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Re: automatic watering

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard F. Dillon <rfdillon@hal-pc.org>
Subject: Your irrigation system

> ...It would sure be nice to set this up when
>we go on vacation so that the next door neighbor wouldn't have to be relied
>upon.  What is T-Tape, and do you bury it in the soil, or exactly how did
>you implement this irrigation system?  Thanks so much in advance for all
>your help,
>
>Richard F. Dillon
>rfdillon@hal-pc.org
>
T-Tape is one of several brand names for drip tape.  It has worked very well
for me once I learned how to use it.  Not everybody likes it (see a previous
post archived at url http://www.mallorn.com/lists/sqft/aug98/msg00038.html
for a different opinion).   The tape come in 2 sizes, 5/8" dia or 3/8" dia.
The 5/8" is in available 8, 10, and 15 mil thicknesses;  3/8" in 6 and 10
mil.  I would recommend the 5/8-15 mil size because it is more durable.
Then there is a choice of high flow or low flow emitter outlets spaced at
4", 8" or 12" along the tape so you can get flow rates of 13, 20, 27, 40 or
60 gph/100 feet.  I use both the high and low emitter rate flow emitters
spaced at 8" which gives me a choice of either the 40 gph/100 feet type for
spring and early summer when humidity is low and evapotranspiration rates
are high or the 20 gph/100 ft type in late summer and fall when ET rates are
lower.  If you have all the same size beds, you can make several sets  that
are reusable indefinitely and are transportable between the beds.  Far a 4x8
foot bed, I use 8-foot tapes connected to a drip tube "manifold" and spaced
12" apart running in parallel through the bed.  Twelve inches was the max.
spacing to give even water distribution throughout the beds at the root zone
in our clay soil - other soil types may require other spacing.  Parts
required for one set:

4 feet of 1/2 inch drip tubing (.600 ID, .700 OD)
1 1/2" Female Hose End (Must fit the above tubing)
1 1/2" Male Hose End
4 8 foot lengths of 5/8 ", 15 mil T-Tape
4 5/8" by 1/4" barb Tape Lok Fittings

Place the MHT and FHT hose ends , one on each end of the 4 foot drip tubing.
Punch 4 emitter holes at 12 inch intervals evenly spaced along one side of
the 1/2" drip tube.  Insert the 4 Tape Lok barb fittings into the emitter
holes, fasten the 4 8" T-Tapes on to the 4 Tape Lock fittings.  Close off
the downstream end of the  4 T-Tapes by folding back about 1 inch of the
tape, then slipping a piece of tape over the folded back ends.  This
drip-leaks a little but it holds real well.  You can also get fittings
designed to close off the tape ends but I don't think it's necessary.  Place
the affair into the 4X8 bed and connect the FHT end of the drip tubing to a
filtered, 10 psi pressure regulated supply using a garden hose.  You can
close off the other end of the drip tube using a hose end cap or connect it
to another system using a garden hose.  T-Tapes are not made to go around
corners unless you use the 90 deg elbows.  I prefer straight runs.  I don't
bury the tapes in the soil but I always cover it with mulch.  There is a
subsoil type that has been evaluated by the U of A but it's only available
commercially in mile-long rolls.

This all sounds complex but it is really pretty easy and takes longer to
talk about it than to do it.

======================================================

-----Original Message-----
om: Melissa Wise <mwise@simreal.com>
Subject: automatic watering


>  ... You didn't mention what kind of timer you used.....where  was it
set.....where did you purchase it.....obviously one more great idea from
from the sq ftrs

I use a battery-operated timer on a hose bibb.  Brand name is RainMatic but
I don't believe that's important.  Bought at Price Club several years ago.
It is supposed to be weather-sealed but I always put a plastic bag over it
and also a #10 can to shade it because it isn't UV resistant.  Always put in
fresh batteries if we're gone for longer than one week.  The sequence is:
Water Supply, hose bibb, timer, vacuum breaker, filter, 10 psi pressure
regulator, garden hose, drip tubing, T-Tapes.

-Olin

Olin


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