum Vortex!



Thank you.
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Post  Triciasgarden 3/27/2015, 11:41 am

Sanderson, I got an idea on something that may make it so you don't get the splinters when you are removing bark. How about using those tiny shovels people use to clean the poo out of cat boxes. MM would go through and maybe most of the bark would stay in the shovel. Don't know if it would work.
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Post  BrianDorry55 3/27/2015, 1:37 pm

Sanderson,

I love your setup...after one year of hand-watering down here in Florida, I've got to figure out something more practical. I don't have a sprinkler system...is it possible to hook up the drip works irrigation lines to my household water spigot? Turning it on and off when I need to water? Thank you!

Brian
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Post  sanderson 3/27/2015, 3:28 pm

Yes!!  bounce  You just need an an adapter that will attach to a male faucet thread and 1/2" solid black tubing.  Maybe a pressure regulator if your water pressure is too strong.

I just called the 1-800# for http://www.dripworks.com.  Look under "Drip Irrigation Products", "Fittings" for 1/2" Easy Lock Female Hose Start, Item #: ELFH.  Black solid 1/2" tubing attaches to the other end with a compression fitting.  There are all kinds of neat Gizmos at this site.  I use the 1/4"  solid line to run up the side of each box, then the 1/4" Soaker Dripline with drippers every 6." (DSD6)

I don't know which I like better, seed catalogs or DripWork catalog!! Very Happy

PS I have a "Y" adapter on my faucet, one for the hose and one without a hose for filling containers, washing hands, etc. If you put a brass "Y" on the faucet and run an attached hose over to the beds, the same ELFH fitting above can attach to the hose. You have several choices of how you want to do it.

PPS: Always put an atmospheric vacuum breaker on any hose bibb, FIRST, to prevent back siphoning into your household potable water system.

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Post  Elizabeth 3/27/2015, 5:41 pm

Hello all,

I scanned through the post so I hope I am not repeating other forum members.

If you choose to use a rainbow sprinkler or other type of hose end sprinkler set your timer for the wee hours of the morning - 3 to 5 am.  Before you and your neighbors start with morning showers, laundry, dish washing ....  Your water pressure will be at it's best and your plants will be well watered before having to face the heat of the day.  You will need to do some test runs to judge the amount of time to get the soil well saturated but not boggy. 

You should not need to water daily.  1" per week is sufficient in most regions. Spread that out over 3 watering cycles per week.

Do not water in the evening.  You do not want your plants to go into the night wet.  That encourages pathogens.  Not good.

I agree with the other members.  Over head hose end sprinklers waste so much water and end up costing you more than a drip system or a drip tape system. 

Your first consideration should be the availability and cost of your water. 

I was not familiar with Drip Works but I checked out their site and it looks like they have a very nice system.

When I had my Landscaping Business I used Poly Drip.

http://www.polydrip.com/products/irrigation/diy-micro-drip-irrigation/

I like their product and found the employees very helpful.  They were always able and willing to help with irrigation design and implementation. 

Regardless of the company you choose do call them and discuss your particular needs.  You are making an investment.  The company you select should be willing to spend some time on the phone with you and assist you with an irrigation design suitable for your garden.

One thing to consider is the diameter of your feeder line.  If you are running more than 30' of line you need to use a 3/4" line instead of a 1/2" line.  The smaller line will restrict water flow and reduce water pressure. 

There was some discussion of mulch.  The only thing I use, in the garden or in landscape beds, is pine straw.  The initial application needs to be very thick, at least 12".  At first it appears unsightly.  It quickly packs down into a lovely, woodsy looking mulch.  The needles twine together and create the best weed barrier available.  The weave is porous enough to allow water to flow through.  It decomposes slowly and requires much less replenishment.  Because of the slow decomposition it does not suck as much nitrogen out of the soil that decomposing wood mulch does.  Contrary to popular belief it will not adversely impact the pH of your soil.

All of the information from all of the members can be confusing and overwhelming.  TMI Take your time.  Do some homework.  Before you order online DO call the vendor and discuss your specific needs.

Good luck
Elizabeth
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Post  yolos 3/27/2015, 8:39 pm

Thanks for those pointers Elizabeth.  I am still in the thinking stage for drip irrigation.
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Post  AtlantaMarie 3/27/2015, 8:49 pm

Me too, Yolos.

Thanks Elizabeth.  Definitely gives me more to think about...!
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Post  southern gardener 3/28/2015, 11:09 pm

in the past, the drip irrigation didn't work well with the MM because the water just went straight down, didn't "fan" out and left lots of dry spots. We went with our "watering swords" we made and it works really well. Nice even spray, and the whole bed gets watered evenly. Hope you do well!!
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Watering systems - Page 3 Empty update on aunts garden with new watering system planted 2/14/2015

Post  duhh 4/12/2015, 8:28 pm

Watering systems - Page 3 Bevs_g11

Watering systems - Page 3 Bevgar10
it's a jungle out there!
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Post  sanderson 4/12/2015, 8:48 pm

Holy cow!! Please post the before picture as a comparison for new or seasonal members. Wow! again. What a Face

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Post  duhh 4/12/2015, 9:04 pm

sanderson wrote:Holy cow!!  Please post the before picture as a comparison for new or seasonal members.  Wow! again. What a Face
Watering systems - Page 3 Bev_ga10
feb 2015

Watering systems - Page 3 Bevs_g12
march 2015

Watering systems - Page 3 Bevs_g13
April 2015

This is with using the drip works watering system. Seems to be working really well for my aunt!
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Post  boffer 4/12/2015, 9:08 pm

golly gee whiz

It's amazing how plants grow in warm weather!
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Watering systems - Page 3 Empty How long do you water with Drip Systems!!!

Post  rbridge28570 4/14/2015, 12:45 pm

Anyone with the Drip Irrigation systems, how long do you water to get 1" of water and how many days do you water? I'm going to get a system but need to know what everyone has experienced. This would be with the .5gph drippers. I will be doing 4 x 8 beds!!! I seen a lot about watering but confused on length and time. Thank You!!!
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