Re: watering question

j*

   Soaker hoses demand very clean water.  Any dust in it and they 
will plug up.
   Depending on the height of your beds will be a factor in 
determining what height to put the hoses.  I don't think you would 
want them more than a foot below the surface of the soil.  Even 
then it should have good drainage.  Some hand watering might be 
wise when plants are young and have not yet developed deep roots.
   As to getting the hose in place, Yes drill the boards and then 
drive a length of pipe thru to make the tunnel in the soil.  Make it 
over szed because some soil will fall and block the tunnel.
   They do make laser drilled small diameter hose which you might 
consider.  Ask your local greenhouse about it.  
   I water using a watering wand with spray head.  It is gravity fed 
from my compost tea barrel so it already has some good stuff in it.  
It is said compost tea also helps prevent some plant diseases.  I 
think I have a picture of part of the setup at my webshots page.  
The link below should take you there.  I am lucky enough to have a 
grade next to the garden where I can get the height to make gravity 
feed effective.  Also my way gives the plants a tepid rather than 
cold water.  Plants don't like cold showers either.  The flow in 
soaker hoses will probably allow for solar warming.
   Good luck with the project.

On 11 May 2002, at 19:52, Pat Russell wrote:

> Clear DayI am planning to use soaker hoses for my watering  this year (only
> my second) and was wondering if there were any others who do this.  If you
> do, are your hoses above or below ground? why?  I am thinking about putting
> mine underground but am not sure how to do this with my raised beds (how to
> get the hose into the bed but under the dirt.  One thought was to drill a
> hole in the side of the box just above ground level that would allow the
> hose to enter.  Any other thoughts?
> 
> Pat Russell
> Zone 5, Akron OH
> 
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Jim AllAn
200+ miles NW of ground zero
Inventor of the Dandelion Harvester
A press release can be seen at 

http://community.webshots.com/user/jallan6977
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