Planning my drip irrigation

[enchant]

I've put down soaker hoses over the past couple of years, and they've worked quite well. The only problem is that they don't last long at all. A couple lasted two seasons before they started leaking badly, and the others only made it through one year.

I've been thinking of using Rain Bird systems, but if there are others that are a better choice, I'd like to know.

One problem that I don't know how to get around is that I'm sure pulling them up at the end of the season and then putting them back at the beginning is stressful on the hoses. After being out in the weather for months, they probably get brittle, and bending them contributes to their short-gevity. But at the beginning of every season, I go medieval on the soil, and any ground irrigation would be in the way of that.

[whoose]

Do not buy a brand name go to a Big BOX (Home D ) is my favorite for this stuff. Just get someone there that knows anything to help you. Buy what you think you need and then come back when you find out what you missed. Cheap stuff to install and move. I leave mine out in the snow (3-4') and below zero temp. No harm.

Send some pics when you are done.

[enchant]

Originally Posted by whoose

go to a Big BOX [...] get someone there that knows anything

That's often easier said than done. Closest to me is Lowes, and half the time I ask for help, all they do is to go to the appropriate department and start looking over the shelves, which I just did.

[Worth1]

I have to ask some questions before I can help you.
How fancy do you want to get and what are you trying to irrigate.
Thanks to your thread it reminded me to up the watering time on my bamboo and I just did it with my computer.

Another thing I would suggest is to not go to the big box stores to get your stuff.
There are much better options.
Even though I did buy my 1/2 drip line and some other stuff at Lowes.

The controller and valves are where you want to start.
Not all are the same an not all valves are good for drip.
If you get the wrong valve it will turn on but it might not turn off.
As for the drip line done worry about it it will last a long time.
So how much do you need to irrigate

Also drip line is what emitters are in drip tubing has no emitters.
Worth

[mikemansker]

Enchant,

I fall into the extremely lazy tomato grower category.

I purchased the 1/4 inch tubing with the emitters already in the line on Amazon. I snake the tubing around my planting bed and secure them with landscape staples.

I'm so lazy that I bought an automatic timer to attach to my faucet and they get watered on a schedule. If it's going to rain, I just turn off the timer until I want to resume. I'm not sure how long the tubes will last but they seem pretty durable and are easy to take up in the spring if you want to add dirt to your bed.

[enchant]

Originally Posted by Worth1

How fancy do you want to get and what are you trying to irrigate.

Well, like all vegetable gardeners, I'm all about the fancy! No... I just want something reasonably durable. I bought cheap last year, and I spent the summer chasing down massive leaks in the system. Once they're buried under salt marsh hay and a lot of vegetable vines, it's difficult to replace them.

My reason for going with drip rather than hand watering is two-fold. The convenience is terrific. I can turn on the hose without even stepping out of the house. But I completely ruined one season of tomatoes by hand watering and getting the leaves regularly wet. Since I started with the drip irrigation, that hasn't been an issue.

I've got three gardens, each about 12x15. About 50% tomatoes and a variety in the rest..

So how much do you need to irrigate

Well, it depends on the weather. If it's in the 90's and no recent soaking rain, I usually turn on the trip irrigation for 45 minutes every other morning.

[Worth1]

What I meant by how much do you need to irrigate I meant how big of a garden.
You answered that.
When you said controller do you mean the battery operated one on a hose bib or a real controller/timer.

I have helped out a lot of people here with this and will be glad to help in any way.
The problem with big box stores is they carry just enough stuff to get by and then you are trapped.

[whoose]

Worth is correct spend the time and money on your controllers. My system it full automated, I can leave for 2 weeks and not worry about watering.

[BigVanVader]

I would say for sure go to a actual irrigation supply company. Often times they can help you design a system for your specific needs, plus the quality and selection of products are much better. In my region you can even set an appointment to talk to the design specialist for free and they often think of things I wouldn't.

Just to note, I have a fully automated 4 zone drip irrigation set up. It cost a couple hundred bucks but will last for decades with proper maintenance not to mention the time saved. It pays for itself.

[Worth1]

I can design and come up with a parts list for everything you need from something huge to the smallest.
On top of that I can give you options to fit your budget and every need plus keep you within the city codes.
It should all be here on tomatoville someplace.
I will look.
Here is a start.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=33979
Worth

[Ricky Shaw]

What BVV said. I'm way over budget for this year and will probably do a combination of hand watering and gravity fertigation. Swear though, by 2017 there will be a two tank, 50 position, Dosatron drip in place.

[enchant]

Originally Posted by Worth1

When you said controller do you mean the battery operated one on a hose bib or a real controller/timer.

Controller? I don't think I mentioned that. I just turn the water on and off by hand. Once a summer, I'm away for a week, and it'd be nice to have it automated, but I've just had someone come over a couple times to take care of the water.

[Ricky Shaw]

Or better yet, I will invite Worth up.

[enchant]

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

I would say for sure go to a actual irrigation supply company.

That actually sounds like it would cost way way way more than I can justify for this. I've probably spent a total of $30 on drip irrigation so far. Of course, that's probably why my setups haven't lasted. But if my only option was to spend hundreds on a system, I'd have to go back to hand watering.

I could contact such a company, wrangle all the free advice I could get and then buy my gear at Amazon, but I know that they're doing this with a monetary end game in mind, and I feel like I'm cheating them if I take up lots of their time, knowing I'll buy the gear where it's less expensive. I'd prefer getting my knowledge here, where everyone knows in advance that they ain't gettin' a dime from me.

[enchant]

Originally Posted by Worth1

I can design and come up with a parts list for everything you need from something huge to the smallest.

That sounds like more than I want to put you through. Let me look through that link, and if I have some fine-tuning questions, I can ask then.