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The Year it Rained Friends 2007 at Jungle Heights
I think the idea of helping each other is great....my only problem is with working 2 jobs my Saturdays are at the restaurant so my only day off is on Sundays and that is church day for alot of people ....but things may be changing if my pay scale changes since I am not just working in the kitchen I am waiting tables since the waitress' are no longer there
I can tell you about Sylvia's drip system. You can buy the parts at Home Depot (Digg) or Lowe's (Mister Landscaper). You run fat tubing from your faucet & timer, and then connect smaller tubing as needed. You can use drippers, drip line (what Sylvia uses), or mini-sprinklers (what I use). It's really like a large irrigation system, except it's all above ground and flexible, so you can do it yourself. I started out with a kit, and loved it so much that I ended up doing my whole yard.
You can also order parts online, a little less expensively, but I'm always too impatient. There are a lot of pictuers here. http://www.dripirrigation.com/.
I tried one of those kits once and had problems with it. Maybe I didn't do it right. But everytime I turned the water on atleast one of the little sprinkler heads would pop off. I finally gave up. Has anybody else had this problem?
I've heard of problems, but I think there have been improvements since...it also follows the price rules...the more you spend, the better quality they usually are. My friend uses the drip system all over his garden and says there are few problems. I still need more convincing.
What brand did he buy? Does he use the sprinkler head or the drip hose?
He uses drip hoses..he even has them into his hanging plants...not sure what though...
Well I did have less trouble with the drip hoses popping off than the sprinkler heads, but it seemed to take forever for the hoses to get the dirt wet. Are you supposed to leave them on all the time? I didn't do that, maybe I should have. I bought mine at Walmart. Is there that much difference between Walmart stuff and Lowes?
Mary Lee, usually when that happens to me, it's because there's too much water pressure. You might need a new pressure regulator. Sometimes you have to extend it, though, and add more sprinklers.
I have sprinklers on spikes with all different kinds of heads, in-line drippers of all different "speeds," drippers on the end of mini-tubing, and laser-cut drip line. They don't recommend mixing them on the same line, but it works for me. I like the sprinklers on spikes best, but they sure look funny sticking up this time of year. LOL!
It looks like you have a good system there.
I would like to see your yard pbtx. Maybe I could learn something. Where did you buy your supplies?
I got some things at HD, but I really prefer the Mister Landscaper stuff at Lowe's. They all work about the same. But I did my dad's beds with the Digg products from HD, and their tubing is much harder to work with. Same at Sylvia's.
Last year on eBay I bought some of Rainbird's Xeri-Pops, which would be great--if only I could get them to work.
This year, I had too many different zones to stick that many timers on my faucets. I set it all up with a regular sprinkler-system manifold/valves/timer. One electric timer is a lot less expensive, and less work, than 8 of the battery ones.
pbtx, that's going to be my problem. I have several beds spread out over a large area.
Anne
Well, you could sure do it the way I did. It took a couple of days to get it all together, but it really wasn't hard.
The whole contraption cost about $100 (including the timer). Sounds expensive. But then, in 2006 I had to buy 6 battery timers at $25-30 each. And then in 2007, not a single one of them still worked. So I was going to spend it anyway.
pbtxlady, You said "the whole contraption $100 " was that the mister landscaper from Lowe's ? Was it in a all in one kit? Thanks, Jerry
Hmmm. What if you just used a manual timer? Or is that what you did? I use the manual ones and I like them, except for one that I bought at Ace. It lasted about a month.
I know he left his on all the time..that was the idea of "drip" watering..I have to re-check with him and see if he uses it on all his plants in the garden.
No, the $100 I mentioned was for the contraption I set up last summer--valves, manifold and electric timer. I bought a six-zone timer with each zone independently programmable, and that was most of the expense.
I think beginning drip kits at Lowe's are about $30. If you already know what you want and how to install everything, you don't have to buy a kit. You can get everything a la carte.
The kit doesn't come with a timer, so if you want one, you have to add that cost. Sure you can use manual, or no timer at all.
I did well with the kit until I learned how everything worked. Later on you can add to it, or change it around, or whatever you want. It's totally custom.
Next time I go to Lowes I'll check into those. Thanks.:)
Also, there is a vast amount of items on Ebay- if you know what you want..you can buy only the items you need. Beware though..it's overwhelming.
Pbtxlady...so..your experience is a good one!?
You're right about it being overwhelming. I've looked at Ebay a couple of times. I'd rather hold something in my hand before I buy it if possible. Besides, I'll spend less money if I have to wait til I get to the store to get it. We don't have a Lowe's here, it's in Kerrville which is 30 minutes away. With gas prices the way they are, I won't make that drive til I have to.
Hey Randy et al!
I'm home for 4 days, and this is my weekend to sow veggie seeds. I'm looking for some direction on what I plan to sow besides the 'maters. I have carrots, Kentucky wonder green beans, okra, eggplant, chili pequin, banana peppers, bell peppers, broccoli & brussels sprouts. First of all, can I sow all of these today or are some of them better suited to the "Fall" crop in August? Second, what will do ok in 5-gallon buckets? I'm using the EBs for the maters and carrots.
Any help would be much appreciated. I'm just about finished washing all my seeding containers and instruments. Please reply soonest. Thanks!
Linda
I would sow them tommorrow after the 33F temp..but -- between you and I..with the ground soaked as it is...should be fine...
Yes, Randy, I love my system(s). I started doing it during our drought & watering restrictions. I had new beds with plants that require a lot of water, and I couldn't do it all by hand. In my city, the restrictions allowed drip systems to run any time. Then, once I had one, I saw how it did a much better job than I did, and it saved me a ton of work.
I still don't have a full-blown underground system to water all the grass. But hey, when we get around to putting one in, I already have the timers!
Okay...thankyou..that's good to hear. I may experiment with the new landscaping.