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JennieMig
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Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:36 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

soaker hoses or drip irrigation???

I have 4 raised planter boxes and I was using sprinklers to irrigate. I have realized that they are a huge waist of water, so I have gone to hand watering for now. I want to either put in a drip irrigation, or soaker hoses. The drip system will be more expensive and time consuming, and less flexible to switch up for a different planting configuration from season to season. But, I have heard a few stories about soaker hoses being a pain too. I hope to double the number of boxes that I have, so I want to be able to add to when needed. I also would like to be able to use water from a rain barrel.

Let me know what you guys are using. Where you got your ideas? Any homemade drip systems?

DoubleDogFarm
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Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 11:43 pm

Let me know what you guys are using. Where you got your ideas? Any homemade drip systems?
Hey Jennie, me again. :)

This business has lots of good information and product. We have used them for years.
https://www.dripworksusa.com/tutorial.php?lnk=left

Eric
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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JennieMig
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Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:36 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

that link didnt work :? could you re-post?

DoubleDogFarm
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Sorry, I've been seeing a lot of goofy stuff lately on Helpful Gardener. :?

Double posting, etc...


Eric

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JennieMig
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Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:36 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

Thanks Eric, great link. I especially like the how-to videos. I figured that I can get all 4 beds hooked up with drip lines for under $200. And, there's room to grow.

DoubleDogFarm
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A little more information.

A 1/2" mainline can handle 420 gallons per hour, that equates to (840) 1/2 gph emitters.

We like to use https://www.dripworksusa.com/store/soakdrp.php for our drip tubbing.

If you are in are interested I can link the timer, regulator, filter and fittings we like to use.

Eric

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JennieMig
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Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:36 pm
Location: Jacksonville, FL

Hey Eric thanks for that link. I did some research and planning this week and ordered everything today for my drip irrigation. All together just over 120 bucks, including shipping. Not to shabby :wink:

annastasia76
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Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2011 3:59 pm
Location: Southern Ca

what size/rate dippers do you use?? we have all ours on 1 gallon but I'm thinking of switching to 1/2 or even 1/4 gallon dippers that way I can leave the water on for longer amounts of time and have it drip even more slowly. which I hope will help the plants in mid summer when it hits over 100 degrees

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JennieMig
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Location: Jacksonville, FL

Hey Annastasia. I am using 1/4 inch soaker drip line with the emitters spaced at 6 inches. It lists the rate at 1/2 gallon per hour with 15 PSI. The pressure regulator that I ordered (recommended by them) was a 30 PSI. So I'm guessing that I will get 1 gallon per hour? I don't know, I'm going to have to see how it goes.

hit or miss
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Location: central Kansas

I have been using 1/2 inch main line with 2 gph drippers for several years now. It works great on my 3'x20' beds. I usually run the water for about 8 hrs at a time two times a week depending on rainfall. I'll be adding two more beds to the system this year. I'm not sure how it would work with a gravity system based on a barrel though. You might need larger drippers to let more water through with less pressure.



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