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Re: Re[2]: Watering

The best thing about drip irrigation is that if you don't water the paths,
they remain relatively weed free.
And you save water. 

The worst thing is all the hoses going everywhere.

The clay content of the soil affects horizontal water spread from drip hoses.

I sort of like the drip hoses from recycled tires, but there are some bad
brands out there that leak too much and put too much water at the beginning
of the run. You can't mix brands either, as the leakyness varies and you
won't get consistent watering.

Overhead watering cools the garden quite a bit. This can be good or bad.
Usually bad in my area.

Timers are the way to go! Plants are like kids - they like consistency. I
use the $20 Melnor timers that run on batteries and attach to the hose bib.
They aren't very good but are easy to install. They leak and get the
circuitry wet so you have to dry them out periodically. Also their quality
seems pretty poor. But they're way better than nothing. I'd like to replace
them with separate contol units and solenoid valves.

The fan type oscillating sprinklers are terrible. They put all the water at
the ends. The impact sprinklers are pretty good for even coverage.

Hand watering probably the best, but by the time I get done with the pots, I
don't have time for the garden.

Anybody have experience with a drip system for potted plants?


Eric



At 02:43 PM 5/1/97 -0400, you wrote:
>     Questions about watering:
>     
>     The good news is that most plants do OK, even if we don't follow best 
>     practices.
>     
>     Having said that,
>     
>     There are a lot of problems that can be avoided by watering in the 
>     morning, so the leaves of the plants can dry off during the day.  
>     Funguses and molds, for example.
>     
>     Also, some diseases are transmitted from water splashing on the soil 
>     so a method that doesn't splash is better.  Tomatos and that family 
>     are prone to these (I wish I could remember the names for you but they 
>     are one or more of the problems that you avoid by buying VFN resistant 
>     strains)
>     
>     I use one of the wands with many holes and water by hand in the 
>     morning.  It may not be practical if your garden is very big or very 
>     dry, but it is a special time for me.  It is also inspection time when 
>     I look for early signs of problems.  Late in the season, when 
>     everything is mulched, I just leave the hose on a moderate flow and 
>     move it around on top of the mulch.  You wouldn't want to do this 
>     without mulch because it would wash away topsoil.
>     
>     But remember, plants will develop deeper roots and tolerate dry 
>     weather better if you really soak them and let the surface dry out.  A 
>     little water every day encourages shallow roots (although you may have 
>     to start seedlings out like that.)
>     
>     One of the biggest arguments for not watering with a sprinkler system 
>     is not about the plants.  A great deal of water evaporates before ever 
>     hitting the ground so it can be very wasteful.
>     
>     Esther
>
>
>______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
>Subject: Re: Watering
>Author:  mbroome@freya.berry.edu at SMTPlink-USIS1
>Date:    5/1/97 1:29 PM
>
>
>I thought of turning the flat hoses upside down. Does that cover a 
>wide enough area? ie. does the plant 2 feet away from the hose get 
>water?
>     
>     
>     
>Mary Ellen Broome
>Database Manager
>Development Services
>Berry College
>Rome, Georgia
>     
>
>
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