I want to improve my garden. I need to protect it from the brutal winds we
have here sometimes, and I would like to shade a portion of it. I am going
to build a framework similar to those at plant nurseries. I would also like
to make raised beds to make it easier to access everything.

I was wondering about the water system. I would like to have some sprayers
from the ceiling, as I see this reduces temperatures, and soaks everything
as from a natural rain. Is this a good idea? Should I have the water
coming in from the top, plus some coming in pipes in the ground? My garden
is getting irrigated spotty right now because the pipes flow into trenches,
and then gravity takes it to the plants. The plants at the top of the ditch
get more water, and if something interrupts the flow, the plants at the end
don't get hardly any water. I want to make an even distribution system so
that they all get a proper amount of water. I would like it all to come
down from above so that when the water is shut off, it drains out, making it
less likely to freeze come cold weather.

Ideas and experiences appreciated.

Steve

--
"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere
critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly,
not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done."
Theodore Roosevelt 1891

In article ,
"SteveB" toquerville@zionvistas wrote:

I want to improve my garden. I need to protect it from the brutal winds we
have here sometimes, and I would like to shade a portion of it. I am going
to build a framework similar to those at plant nurseries. I would also like
to make raised beds to make it easier to access everything.

I was wondering about the water system. I would like to have some sprayers
from the ceiling, as I see this reduces temperatures, and soaks everything
as from a natural rain. Is this a good idea? Should I have the water
coming in from the top, plus some coming in pipes in the ground? My garden
is getting irrigated spotty right now because the pipes flow into trenches,
and then gravity takes it to the plants. The plants at the top of the ditch
get more water, and if something interrupts the flow, the plants at the end
don't get hardly any water. I want to make an even distribution system so
that they all get a proper amount of water. I would like it all to come
down from above so that when the water is shut off, it drains out, making it
less likely to freeze come cold weather.

Ideas and experiences appreciated.

Steve

No matter where you live.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...&pwst=1&sa=X&o
i=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=microclimates&sp ell=1

Think how the heck did the Hopi grow corn in a such a place ? As my
faulty memory recalls. They hilled small hills of corn on one side to
provide a wind break. This also enabled dew to collect and nurture.

http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/ALN/aln29/soleri.html

"Book of the Hopi" a great read some time.

Not a simple idea but a challenging one.

Have Fun!

Bill

--
Garden in shade zone 5 S Jersey USA
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/0..._n_107741.html

"SteveB" toquerville@zionvistas wrote in message
...
I want to improve my garden. I need to protect it from the brutal winds we
have here sometimes, and I would like to shade a portion of it. I am going
to build a framework similar to those at plant nurseries. I would also like
to make raised beds to make it easier to access everything.


Sounds good

I was wondering about the water system. I would like to have some sprayers
from the ceiling, as I see this reduces temperatures, and soaks everything
as from a natural rain. Is this a good idea?

Overhead spraying uses up more water than ground level watering due to
evaporative loss. With frequent use it can also encourage fungi by leaving
the leaves wet, raising humidity and bringing up spores from the ground if it
squirts that far.

However some types of plants will do much better with raised humidity and the
coolness produced by the evaporative loss - provided you can afford the water
and other possible consequences.

I know of a rainforest maintained in a gully by spraying at intervals round
the clock in a climate that gets about 25 in per year of rain and would never
support such a thing naturally.

You have to decide on how much you want to grow according to your climate and
how much you want to create a microclimate.

Should I have the water
coming in from the top, plus some coming in pipes in the ground? My garden
is getting irrigated spotty right now because the pipes flow into trenches,
and then gravity takes it to the plants. The plants at the top of the ditch
get more water, and if something interrupts the flow, the plants at the end
don't get hardly any water. I want to make an even distribution system so
that they all get a proper amount of water.

Drippers or "leaky" hoses will do this and conserve water too.

I would like it all to come
down from above so that when the water is shut off, it drains out, making it
less likely to freeze come cold weather.


Cannot comment due to lack of experience with gardens freezing.

Ideas and experiences appreciated.

Steve


David

"David Hare-Scott" wrote in message
...

"SteveB" toquerville@zionvistas wrote in message
...
I want to improve my garden. I need to protect it from the brutal winds
we
have here sometimes, and I would like to shade a portion of it. I am
going
to build a framework similar to those at plant nurseries. I would also
like
to make raised beds to make it easier to access everything.


Sounds good

I was wondering about the water system. I would like to have some
sprayers
from the ceiling, as I see this reduces temperatures, and soaks
everything
as from a natural rain. Is this a good idea?

Overhead spraying uses up more water than ground level watering due to
evaporative loss. With frequent use it can also encourage fungi by
leaving
the leaves wet, raising humidity and bringing up spores from the ground if
it
squirts that far.

However some types of plants will do much better with raised humidity and
the
coolness produced by the evaporative loss - provided you can afford the
water
and other possible consequences.

I know of a rainforest maintained in a gully by spraying at intervals
round
the clock in a climate that gets about 25 in per year of rain and would
never
support such a thing naturally.

You have to decide on how much you want to grow according to your climate
and
how much you want to create a microclimate.

Should I have the water
coming in from the top, plus some coming in pipes in the ground? My
garden
is getting irrigated spotty right now because the pipes flow into
trenches,
and then gravity takes it to the plants. The plants at the top of the
ditch
get more water, and if something interrupts the flow, the plants at the
end
don't get hardly any water. I want to make an even distribution system
so
that they all get a proper amount of water.

Drippers or "leaky" hoses will do this and conserve water too.

I would like it all to come
down from above so that when the water is shut off, it drains out, making
it
less likely to freeze come cold weather.


Cannot comment due to lack of experience with gardens freezing.

Ideas and experiences appreciated.

Steve


David

Sorry, I should have added that water is terribly expensive here. We are AG
1 zoning, and the water bill is a flat $100 a year with no meter for a 1
1/4" line.

Steve ;-)

It seems that the subject of conversation is the signature that you
introduced into the gardening newsgroups.


__________________
garden furniture uk garmin uk bedroom furniture uk furniture london discount furniture outdoor furniture bathroom furniture

In article ,
"SteveB" toquerville@zionvistas wrote:

Ideas and experiences appreciated.

Steve

--
"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere
critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly,
not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done."
Theodore Roosevelt 1891

--

Ah, a perceptive man, ol' Teddy. Funny how things ain't changed much.

- Billy

"Political parties exist to secure responsible government and to execute
the will of the people. From these great tasks both of the old parties
have turned aside. Instead of instruments to promote the general welfare
they have become the tools of corrupt interests, which use them
impartially to serve their selfish purposes. Behind the ostensible
government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance
and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this
invisible government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt
business and corrupt politics, is the first task of the statesmanship of
the day. "

- Theodore Roosevelt

* "The Progressive Covenant With The People" speech (August, 1912)

Billy wrote:
In article ,
"SteveB" toquerville@zionvistas wrote:

Ideas and experiences appreciated.

Steve

--
"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere
critic-the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly,
not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done."
Theodore Roosevelt 1891

--

Ah, a perceptive man, ol' Teddy. Funny how things ain't changed much.

- Billy

"Political parties exist to secure responsible government and to execute
the will of the people. From these great tasks both of the old parties
have turned aside. Instead of instruments to promote the general welfare
they have become the tools of corrupt interests, which use them
impartially to serve their selfish purposes. Behind the ostensible
government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance
and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this
invisible government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt
business and corrupt politics, is the first task of the statesmanship of
the day. "

- Theodore Roosevelt

* "The Progressive Covenant With The People" speech (August, 1912)

Vote Bullmoose

cheers

oz, getting feet rubbed after three days (and nights) of square dancing