We have an upstairs window that is crying out for a window box under it; I found a beautiful, coco-nut lined, black metal basket type window box to mount there. Problem is: we would have to climb out the gable window on the other side of the house, crawl over the peak of the roof and down to the next level of roof to water it. (for reasons that would take too long to explain, that particular window is inaccessable from the inside)
I'm thinking I need to set up some kind of drip system that connects with a hose that comes inconspicuously down the side of the house, so I can just turn on the faucet at ground level for 15-20 at a time.
Don't know anything about drip systems; can't find anything online that will sell me just the few pieces and lengths that I need (they all seem geared to big big nurseries).
Any thoughts?
This message was edited Jan 5, 2008 1:35 PM
windowbox difficult to access - how to keep watered?
You might try your local Home Depot, Lowes, etc...that's where I get all my drip parts and you can buy as much (or as little) as you need. Or if you want to buy online, RainBird is a popular brand that sells backyard type of drip kits (as opposed to commercial) so try googling that and you should get some hits.
But by the time you factor in planting the plants, fertilizing them, clipping/pinching them, removing dead ones, sticking new ones in, etc I think you'll find your window box is a huge hassle (not to mention an accident waiting to happen!) Normally I would never suggest fake plants for outdoors, but this is one situation where it might be appropriate! That will greatly decrease the number of times you have to crawl around on the roof, and especially if it's normally going to be viewed from outside as people look up at your house, nobody will ever know they're fake.
Entrance..
your'll have to make the trip over the roof a few times to get it..
when you plant and hook up the drip system.. to replentish the flowers... changeing season planting.. you'll need to feed sometime or other.. but you can put an inline feeder in if you wish...
you'll not need the big 1/2 lines...just the 1/4" line will be enough for one windowbox..
http://www.dripworksusa.com/store/tubing.php#tiptop
go to the store... then tubing.. and then emitters
at drip works you can get it all... 50 or 100 ft of tubing in 1/4 "..one emitter for the end if there is one box... or a 1/4 " "T" to make a second emitter in the box..
perhaps a manafold for the hose pipe house valve.. so you don't have to unscrew the regular hose to operate the drip.. and a few bits to go from the 3/4 " hose fitting that will screw on ....to the 1/4 " line... if you find you need a foot or so of the 1/2 " line to make the transition..let me know and I'll send you one foot ... remember though.. if you are running the 1/4 line.. or any other over the roof to the plants.. when you turn the water on.. it pushes the water sitting in the tube out.. this water might be at 140-180 degrees sitting on the hot roof.. water early in the day...
this should fix you up...there... Gordon
edited to ask... why not just spray up there with a hose from the ground.. you shouldbe able to reach it if it's at thesecond floor level..
I had a similar problem here.. I have the street planter pictured in the thread here of holiday planters.. this box is on the street... but my water is on the roof... 5 floors up.. rather than carry the water down to it ... [5 gal /40 lbs twice a week.... 80 lbs for 20 weeks of watering.. that's 1600 lbs up 5 flights... so..] I have the 1/4 hose going down to it... I lashed it to a bit of aircraft cable streached tight between the roof and the planter... the tubing is taped to the cable to keep it suported in the free fall of it not being secured to the house
This message was edited Dec 25, 2007 8:16 AM
This message was edited Dec 25, 2007 8:28 AM
em,
I have the same problem with a planterbox on the upper window of my garage, resorted to faux, until I find a solution.
You can buy some very realistic silk plants these days, Michaels craft stores are a good source.
I did come across this item in a Gardener's Supply company catalogue - Self-Watering Window boxes Refuse to Dry Out. if you are interesting, I have not tried them myself, yet. The hyperlink to the specific item did not work, if you go to the site put in item number 34-496. it should bring it up.
http://www.gardeners.com
hi there,
well, thanks for the ideas, folks.
here are my thoughts in response:
I'm really a purist, even if it means a lot of work and risking my life! I would be embarrassed to have fake plants up there, and besides, how long would silk plants last outdoors? I can't water them from ground level because there's a long wide roof between me and the window box, and I'm afraid a propulsion that strong would do damage to either the plants or the window/woodwork, or anyway . . .
Here's what I've done: I bought a beautiful Chelsea Horse Trough basket with coconut lining from windowbox.com at http://www.windowbox.com/store/product/W0006.html. I'm going to construct a kind of home-made 'self-watering' reservoir in the bottom with plastic. I've bought some tubing, emitters, and a larger tube with a funnel which I am going to snake indoors through the window. The window will need to stay open an inch, but I will seal it with duct tape or something. The tube on the inside will be long enough that I can just pour water down the funnel and it will travel to the emitters outside. In theory. Granted, a lot of work to set up. I'll let you know how it goes...
This message was edited Jan 5, 2008 1:35 PM
Something else that you might want to consider before putting in your drip irrigation system is the potential to damage to the roof of your house while setting things up, changing the flowers, and assorted chores, as well as the potential damage to yourself.
If it is going to require such an effort to keep these flowers alive, it really may be worth using silk flowers. Even if your change the silk flowers once a month, (they should really last longer than that), that is probably going to be fewer times that you will need to go to your roof to reach this window. While I admire your perserverance, I know that it would get old for me easily. I like to think of gardening as a joy, and this sounds more like a chore. That said, I really do hope that your system does work out for you.
Entrance...
your system seems fine..watering through a funnel out throuh a larger tube to I'd leave off the emitters though... they are designed to only let such a small ammount through... and that's at 25-40 PSI... you'll be at 1-2 PSI. and you'll stand at the funnel for hours to get a gallon out there in your planter... I'd leave off the emitters.. and run it through a smaller tube to the planter.. or just run the big tube right in there... it'll only flow in as fast as you can pour it in... the funnel..
alternatly... you can hook up a 2 liter bottle to your small water line ...still without the emitters.. and let it drip through.. no funnel or standing there pouring this way...
emitters again are designed to work at 25 PS and will be real subject to clogging with any alge that will grow in the tube...
Gordon