Irrigation system

Discussion in 'Tools And Equipment' started by Fat Controller, Mar 16, 2024.

  1. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    I am toying with the idea of having an irrigation system...

    One of the things that really burst my bubble a couple of years back was keeping up with watering, particularly front of house, as I have to go through quite a rigmarole to get the hose over a gate and round to the front.... the truth of the situation there is that I struggle with that at the end of a day at work (physically as well as time), hence pondering on taking that problem away.

    As a general rule, I have three to five baskets, one trough and one large pot at the front; any goodness amount of tomato plants in the greenhouse and of course all the large barrels down the side of the patio. Doing the front would be a good start, if I could do the rest, it would be a bonus. But, I haven't a clue what is possible or where to begin?
     
  2. Kevin Cowans

    Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    • JWK

      JWK Gardener Staff Member

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      I've got a drip system for the front hanging baskets, on a timer. It's a pain to set up but works well for holiday watering.

      For my greenhouses and runner beans I have leaky hoses again on a timer. As all my stuff is growing in the soil ot works well. Once set up it a real time saver. The timer needs adjusting during the season, longer ON times in the summer and less in the spring and autumn.
       
    • Fat Controller

      Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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      Yes, it does seem that there is a bit of planning and set up involved, but once done it will do what I am needing.

      Can I ask what timer you have please @JWK, as they seem to vary wildly in price. I am thinking a dual outlet one would make more sense, not least as the more I am looking at this the more sense it makes to split things up...
       
    • CarolineL

      CarolineL Total Gardener

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      Hi @Fat Controller as @JWK says they are a pain to set up, but save masses of effort. I would make sure you get a good timer unit. I had a Claber with 2 separate circuits so that I could water 2 greenhouses at different frequencies. If you are going to put drippers into multiple pots, allow a bit of slack in the tubing between them, and preferably buy a system where you can get drippers that produce different water rates - some have adjustable heads, so you can tune it to the needs of the pots.
       
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      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        Thank you @CarolineL - Claber was one of the ones I was looking at (purely on the basis that it is a 'known' brand name); their unit was around £100 versus £40 for something unbranded from Amazon etc...

        The minimum I would like would be the front of house (baskets, troughs and one pot, so I reckon 6 to 8 drippers); anything more would be a bonus - but, if going to the expense of something like the Claber unit, I'd like it to do pretty much everything. Distance might be an issue for the stuff at the back of the garden mind you.
         
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        • CarolineL

          CarolineL Total Gardener

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          I bought a cheap timer from eBay and its internals were poorly sealed and rusted very quickly. That's when I switched to the Claber
           
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            I see you can get bluetooth timers now which I would avoid. I prefer knobs and buttons.
             
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            • Fat Controller

              Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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              I don't mind bluetooth, but I can't really see how it is needed for a water timer. Knobs and buttons sounds good to me. @CarolineL - good point about the Claber... buy cheap, buy twice.
               
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              • JennyJB

                JennyJB Keen Gardener

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                I have a watering system for my containers in summer (baskets, tubs, tomatoes in containers outside. I started off with a Hozelock timer but it died when I forgot to bring it in until after the first frost. So did the second one (user error twice :doh:). Now I have this cheaper one bought off the internet https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0B1B18WD8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 which has two outlets that can be programmed separately or put on manually, so I can use one if I just want to use the hose, without disconnecting the watering system from the outside tap.
                 
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                • CarolineL

                  CarolineL Total Gardener

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                  Yes, hozelock is fine, provided you bring it in early enough to avoid frost... Yes, me too @JennyJB !
                  I think the greenhouse irrigation (which was spray heads) was hozelock too. It was fine, though eventually the main taps which connected the input water to the smaller tubes needed replacing
                   
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                  • Fat Controller

                    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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                    That is the sort of feature I am looking for - rather than have to disconnect stuff, just switch it on if I want the hose/sprinkler...
                     
                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    I've swapped my outside taps to these double ones, so I have the timer on one outlet and a hose on the other. The lever is handy for the hose outlet

                    Screenshot_20240316-184644_Chrome.jpg
                     
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