Watering System Help

yenling83

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Hey All,

Hope you can help out a total newbie to watering systems. I'm looking to set up my first watering system for trees in Training. Was hoping to set up a system for maybe 40 small trees in training, would like to have the capability to expand the system in time-probably just a drip system. I'd really like to do this the right way and not set something up that will only last a couple years. Suggestions on what to buy? What to avoid? Is this a pretty simple process or would you hire someone to help? Would love to hear your experiences with watering set ups like this.
 
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I would say overhead spray is going to be much more reliable than a drip system. There are alot of factors but if you can fill up a 5 gallon bucket in under 1 minute from your water source I would use spray heads (Rainbird 1812). You will probably only need two spray heads, in your layout the spray from one head should reach the other sprinkler head aka double coverage. With irrigation simplicity is the key. It is worth it to spend extra on a good reliable plug in controller like a Hunter Pro C. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
 

bonhe

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To conserve the water especially in California, I would prefer the drip system. To set up this system, it is fairly simple. You should be able to do that yourself!
Bonhe
 

justBonsai

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I use the attached rain bird timer into 1/2 inch tubing running along the length of my trees. From the 1/2 tubing I run either 1/4 inch (for drippers) or 1/8 inch (for the spot spitter) tubing into the trees. As mentioned an overhead system probably would be more consistent and reliable but in turn you use more water--plus if hard water is an issue where you live all your trees will develop lime deposits on the leaves and pots.

On larger trees I use a couple spot spitters and place them around the pot. For smaller trees I use these circular inline drippers and create a loop of tubing segmented by the drippers that go around the tree. The flaw about this design is that if the canopy of the tree is big you can't pull off the ring without pulling on branches. I'm trying to see if there are detachable 1/4inch valves to solve this problem. The plus side is that water is distributed very evenly. You'll need 1/4 and 1/8th inch barbed connectors to put everything together.


http://www.dripworks.com/product/Q_MRS/sprayers
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DIG-1-GPH-Inline-Dripper-25-Pack-WL125B/202613704
http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Bird-1ZE...qid=1464502615&sr=8-1&keywords=rainbird+timer

There is a lot of variations in set ups people use. Just look around and find what works for you.
 

Dav4

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I set up my system this year and would definitely recommend the spray emitters over the drippers as the water from the drippers seems to go straight through the soil only in one place. I actually use mostly sprayers with a few drippers and drip line in certain pots/locations. Bigger pots get dedicated one or two 90 degree sprayers, smaller pots are massed together on benches with 180 and 360 degree spray emitters placed around and amongst them to provide sufficient coverage. You can either buy a kit on line or look at what the kit includes and custom build from stuff sourced on line or at HD or Lowes. Basically, you'll need an auto timer, water pressure regulator, 1/2" main line tubing (if you need more water for more trees go bigger- I used 3/4"), 1/4" tubing, elbow connectors then your sprayers/drip line.
 

Dav4

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@Dav4 ... Got a shot of it in action? Some days, I like seeing the trees get watered without my help.
Here are some action shots from this AM. It get's the job done. Fwiw, I'd love a system such as yours and not have to worry about battery life and running tubing around and through the benching and pots...just not feasible in my yard at the moment
 

JudyB

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Here's my command central for my system. I wanted more programs for misting in hot weather, so each line gets two timers with shutoffs so when it's hot the misting timer runs and not when it's cloudy or cooler.
P1010717.jpg
 

Brian Van Fleet

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High tech. My Rainbird controller is old, and probably needs to be replaced, but that's going to need to wait a while.
I would like the option to set different program lengths; longer in the AM, with a couple short mist cycles during the heat of the day.
 

JudyB

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High tech. My Rainbird controller is old, and probably needs to be replaced, but that's going to need to wait a while.
I would like the option to set different program lengths; longer in the AM, with a couple short mist cycles during the heat of the day.
Take a look at Claber, they have a lot of different units out there..
 
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