Thanks very much for the info. It sounds like my best approach is the
polyethylene tubing and various emitters.I know its going to vary based on #
of emitters, spacing, water pressure, etc. However, is there a general rule
of thumb to how long of a tubing run and how many emitters one should have
in a single run?

Are there any good online sources for purchasing the various components
and/or for reading up on the different components available? I've searched
and found many, many resources, but looking for a good starting point.

thanks!


"dps" wrote in message
...
Soaker hose comes in two types: a regular hose with holes poked into it
and a hose made from recycled tires that is moderately porous, so it
leaks everywhere. The first type will send small jets out either in one
direction or in all directions, depending on how the holes are punched.
These jets can create small erosion areas, but they're not generally
serious. The recycled tire type is good for soaking an area, but has a
finite lifetime of only a couple of years on the average. Being on the
surface, it gets chewed by rodents, particularly during times of drought.

If you're going to bury something, it might as well be more conventional
inground irrigation tubing. Home Depot carries it, as well as the
emitters, which range from sprays to rotary jets. You can also get drip
emitters which can be placed adjacent to each shrub, so you aren't
wasting water on the weeds in between. You can get really fancy and
install a timer valve to do it all automatically. However, this wastes
water since it waters on a schedule, not according to need.

While you're about it, it isn't that hard to install more outdoor
spigots unless your basement is completely finished and you don't want
to run pipes through it. Put in as many as you can. I generally double
them up, placing two spigots right next to each other. One can have a
hose permanently attached and the other can be used to fill a bucket.

The soaker hose is the easiest thing to do, but the permanent
installation is the longest lasting thing to do.

If you bury something, you will want to provide for drainage so you can
empty it in the winter. An air compressor is not not necessary if you
have a low spot somewhere. Put a valve at the low spot, unhook the feed
lines at the high end and open the valve. Be sure that you provide
somewhere for the draining water to go, since you want it to drain all
at once. This ensures better drainage of the entire system without
leaving pockets of water. Note that polyethylene tubing will handle
occasional freezing of water, while the pvc pipe will not.

You might want to run a polyethylene tube out to the garden area. Mine
is buried about 2" deep. I drain it for the winter. At the house end I
put a male hose connection on and just attach it to the spigot with a
short length of washing machine hose (double female connections). On the
garden end I put in a short length of pressure treated 2x4 and tie the
hose to it with some plumbing, including a T and two spigots.