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Watering system (trickler) advice
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Posted by femmeradsy Newcastle, NSW (My Page) on Sat, Aug 27, 05 at 1:55
| Help! I'm having the most frustrating watering system experience at the moment and am hoping someone knows some solutions ... Years ago, I installed a system all around my garden with microspray heads on short risers. It has served me well, but I am trying to be a good little environmentally-conscious gardener and now replace the heads with "tricklers" instead. The irrigation hose is buried 6 inches deep so I have chosen the "Adjustable Trickler on 100mm Stake", which you connect down to the hose with a short length of 4mm pipe. (http://www.irrigationwarehouse.com.au/category60_1.htm) So far, NOT so good.
1. They don't work consistently. I install 9 in a row, and 2 are a tiny dribble compared to the rest. So I replace those 2, and now a DIFFERENT 2 are not working. And so on. Is this a water pressure problem? Could it be because there are still some microsprays elsewhere on the same line? Are they simply possessed by the Devil?
2. How many do you need - how far apart should they be spaced? I'm worried too many will max out the water pressure and none will end up working, though I don't really know if that happens or not.
Aghh! Any advice GREATLY appreciated please. Ironically my area isn't even in drought, but I still want to do my bit. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Watering system (trickler) advice
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- Posted by meggs WA Aust (My Page) on
Sun, Aug 28, 05 at 6:12
| I found them a nuisance too, so I reverted to sprays again. Now I am thinkig about replacing the whole lot with a dripper line that you put under the mulch. It is a line with wholes at regular intervals. I do not know whether they are a better solution to the drippers described by you, Deb. |
RE: Watering system (trickler) advice
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- Posted by pos02 NSW Aust (My Page) on
Sun, Aug 28, 05 at 23:24
| Are the drippers the type which can be adjustable? If so, you just need to go around to every one and adjust for the correct flow. You only need 1 or 2 for every plant. Once they are set, you should be able to leave them - just maybe clean them out once in a while. Also, you should make sure there are no leaks in the tube, since this will drop pressure in the line. |
RE: Watering system (trickler) advice
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- Posted by hank vic aust (My Page) on
Fri, Sep 2, 05 at 3:55
I have been all through the same difficulties and have, after several years, ended up using flexible dripper lines in 12mm dia. brown plastic pipe with holes every 300mm left on top of the bed and used in conjunction with a cheap timer with a filter just downstream from the timer. Dont bury the pipe or you risk blocking up the drip holes.
I also have a separate length of this brown pipe/filter combination which i move around the garden to water our young native hedges in a most efficient and easy way during dry periods. I advise to keep clear of the black soaker hose marketed everywhere because the water distribution is very uneven and most water if seeped close to the tap whilst none gets delivered at the far end. Also the brown pipe delivers the same amount all along even up and down hills and is what the professionals use. |
RE: Watering system (trickler) advice
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| Thanks for your replies - it sounds like what I feared: that it is impractical to "convert" my current system. If I want drippers, it sounds like a rebuild is in order. But on a happy note, I sit and type this with rain falling on the roof for the first time in ages. I had almost fogotten how lovely it sounds! |
RE: Watering system (trickler) advice
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| Lucky you, send some up this way. |
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