Watering Systems

I use a low pressure drip feed system to use from a water butt for the last couple of years.

Rainwater Irrigation System

I bought extra bits to extend the basic £20 set for two greenhouses and my tree ferns.

I use it with a Darlec timer (a low pressure water timer) on a water butt. It works well for me, the drippers are well made and adjustable. The only concern is that it could get clogged by the crud that accumulates in the water butt coming off the shed roof. Instead of collecting rainwater I ended up re-filling my water butt with clean mains water. This might be a problem this year as we are in the hosepipe ban area.

I have another mains fed drip feed system I bought for my hanging baskets, again that's on a (high pressure) timer and saves me loads of time plus no worries when I go on holiday. I would not trust the cheap ebay systems though, personally I'd buy a decent named brand at a GC so you can see the quality and can buy the extra bits to extend if you need. The main worry with the cheap mains fed system is that the pipes can blow apart with the pressure. So make sure you have a system with a pressure reducer at least, and that the pressure reducer is properly fixed to the tap (or timer) - the last thing you need is to come home from your hols and find the system blew apart and water has gone down the drain and your plants are dead. A good system will last you years, a cheap ebay one won't.

If you are in a hosepipe ban area then you are only allowed these systems if they have a timer and a pressure reducer.

 

It's a very good idea to set them up and trial them for a few weeks beforehand as Dave has done