Does anyone use these in a large bed/garden? I have enlarged my bed each year until I'm now considering it my "garden". I am having to add a pathway thru it now and am going to have to move quite a few things. I was hoping to maybe set up soaker hoses thru it to water deeper etc. If you've used these, you know they are difficult to work with, but I've managed to spread a couple around to test. I'm not sure what is actually happening tho, since I can't see it! I don't know how long to leave it on, how far it's going to soak down, how far it's going to run down (bed slopes) etc. I'm afraid there are plants that are going to be missed. ANY suggestions??? Should I just water with my hose, several times a week (or even daily!) as usual?
Soaker hoses
I don't care for soaker hoses myself, because they tend to "pool" wherever the hose is lower (beds are rareley perfectly level), and they don't water as well at the far ends as they do near the connection to the faucet. What I have been very happy with is a simple drip-irrigation system. Home Depot has a kit for about $17 that allowed to me to deliver water exactly where I want it, and skip the places that don't need it. It's so simple, even I was able to put it together. I am expanding it this year to two other beds.
I did notice that. Right now I have places that don't necessarily need water, but soon things will pop up and there won't be much that won't. Do you have beds that are neatly arranged, with your plants in little groupings? Mine are all over the place, which is one reason the soaker hoses weren't working as well as they look like they do on the gardening shows. I'll have to check out the drip irrigation system. I just thought it would be more expensive.
One other thing to consider is the amount of disolved salts & minerals in the water. Even city water in Texas can have a high salt content. Our well water clogged my soaker hoses in one season. Unless I'm prepared to soak the hoses in vinegar, they're useless now. A drip system would be better in the long run.
I don't know much about the drip irrigation, but looked a little online last night. It looks like they put out water in certain spots, but that just isn't possible in my beds. Every spot has something in it. I really do have to have something with holes all over, but it has to be distributed more than the soaker hoses seem to be doing. They "soak" which seems to me that more of it goes down than out. My beds are at a slant tho, so it should drain down some but I'm just not sure how much will. I can not possibly get those soaker hoses any closer together either.
Has anyone used those hoses that are flat and spray rather than drip and soak? Maybe those would disperse the water a little more. ???
Konkrete, just got back from the Central TX RU and some additional traveling, so this may not sound cpherant (I really need to plop in bed, but couldn't resist "just checking" DG - big mistake! :-) )
One of the things I really like about the drip sytem kit I bought is that you can easily customize/add on. One thing that can be added is a length of tubing that has holes spaced all along it. They all should deliver water at the same rate, not like the soaker hose. In the bed mine is currently installed, I have the main hose all along the middle of the bed, and inserted different watering heads wherever I needed them - some are simple little disc-looking things that drip right there, or you can can easily connect smaller tubing to reach from the main hose over to the plant/plants you want to water, and then attach a variety of watering heads (some that drip, some that spray short distances.)
I encourage you to go into the store and look at the kit and/or the free brochures the manuafacturers usually have there, found myself very confused and frustrating just reading info from the internet. I needed to see everything, to visualize it better. If I remember correctly, the kit also had an illustration of all that you could do, a picture on the back of the package.
I would go with the drip irrigation system that is like the soaker hose - a minature soaker hose instead of many drip heads stratigecally placed along hose. It curves and bends much easier than those dang soaker hoses so that you could "S" it all throughout your beds. We did this around our foundation (and I want to do it in my beds) and we just made stakes with a roll of extra thick wire from HD that we bought, cut, and bent ourselves.
I am in the midst of doing my drip irrigation system. I have had a problem in that I loose pressure halfway around the yard. But I have (hopefully) remedied that by getting a 1/2 inch hose instead of the 1/4 inch I started with. It all depends on your psi. They have a little gadget to measure that. If yours isn't at least 65 (I think) then you won't get good pressure. Mine was okay so I think it was just the fact that trying to run 200 feet of 1/4 tubing was a bad idea. It's a tiny diameter for the water to go through regardless of how good your pressure is. So, that said, I am running 1/2 inch for at least the first half of the yard.
My husband got me all the stuff to get started, but it wasn't a "kit." He just got me the tubing and lots of attachments- "buttons" for watering individual shrubs, roses, trees or large plants. I also got some of the sprayers that resemble small sprinklers almost. They go from 1/4 to full pattern. Basically, I would suggest doing a simple drawing of your beds and see what you want where. My larger beds with plants all over are getting sprayers. But I also have a couple of small trees and water lovers that need a more intense dose of water so they get their own little buttons. Maggie is right- you can customize them to whatever you want! I even got several of the basket misters that I am going to put in my hanging baskets and containers. You are only limited by your imagination... and budget!
Oh! And put me in the I HATE SOAKER HOSES club as well. :)
Jamie
Well, I'm in the minority, but I love my soaker hose system. I have a large garden system that is all connected by border gardens on each side of my home. So its really two systems. They are all on soakers connected to water supply and timers by feeder hoses. I have them on top of the amended soil bed, buried under 4-6" of mulch. They do a really nice job for me.
Here is an image I took a yesterday of my brug seedlings. It will give you an idea of the scale:
I just can't imagine how a drip system could work in my bed. I don't have any order to it. I don't have plants in groupings, other than when they come up from seeds in groups. I'm not even organized enough to know which plants like more water than the others. They just all get watered and then if I go out and see one needs more I water it. I guess I should pay more attention to those needing more. lol
Here is a picture of my bed last fall. You can sort of tell how much I've got and the way things are just "there".
Here is the middle section...
This is it with the newly extended area, and not much growing yet.
Kaufmann, where are your hoses in that bed? Are they in front, back, or wound thru it? I'm just afraid that I'll end up watering for a long time, and all that water will drain down rather than spreading out some. Not sure that makes sense...
I will have to visit the Brugs forum (we have one, right?) to see pics of all of those! I have one in a pot that I am trying to keep alive. Hmmm...I think I need to find that forum now.
I used to use soaker hoses under my pecan tree in the front yard. The problem is mine usually developed a crack that allowed the water to shoot up right there and mess up the water pressure further down the line. Also the hard water I think must have left deposits inside the hose that made it stiff and also clogged the pores. And since I didn't want to have to move them when I wasn't using them, the grass grew over them and then it was impossible to move them. But then they had to be moved so DH could cut the grass. It was one hassle after another. And once I buried one in another flower bed and forgot about it. When I decided to plant something in the bed I put the shovel right through the hose and cut it in two. Hose murder! My advice-- use sprinklers. Mary Lee
Guess I am in the Minority as well...I agree with Kaufmann. I have my soaker hose only in the new raised beds that I put in last fall..they are only about 4 feet deep and placed about center..I have mine on a timer..the rest of my gardens have a sprinkler system...Jeanne
That was my issue with them- they get holes and cuts in them so water sprays out in a stream in one area, pools in another, the hose kinks in a spot so one end gets nothing, in my effort to undo the kink I pull the hose out of the mulch and have to re-bury it, etc. etc. etc.
Konkrete- your beds are gorgeous! You made it sound like it was a big random cluster of junk LOL!!! The best way I can think to describe how the drip system would work in your beds is to compare it to automatic sprinklers in a yard. You know how the heads come up and just spray water over the whole lawn? If I were you, I would run a drip line through the entire bed(s) and put the sprinkler-type attachments down the line. Space them according to the diameter of the spray of each attachment. So if they spray in an 8 ft diameter, space them 4 feet apart (I think). You would NOT have one drip attachment for each plant or group of plants. At least not how I am envisioning it!
I am NOT using my drip system as a 100% replacement of hand watering. I will probably only run it 3x a week, but in the middle of summer I will water ALL containers and brugs daily. So it just cuts down on the hand-hosing of beds and dragging sprinklers around the yard. That said, if you have a plant here and there that needs more water, you will still be out there with the hose or watering can to hand water them.
Does that make sense? :)
Jamie
Maybe I should have mentioned that my soaker hose is BURIED in the soil...and everything is covered with mulch.. so they stay straight,,and no puddling..
Konkrete -- your garden is lovely! My hoses are on top of the soil, but buried under 4-6" of mulch. They, like anything else will eventually wear out and have to be replaced. The last time, I bought top quality 7 year sprinkler hoses, with the sprinkler side down. Believe me, my brugs will let me know if they aren't getting enough! They are heavy drinkers and feeders. On the long narrow beds, they go right down the center, on the others, I have them wound around. I may someday switch to a drip system, but for now, I'm quite happy with my present set-up. To each his own. We all have the opportunity to do what works best for us. I will add a word of caution for those who use above ground sprinklers -- its a very easy way to spread diseases, as the water splashing can cause one infected plant to infect another. Its a common way that many different diseases, fungi, viruses and bacterial are spread.
Splashing water - as well as water conservation - is exactly why I use the drip system. I have the main hose run down the center, on top but covered with a little mulch (for ease of moving whenever I might want to in the future, also for making any changes or additions later.)
As Jamie said, you wouldn't have to use the little drip discs, you could intall the mini sprinkler heads if you want. I just find it a much more flexible (litterally & figuratively) system, and less expensive, to boot!
Maggie reminded me of something else-
My beds are a series of border beds all around the perimeter of my yard. I have two faucets on each side of the house. To run a soaker hose with the small holes all over it, you don't have the option of stopping the water in areas where the hose has to run, but you have no plants. I have about 30 feet of fence line between one bed and the next and I don't want 30 feet of dripping water. With a drip system, I just don't have to put any attachments in that 30 feet so I don't have water running every where. In that space I have 2 mature, ornamental type trees so I could do one of the discs ("buttons" on the ones I bought) at the tree, and so I could water the tree but not the remaining dirt/grass. So yeah, the flexiblity is a big thing for me too. I can also run the hose more descretely up walls, fence posts, shepards hooks, etc. to get the basket mister attachments over my hanging baskets.
But like Kaufmann said- to each his/her own. It depends on your particular garden and yard and personal preference! :)
I have a sprinkler system in the yard, but don't use it in the back yard because the rotating heads are at the back and they beat everything down in their path. I use the ones in the front yard occassionally, but really prefer not to because of things like powdery mildew. All of my salvias, no matter what bed, have had powdery mildew for a while now, even before I had to start watering. Wouldn't watering with a sprayer, even if it's low, still spread pm? The sprinkler system also tends to beat down some of my flowers. Not good! I guess I am still not getting the picture of what this drip system actually looks like and does. One problem with using this tho, for me, is that I tend to move things around, although many of my larger plants are now going to be stationary. As for the distance between the faucet and the hose, I am using connectors on my hoses and attachments, so I start the soaker hose actually inside the bed. When I want to use it, I disconnect the sprayer and pull the hose over to the soaker hose then plug it in and turn on the water. That works great, but the quick-release things always seem to leak. ...which reminds me I need to go to Sears or Lowe's and buy more!
The sprinkler head type attachments on a drip system won't be as forceful as lawn sprinklers. But it's the same thing as far as spray pattern. Also, you can get ones that are a fine mist (like a lawn sprinkler) and then there are the ones that have a more streaming affect- like 8 individual strands of water instead of a bunch of tiny holes forcing water out in a mist. I know it's hard to envision! When I get mine up and running (still tweaking it here and there) I can take pictures of it if you would like!
I have never had a problem with diseases (KNOCK ON WOOD) so I don't know about the powdery mildew problem. You might be one of those people who prefer soaker hoses! I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here- just whatever works best for you and your garden. :)
Yes, and figuring out what is right or wrong is not easy! lol Please do post pics of your system. I wandered around Lowe's today looking but then decided I didn't want to be in there looking at hoses, I'd rather be outside. lol After fighting with the water hose today, I can tell I am really going to wish I had something set up when the next fight starts.
Will do! BUT, let me add a cavat here-
I am THE queen of starting 20 projects at once and working on them until I get bored or frustrated, or need $ to finish. Then I move onto (or START) another project. Right now I am in the midst of setting up my drip system, widening a bed, getting the rest of my seedlings planted, potting up a few plants, planting a couple of shrubs I bought 2 weeks ago, sodding the yard, restoring my pond, buildindg a patio, and your basic weeding and watering chores... and that's just what I have going on OUTSIDE!
The sod project is the only one I did start to finish and that's just because you kind of have to or you are left with $300 of dead grass piled up in the driveway. LOL!
So I will take pictures as soon as there is something worth taking a picture of- meaning I won't make you wait until I'm totally done because that maybe a loooooong time. Ha!
I don't ever expect to be finished because I will always have dirt and my philosophy is "Have dirt, will dig". My plan is to not need grass in the back yard at all.
Oh I don't expect to be "finished" ever, meaning stepping back and saying "ah, now it's all done"... I would just like to finish ONE project before jumping into another! LOL! :)
You two sound like my type of gardeners! I am always explaining to people that my beds are always changing. I might get something "finished" but I never plan on being "DONE"!
Silverfluter, you are lucky to have dirt. I have clay so I have to bring in dirt. I was so happy when I got my dirt this year! I've put out all that I need and I still have a small pile left. I MUST have extra dirt at all times. I'm working on that no grass thing too, but suppose I need to leave a little for my son to play on.
Texasgarden, you sound like me too! Currently I have a huge pile of dead grass and dirt on my driveway, but that's what we took out of the ground. The neighbor is going to take it and make some kind of a "mound" out of it. (I have no idea what they are doing but I know I'll be jealous and want my pile back...lol) If I don't have potted plants needing to be planted, seedlings to transfer, or lawn tools to pick up, then it wouldn't seem like my yard. I do plan on cleaning out the garage (for a garage sale) this weekend and hopefully I will be able to organize all my stuff again! Every bucket has something thrown into it: gloves, pruners, plastic containers, bird food, water bottles, shovels, etc etc. Ahhh, to dream....
Ha! I think you have been in my garage and just described it. :)
Another minority reply, but for the record.....I love soaker hoses! I started using them to keep the moisture off my tomatoes and found that I had better control and far less disease than I did with sprinklers. My garden is 80' wide with 50' rows. I set my hoses up on 5-lead manifolds and get completely even watering from one end to the other. I have yet to have to throw one away, although repairs are certainly needed from time to time. The mention about salts in the water and longevity of everything is very valid. Our well is remarkably free of excess minerals. I think that's probably why I'm still using my original hoses, 8 seasons later. The other thing I like is that they can be customized to whatever I need and I can run nutrients through them as well.
pcnfe -- what do you use for your in-line feeding? I was able to find something online a couple of years ago, but it was very expensive. Would you please share what you use? Thank you!
Just fyi for anyone considering the drip systems, they have in-line feeding capabilities also.
Well, I tried another type of hose today. I got a flat hose that sprayed out the top side. I spread it out all 50 ft across the bed and connected my hose to it, and the stupid thing leaked something terribly. The piece that attaches the hose to the end thingy is lame and there is just puddling water. Pooh! So now I have 4 or 5 soaker hoses to return and 4 of these flat hoses. This flat hose was also a soaker type hose, which I didn't really like either. Now I'm going to search for a flat plastic hose that sprays up, not a soaker one. My neighbor has one so I know they exist. I think these will do good since almost every spot in my bed has something planted in it or coming up. If this fails, then I might look at the drip systems, but I'm just trying not spend much money on it. I broke down and just used the sprinkler today to water, but it beat down one of my salvias which did not make me happy!
Another thing I could do that would cover some areas is replace our back sprinklers that are heavy rotating ones with the pole and misting sprayers. That way I could actually use some of the sprinkler system.
Sprinkler systems are expensive and veeery nice if you ask me- I think you should for sure take advantage of it and try and make it work!!!
Maybe I can help on the soaker hose problem. Today I was at Home Depot getting some of the 1/2 tubing to fix the low pressure debacle that was my 250 feet of 1/4 inch all around the yard (what was I thinking?). Anyway, I was almost to the checkout before I noticed my "defective" tubing had holes in it. Ok, moron. They are supposed to be there! The hose had emitters every so many inches (12 inches apart maybe?). Anyway, I switched it out for the solid kind I was looking for since I am setting up a drip system. BUT, if you just want a hose with holes in it, this would work. I like the idea, because unlike traditional soaker hoses with a million tiny holes so it "sweats," this is just like a long water hose with little holes punched in it. It comes in 50 or 100 foot rolls. This would for sure cover your whole bed since they are evenly spaced. The HD by my house is set up weird and all the irrigation stuff is in plumbing, not the garden center. So you may want to check it out- see what they have as far as attachments for your sprinkler system too.
Hope that helps. :)
Jamie
Yes, I always find the drip irrigation stuff in the plumbing dept, also.
Konkrete, I still think the drip system (including the tubing that Jamie just talked about - has evenly spaced holes all along the hose) is the most versatile, and less expensive than all those hoses.
That being said, you could always use those flat "sprinkler" hoses you're talking about, but face them down into the soil. That way they water the soil with less evaporation, and they don't beat down or wet the foliage of the plants.
That tubing with holes sounds like it might be just perfect, if the water will run to other plants rather than just soak down right where it is. That's the problem I had with the soaker hoses. If I turn the flat hoses with the water facing down, then I'm afraid I will run into the same problem. I wish I could explain how my brain is thinking. I'm picturing the water soaking straight down with the soakers and I'm wanting it to soak down AND spread out, that way it will water the plants around it too.
You know you always hear that it's better to water at the base of the plants. I think mainly that's to prevent evaporation, but I've also heard to prevent spreading disease. But what about rain?! And I just read that there is some powdery mildew that is not spread when water hits it, but it actually helps it. My salvias have had p/m since they came up and I couldn't figure out why, being that they have had plenty of air and we've not had any rain. Well, apparently they have it because they've been too dry. If I blow off the idea of trying to hit the plants from the bottom then I can use the sprinkler system and/or those flat watering hoses.
Guess I'll be hanging out in the plumbing department checking out these tubes and sprinkler heads. Thanks! keep the suggestions coming!
Water tends to spread out more in heavier soils (those with more clay content) than it does lighter soils (sandier). The addition of organic matter helps clay soils with improved water penetration and sandier soils with improved retention. Also, a lot of water ($) is lost to evaporation from sprinkler systems (I'm thinkin those little drip sprinklers 'may' be an exception)! Drip systems require a capital investment but, soon pay for themselves. A learning period too but, well worth it!
John
p.s., being a person that thinks like a rock I hope I haven't messed you up. :-)
Now John, what happens to my water when the first 6 inches is improved soil and underneath is mucky clay?? Which way will it drain, which way will it drain? I think I'll go hang out at Lowe's or Home Depot, or even Wally World today and check it all out. I'm desperately trying to get something done before my plants get big. I'd like to get it down so that they could grow up around it, especially my milkweed!
Same rules apply, except, at that layer the water will spread out and thats a good thang. :-)
John, you think like a rock? Exactly how do rocks think?
:-)
I use soaker hoses in my garden with a pvc manifold. Hoses run off the manifold down each row to the end and back. Due to my well with suger sand I have to use a filter or the hose will clog up in one season. Each hose has its own valve so I can just water the row I want. Sams has the 50 ft hoses two to a pack with metering disk in each one. Seven year warrenty.
In reading this I think I will look into the drip system. Each has its merits.
Right now using 12 soaker hoses.