SteveB wrote:
"Scott Hildenbrand" wrote in message
. ..
Ok.. After the feedback on the bed prep I'd decided to cut back greatly on
how much I'm putting down and to just layer in some good peat and manure
before I till it all in after the initial kill off with CLEAR plastic.


Now.. Moving on, what are your opinions on these drip irrigation methods.

1.) 1/2" Drip Tape with emitters welded to it on 12" Spacing.

At around $47 for 500', it's a good price but I'm wondering about the
emitters clogging over time.. Hmmm..

2. ) 1/4" Drilled Soaker Hose with holes at 6" Spacing

A little more, at $56 for 500' but no emitters. Just holes in the tube to
allow water flow. Might be less worry about clogging up.

3.) 1/2" PC Drip Line, hole spacing 12", 18" or 24" - Closer = More $$$

Freakin expensive. At $124 for 500' it's too much for my taste.. I'm sure
it lasts for years and years though but not worth it IMO.



I'm leaning to the #2 option as it's cheap, doesn't require much to set up
and uses holes instead of micro emitters that may clog easier.

At any rate, I want to test drip irrigation out on the garden first and
then if satisfied expand to include the various flower beds around the
house.

Looking forward to your opinions as always.

Lemme give you the short version:

I have fooled with these things for about five years. Two years in, we
xeriscaped. That is where you take out lawn, and the Water Department pays
you a flat $2 per square foot. You then have to replace it with plants that
they approve, and with a system that they approve.

In that system, there must be a filter of a particular style, and MOST
IMPORTANTLY, pressure reducers. These lower the blast of water hitting
these little pipes when the solenoid goes from full closed to full open in
1/10 second. I thought it was a bunch of hooey, but after we put them in, I
had far less geysers than before. Far fewer popped plugs, lines,
everything.

I think there may be some difference in quality of materials, thus a
difference in cost. But, one can shop and compare, and then buy at the
lower costs, just try to avoid really El Cheapo stuff. You get what you pay
for, and it really does save money in the long run to do it right from the
beginning rather than several versions, all with lots of left over hose and
widgets.

It is difficult to advise you. You seem to want to use the soaker variety
rather than just put in lines with a head at each plant. Those are Tinker
Toy simple to do, and to change later, and give you water only where you
want it instead of all over. I never really liked the soaker hose a lot.

Steve



Oh I can't stand the full on soakers that are made out of tires. Water
goes everywhere even when not needed.

The hose I'm looking at has holes pre done on 12" increments but can be
punched to allow closer spacing.

I really don't see much need to do the individual emitters and tubing
when all that's going in the garden are rows of plants that will for the
most part all be 12" apart or so, which makes the #1 choice above a
dandy one. I think the #2 option I can get at 12" per hole, will need to
check again.

Now, for if/when I do the landscape with drip, I'll be looking at a more
specific system to install where I can pinpoint not only where the water
is, but vary the amount of water on a per emitter basis.

Oh, know about the filters and pressure regulator too.. I'll be
running at 15PSI fixed, or maybe an adjustable regulator if it seems
worth it.

All in all though, you feel that it's worth while to do a drip system?