Drip Irrigation for hedges

[FIREPLUG1111]

Is it better to use drip irrigation ( soaker hose type) for hedges or just use spray heads. I have about 300 feet of hedge.

[greenmonster304]

drip for hedge rows

[SoCalLandscapeMgmt]

Rain Bird Landscape Drip Line or Netafim Techline. Run a row tube down each side of the hedge and you're good to go. I've irrigated MILES of hedges this way and never had a problem.

[FIREPLUG1111]

Ok sounds easy enough. Can it be fed from one end, can it run a 300 foot run with one feed. I have about 40 psi and 35 gallons per minute from my well? Next question how long to run the water feeding it?

[Wet_Boots]

What is your actual sustainable flow of water? If you can't answer that question, you aren't ready for design work.

[Mike Leary]

Rain Bird Landscape Drip Line or Netafim Techline. Run a row tube down each side of the hedge and you're good to go. I've irrigated MILES of hedges this way and never had a problem.


Were I to spec Netafim for a hedge line, which I have done MILES, I'd either get the special order short emitter version with check valves, or I'd do four runs of traditional Netafim, with the emitters staggered, with LDC.

[CAPT Stream Rotar]

drip plz 12 inch netafim with flush valves and arv's

[SoCalLandscapeMgmt]

I like to use the .9 GPH / 12" spacing Rain Bird LDL . Ideally you'd feed the runs from the middle of the runs and you'd install a 30 pound regulator and a 200 mesh drip filter at the valve. Of course as mentioned you want to install air relief valves at each end of the run.

[CAPT Stream Rotar]

I like to use the .9 GPH / 12" spacing Rain Bird LDL . Ideally you'd feed the runs from the middle of the runs and you'd install a 30 pound regulator and a 200 mesh drip filter at the valve. Of course as mentioned you want to install air relief valves at each end of the run.


arv's saved my ass this past week on a 1200+ netafim 12 inch job on a serious slope

[Kiril]

What is your actual sustainable flow of water? If you can't answer that question, you aren't ready for design work.

I don't think anyone here is ready to design for drip. :rolleyes:

[hoskm01]

I don't think anyone here is ready to design for drip. :rolleyes:
Poster excluded, of course, I assume.

[Mike Leary]

I don't think anyone here is ready to design for drip. :rolleyes:

Always good to hear from the pros with the field experience that we dorks that are just starting out don't have.

[hoskm01]

Always good to hear from the pros with the field experience that we dorks that are just starting out don't have.
Maybe you and Kiril could share a helping of Geritol next time you head south :laugh:

[Kiril]

Always good to hear from the pros with the field experience that we dorks that are just starting out don't have.

That is classic coming from the guy who slams drip every chance he gets. :waving:

[Mike Leary]

Maybe you and Kiril could share a helping of Geritol next time you head south :laugh:

Tried to meet one time when we were coming south; he was having electro-shock treatment that day.

[DanaMac]

he was having electro-shock treatment that day.

It didn't take....

[eaglescout]

think gallons per minute are you using 1 gallon emitters? They are 1 gallon per hour. So multiply gallons per minute by 60 and that's gallons per hour. Example 10 gallons per minute at 15 psi (with pressure reducer). 600 gallons per hour 600 1 gallon emitters per run

[Kiril]

It didn't take....

No ... head is full of air, don't work on air

[eaglescout]

be careful with drip from a pump however. I once had a problem with the PVC melting at the outlet, its seems the reduced flow kept the heat from the impeller from dispersing

[Mike Leary]

That is classic coming from the guy who slams drip every chance he gets. :waving:

The only reason I slam a great product (Netafim), is that most installs I've seen are not thought out and maintained, plus most often used in a cheapskate wrong application. :hammerhead: The stuff works well, with proper installation and attention. Mist rules.

[Kiril]

What is with all the pressure reducing? :hammerhead: Are you people using Netafim or some lame imitator?

Netafim's dripper lines are all pressure compensating, and if you are using TechlineCV or UniTechline, then your max operating & compensating pressure is 58 PSI (4 bar). TechNet is 36 PSI max pressure. Personally, I use TechlineCV because it is the best!

Recommended filtration is 120 mesh. I wouldn't consider going any higher than 150.

Flushing valve with a line with a check valves, not needed unless you are dealing with dirty water. It is a waste of water if not critical for system maint.

Dripper output/spacing/line type .... what is the soil type and application (surface or sub-surface)?

Are we hacks or pros here?

[Kiril]

The only reason I slam a great product (Netafim), is that most installs I've seen are not thought out and maintained, plus most often used in a cheapskate wrong application. :hammerhead: The stuff works well, with proper installation and attention. Mist rules.

Then you need to slam every product on the market then, because your reasons apply to everything.

[Mike Leary]

Then you need to slam every product on the market then, because your reasons apply to everything.

Nope, drip and low-volume get the hack award, hands down.

[DanaMac]

What is with all the pressure reducing? :hammerhead: Are you people using Netafim or some lame imitator?



I have to fix a lot of drip zones that have a pressure regulator, too much 1/2" pipe, too many emitters, elevation change, and they don't have any flow to the far end. First thing I do - rip out the PRV at the valve and usually it works fine.

[DanaMac]

Nope, drip and low-volume get the hack award, hands down.

Says the my-way-or-no-way caveman.

[Mike Leary]

:hammerhead: Are we hacks or pros here?

I'd say so. Good point.

[Kiril]

I have to fix a lot of drip zones that have a pressure regulator, too much 1/2" pipe, too many emitters, elevation change, and they don't have any flow to the far end. First thing I do - rip out the PRV at the valve and usually it works fine.

Exactly! Only regulate if necessary to keep the system from blowing apart and the drippers functioning in their optimal range (if not PC).

[Mike Leary]

Says the my-way-or-no-way caveman.

Yup. made a dumb living installing cheap crap. glad you guys are still paying into Social Security; thanks!

[hoskm01]

think gallons per minute are you using 1 gallon emitters? They are 1 gallon per hour. So multiply gallons per minute by 60 and that's gallons per hour. Example 10 gallons per minute at 15 psi (with pressure reducer). 600 gallons per hour 600 1 gallon emitters per run
You reduce to 15 PSI?



:::scared:::

[hoskm01]

Yup. made a dumb living installing cheap crap. glad you guys are still paying into Social Security; thanks!
Nothing like welfare for the masses.

[FIREPLUG1111]

HOLY CRAP ask a simple question and start a nuclear war.
I'll stick with my mist heads as its already plumbed in for it.
You guys BASH eachother, I'm done here.........

[hoskm01]

HOLY CRAP ask a simple question and start a nuclear war.
I'll stick with my mist heads as its already plumbed in for it.
You guys BASH eachother, I'm done here.........
You got answers to your question.

Leave the soap opera out of it. Dont waste water with your "mist" heads.

[Mike Leary]

You guys BASH eachother, I'm done here.........

We don't do nothing but get to the point; after that the drugs we take for ADD start to wear off and chaos ensues.

[ARGOS]

HOLY CRAP ask a simple question and start a nuclear war.
I'll stick with my mist heads as its already plumbed in for it.
You guys BASH eachother, I'm done here.........

You always hurt the ones you love.

[Mike Leary]

ask a simple question and start a nuclear war.

I like that line; it pretty well typifies us. :dizzy::clapping::drinkup:

[Kiril]

I like that line; it pretty well typifies us. :dizzy::clapping::drinkup:

ROFL ... that is does. :drinkup:

[AI Inc]

We don't do nothing but get to the point; after that the drugs we take for ADD start to wear off and chaos ensues.

Cant sleep , cant eat , I tossed mine and went back to weed.

[DanaMac]

For a straight answer, I say drip irrigation.

[AI Inc]

Drip without a doubt , and Like Dana and Kirl say, toss the PRV unless you have a gazilion gals at 200 psi.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Blank netafim behind the shrub out of harms way well staked. If new shrubs use RB TS fulls adjusted down to water thoroughly during establishment one at each shrub on the high side. Run 1/4" tubing from the netafim to the sprayer at each shrub. After establishment these can be changed to stream sprays. Just swap the caps and save the RB TS spikes for the next job. You won't lose a plant.

[hoskm01]

For a straight answer, I say drip irrigation.
I dont think he's coming back.


:::adds tally mark to list:::

[eaglescout]

Some people have no sense of humor

[Mike Leary]

I dont think he's coming back.


:::adds tally mark to list:::

I thought we behaved like perfect gentlemen.....until........

[Wet_Boots]

I blame sunspots.

[FIREPLUG1111]

I'm still here, just going to go with mist heads.

[Mike Leary]

I'm still here, just going to go with mist heads.

What type of shrubs are they and what is the spacing for your misters?

[hoskm01]

I'm still here, just going to go with mist heads.
Lame.........

[Mike Leary]

Lame.........

Not if you had heads on five foot centers on both sides. Which would be overkill, even for me.

[hoskm01]

Not if you had heads on five foot centers on both sides. Which would be overkill, even for me.
Waste of water and, like you said, overkill.

Buttplug1111... if youve already plumbed for "mist" heads, you can still go drip. Once you go drip, you never go back!

[RhettMan]

Once you go drip, you never go back!

hoskm, why is this?

[AI Inc]

Because its the correct way to do it.

[CAPT Stream Rotar]

drip saves water, produces results, customers happy.

we get paid faster.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Drip is ONE WAY to do it. We survived for years and years without drip just fine and dandy.

[AI Inc]

Could say the same about cable tv, cell phones and the internet.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Could say the same about cable tv, cell phones and the internet.

And are lives are better? All that has done is make us fatter and biatch more.

[AI Inc]

What about ET?

[CAPT Stream Rotar]

Drip is ONE WAY to do it. We survived for years and years without drip just fine and dandy.

Thanks for all that run off!!!!!!!!!!!!!

::claps::

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Drip is one way to go is all I'm saying dudes. It can be done more effectively on a shrub by shrub basis with bubblers. Drip netafim just gives you a lot of convenience but not targeted watering.

[FIREPLUG1111]

What type of shrubs are they and what is the spacing for your misters?


They are Privit Hedge and shrub spacing is about 18". Head spacing is 20'

[FIREPLUG1111]

Waste of water and, like you said, overkill.

Buttplug1111... if youve already plumbed for "mist" heads, you can still go drip. Once you go drip, you never go back!


whats up with the name calling dude? You want a war I'll give you a war you will never win!!

[AI Inc]

use netafim with 18" spacing , perfect!

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

whats up with the name calling dude? You want a war I'll give you a war you will never win!!

Let it go. We have fun here but with a little patience and thick skin you will actually get good advice.

Okay several schools of thought here...I'm assuming this zone for the hedges is watering nothing else and the entire zone is being converted. No spray/drip mix...RIGHT?

The netafim drip school of thought is to slowly water the entire soil area of the shrubs. I still have doubts about the uniformity of drip watering but for our purposes lets just assume it does. Requires a proper grid layout.

Mike's school of thought that I practiced for ages with great success. 5' head spacing with short risers. Guaranteed success but higher installation cost.

My school of thought. Run blank netafim and poke in 1/4" tubes to run to each shrub individually with a RB true spray spike turned down to act like a bubbler. Targeted watering and you can see it working to confirm all is well. Gets each shrub a good soaking without watering all the empty gaps in between.

You choose

[Mike Leary]

use netafim with 18" spacing , perfect!

I did a 400' arborvitae hedge last year with 12" netafim; too many dry gaps, ran a second run on both sides with the emmiters
spaced in between, worked better, lost only two plants that were prolly culls from the nursery.

[Kiril]

Mike's school of thought that I practiced for ages with great success. 5' head spacing with short risers. Guaranteed success but higher installation cost.

Don't forget lower DU and AE.

My school of thought. Run blank netafim and poke in 1/4" tubes to run to each shrub individually with a RB true spray spike turned down to act like a bubbler. Targeted watering and you can see it working to confirm all is well. Gets each shrub a good soaking without watering all the empty gaps in between

This is a hedge right? No empty gaps, roots occupy the entire soil volume between plants. Your method restricts the root zone, which can lead to nutrient problems, salt problems, and overall plant health problems.

[Mike Leary]

I like the idea of 6" Netafim, problem is, as my rep tells me, you gotta buy a truckload of it.

[Kiril]

I like the idea of 6" Netafim, problem is, as my rep tells me, you gotta buy a truckload of it.

Dude, what are you irrigating, beach sand? :dizzy:

[Mike Leary]

Dude, what are you irrigating, beach sand? :dizzy:

It was installed by the HO, no soil amendments were used, just rocky, crappy,sandy soil from the beach site. :cry:

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Don't forget lower DU and AE.



This is a hedge right? No empty gaps, roots occupy the entire soil volume between plants. Your method restricts the root zone, which can lead to nutrient problems, salt problems, and overall plant health problems.

After the bush is established you replace the TS caps with stream caps to water slower but further out to the areas between the shrubs. Put the TS caps on the stream spikes you robbed and save for next new planting situation.

[hoskm01]

whats up with the name calling dude? You want a war I'll give you a war you will never win!!


Right... Let me get some new Dr. Scholls, since I just quaked in my boots.

Dont get your panties in a bunch. Like Fim said, grow some skin. Besides...

http://www.stimpco.com/carpix/arguingOnTheInternet.gif



So. All kidding aside. Go with the drip. Efficient, easy, durable. Beautiful.

[Mike Leary]

Go with the drip.

Is that a line from the new "Star Wars" flic?

[hoskm01]

Is that a line from the new "Star Wars" flic?
That's- "Be the drip, Mike"