Another Drip Irrigation Thread...

14 years ago

I don't need convincing, the rain we've had this year (and the resulting performance of my roses) has convinced me that I haven't been watering enough. And that's because we don't have a sprinkler system, many of my roses are far from the house and I hayate hoses....so I'm doing it this fall.

My question is what size do I go with. I've found these rose irrigation kits online that you can hook up to a hose (yeah, I'll still have to drag that around until I can get a sprinkler system put in) that are 1/4 inch tubing and come with the micro bubblers. They only water 5 roses, so I was thinking of just getting the individual parts and doing stretches of 12-15 for each of my roses beds. But when we went to the store, I only saw hose attachments for 1/2 tubing (and then the 1/4 was used to string from the 1/2 to the plant and attach the bubbler. ) Is 1/4 too small to water 12-15 roses? Should I use the 1/2 inch or do you all think the 1/4 is ok? Thanks for the input.

Rose Drip Kit

Featured Answer

catsrose

14 years ago

Yes, you want 1/2 tubing for your main line/connected to your faucet. If possible, make it a closed system/circle, because this helps maintain equal pressure, especially if you have a lot of emitters. Use the 1/4 line to run the emitters to the individual plants. I use one 1-gal emitter per rose run for 45min/1 hour twice a week. You can add more emitters for larger roses and water more or less, depending on weather. You can run about 200 gallons (ie, 200 1-gal emitters) on one line. Adjust as needed.

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Comments (8)

nitric_acid
14 years ago
If you go to the dripworks website, there is a wealth of information on how to build a drip irrigation system for all kinds of situations.

What I have in my rose garden is a 1/2" tube that runs the length of the garden. From that, I have numerous 1/4" tubes coming out, connected to "shrubblers". I use about 1 shrubbler per two roses.

1/4 is way too small to directly water plants from tap. You'll lose way too much pressure and won't have near the volume you need. It's only suitable for distances of 1-2' (from 1/2" line to whatever drip fixture you are using).
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buford
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you, this is the input I was looking for! I guess those kits aren't really that great.
jktx55
14 years ago
I installed the Mr. Landscaper system in Feb. this year.
It was recommened by a few people here on the forum. I have 30 + roses on the system and it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I bought mine at Lowes.
Good luck.
Kippy
14 years ago
I have been adding sections as we go using the DIG product at Home Depot.

You can use the hose bib for your connect or just run that hose out there.

Something I realized, is that it helps to divide up your zones based on how much water a location needs, not just a rose needs. I have some areas that are on fast draining fill soil that get a lot of sun, they need more water than a section that is more in the shade on clay. One will dry out and the other drown if you don't adjust what you are doing. You can add drippers to the dry zone or split and have 2 separate systems. For a couple of the hottest areas, I added fan sprinklers that have an adjuster so I can turn up in the heat and off when they do not need it.

For our veggie garden, my winter drip project, I am going to do a series of pvc quarter turn valves with hose bib threaded ends so I can pick the watering times for the various beds.
User
14 years ago
'pvc quarter turn valves with hose bib threaded ends'
aaargh - brain gone into dormancy. Seriously, I contemplate this every year - usually around August when I am bored to death with lugging watering cans about....but then I start to think about the practicalities of irrigating a couple of hundred pots, and the likelihood of the elderly, half-blind collie getting in a tangle, and then the summer ends. It goes on a back shelf and by the following spring, I am all enthused and keen....until August when the cycle starts again. One day, I hope to finally get around to it.
flaurabunda
14 years ago
Suzy,
I agree totally with everything you said. You'd think I'd have biceps of steel by September, but that never happens. I think instead of installing irrigation we should just collectively vote to have August removed since it's precipitationally challenged.
mori1
14 years ago
The thought of trying to water my garden with a watering can would give me a heart attack. I have a nice collection of soaker hoses and driplines. I'm lazy, I mean I complain about having to spend 5 to 10 minutes it takes to hook up the hoses. And then a couple hours later, drag my sorry self back outside to turn off the water and put the hose back up.
Thanks to the drought, I had to do this a lot, just ask my water bill.