Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design Re: Irrigation questions answered 29Feb 03, 2011 10:55 pm Fu Manchu Oh and with subsurface, it's important to get a fertigation unit installed also. That way you can run seasol, powerfeed, molasses through the subsurface irrigation automatically regular fertilising isn't that effective and can do damage. Excellent news, cheers Would I need to get a fertigation unit anyway to put that chemical through which prevents drip blockage ? Re: Irrigation questions answered 30Feb 03, 2011 11:06 pm Nope. That comes in the filter. The plastic is impregnated with it. The filter is brown and costs about $100. Lasts a few years. Standard filter for gardens etc is black and costs about $30. High flow valve will be about $30-50 Re: Irrigation questions answered 31Feb 03, 2011 11:57 pm Here is a fertigation set up for a domestic situation http://i308.photobucket.com/albums/kk321/FuManchu5ltr/irrigation/IMG_0541.jpg Re: Irrigation questions answered 33Feb 04, 2011 12:12 am They are affordable. What they do is needed. It pays for itself for the time it will save you Re: Irrigation questions answered 34Feb 04, 2011 2:32 pm I'm sold on subsurface irrigation, but my question is what type? I have about 200msq of lawn area (well it will be by the time I've finished with it). It will be planted out with natural grasses - possibly Weeping Grass seed, Microlaena stipoides (griffith). It's clay soil, over the top of rocks.. There isn't a lot of topsoil. My plan is to rip the soil, add gypsum, lay top soil over the top. I just spoke with a very unsympathetic guy at the plumbing store. So I need advice on what I would need to include in my price list for subsurface irrigation. I'm guessing I'd need a filter, dripper line. I like the idea of the fertlization box, but I don't think I'd need it with native grasses - or do I? Thoughts? Ideas? list of what to ask for would ask for. Re: Irrigation questions answered 35Feb 04, 2011 3:13 pm Well don't go down the gypsum path till you have read the threads on lawn prep (same for gardens) and that gypsum isn't effective on all clay soils. It also won't begin to take effect for years, not days as many believe. Don't layer soils. You read about that. Netafim. Netafim all the way. Have a look at their website. I am sorry but a little stretched for time right now. Re: Irrigation questions answered 36Feb 09, 2011 5:28 pm I understand that the use of gypsum depends on the soil/rocks beneath and in some areas it's better to use dolomite. I thought it was important to rip the soil underneath, to ensure the lawn roots had easy access to the existing soil? I have laid netafirm before. thanks for the advice. Re: Irrigation questions answered 37Feb 10, 2011 12:30 am I reckon gypsum is a waste of time but I mention it as so many posters post about it. The organic acids in both liquid composts and regular composts do a far superior job to gypsum at breaking the clay and making the soil more friable in the longer term and shorter term. Re: Irrigation questions answered 38Feb 16, 2011 12:09 pm Fu - I thought I'd ask about irrigation for the planned jungle and fernery areas (cos I know how much it annoys you when people don't do them right!). This area for the most part will be down the side of the house (fernery - enclosed by the house on one side and fence on the other - 3x8m) and another area at the top of this that will have fence on one side, but is already planted with an established camellia and feijoa (roughly 4.5x6m). This whole area slopes down towards the road, is moist and free draining. It's sandy loam. The fernery will be completely protected from sun, but the front of the jungle area will get hot sun. It will be heavily planted, with sun loving plants to the front, protecting those that prefer bright indirect light inside. There is shade provided from above by the Blackwood, Messmate Stringybark, Camellia, Feijoa and a random prunus (no idea what & likely to be taken down) and, coupled with the house & fence, this will help to reduce evaporation and create a nice little microclimate in my garden Now, the type of planting we're looking at will be mostly indigenous to this area (moist temperate), but some will be rainforest plants and we will also use epiphytes & lithophytes. I have a good local source of ferns, dendrobiums, epiphytes & cold tolerant bromelliads. For this type of planting, I want humidity. The protection from above, the sides and the thick planting will retain moisture in the air, but it would benefit from having a sprinkler system overhead I think, to provide 'rain' when required. I'm also looking at a subsoil system that provides moisture direct to the roots for when the weather is too hot and windy in particular. Do you have any recommendations or suggestions (other than 'don't try a jungle style planting'!!)? Re: Irrigation questions answered 39Feb 17, 2011 12:52 am Subsoil will be plenty. The humidity from above ground retic will on;ly last as long as the retic is on plus 30-60 imns after. Hardly worth the expense or water. Just do the right things to the soil, get the right micro climates established with plants and the rest comes together so well I'd be working on that soil a little even though it is sandy loam. Re: Irrigation questions answered 40Feb 17, 2011 12:51 pm Oh, we will be working on the soil, don't worry. I will do a thread all about it so I can ask you lots of questions in the proper context We're quite likely going to rig up something of our own, utilising water barrels / wheelie bins, the relevant tubing for the grey water etc and some cheap submersible aquarium/pond pumps. The slope would mean that the pump may not be necessary, but will help get good flow through the tubing. If I used a strong enough pump, I could also use it to run the hose to reach the veggies when need be (they'll be included in a separate loop at a later point). I know there's an existing system in Vic that you can buy called a Grey Water Gator, but frankly I've got better places to spend the 400 odd dollars that would cost me and could do it for less than half the price. Might not look as pretty, but it'll do the job Have you any experience of similar systems? Would love to know of any issues people have encountered when doing this type of project. Hi all I am looking to run a water line under my concrete footpath which is directly next to my home, was seeing if this is possible without cutting the entire section… 0 20181 Hi Brainstrust, I had a go at creating my own irrigation plan, keen to get some feedback. It will be run from one 750-800W pump, off 2* 5000L rain tanks. Each zone… 0 22759 Personally, considering your layout (study/work desks in bedrooms), I don't think you have any other option but to leave NW windows and make them as big as possible e.g.… 7 10470 |