Return to the Metro NY Gardening Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Watering Getting Insane - Soaker Hose Ideas?
| | |
Posted by BrooklynPhill z6 NY (My Page) on Sun, Jul 24, 05 at 14:13
| Learned a lot on the irrigation forum, but I thought my interip NYC gardening neighbors would know the issue better.
With full south sun on the deck all day, watering is out of control. In Spring, the sprinker and timer was fine for when I wasn't home, but now its just not enough water directly on all the plants. My potted sunflowers especially require TONS of water 2x each day or they start to head south. Everything is in pots.
I am thinking of soaker houses or poking holes in a few regular old garden hoses? With the containers (several doZen) I'm thinking about the mess of hoses winding in and out, if "one pass" of hose will be enough for the high-water plants, and general "this could be a mess" stuff.
I considered poking slightly larger holes in hoses circling the perimiter of the fence above the plants so maybe there's a light trickle on them. Maybe?
Advice, experiences, ideas?
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Watering Getting Insane - Soaker Hose Ideas?
| | |
| I've bought a bunch of extra drip irrigation 1/2 " hose with holes every foot that release 1 gal/hr each... you're welcome to as much as you'd like at cost.. they are regulated openings.. and would be a bit more uniform than pokeing holes yourself.. or go all the way and set up a dripsystem... Gordon |
RE: Watering Getting Insane - Soaker Hose Ideas?
| | |
| There's ¼" tubing you can buy that works much the same way. Setting up a drip system is easy and I highly recommend it. By running a ½" "main line" tube around my railing (held in place with cable ties) and connecting that to a "C" or "S" shape of ¼" emitter tubing in each planter, I was able to fully automate watering this summer. (Other sprayers and misters are available.) It's a huge labor saver and brings peace of mind when you're away. Work in some Greenmarket compost and bone meal every couple of months and there's no need to fertilize when watering; just pull out weeds. You're halfway there with an outdoor hose attachment, which is the biggest challenge for city dwellers. You can use your timer if it's reliable. You'll need a filter, pressure regulator, some tubing and fittings. Check out Dripworks (below), who will help you design your system for free and provide excellent support. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Dripworks - drip irrigation
RE: Watering Getting Insane - Soaker Hose Ideas? (cont'd)
| | |
| I should mention that the tubing is flexible and can be cut with scissors, and the fittings (corners, end plugs, etc.) work by pushing plastic connectors into the tubing. The only tool you'll need other than a pair of scissors is a hole punch, which you buy with the tubing. The fittings themselves create a seal; there's no need for adhesives or other chemicals. |
RE: Watering Getting Insane - Soaker Hose Ideas?
| | |
| Another trick I used is to water a small amount, let the soil absorb it, then water a little more. My timer's set to water for five minutes or so at 4:00 am, then again at 4:30, etc., several days per week. Dry soil tends to repel water at first; this gives it a chance to soak up more than a single 20-minute burst might. |
|
|
|
|
