I completed the re-installation and expansion of the drip irrigation system and put it back into service on April 12. It's a good thing, too, because here we are at the start of the growing season and as of this date (April 17) we have had only 1.66 inches of rain.
The system doubled in size from last year, due to the addition of about 100 vines along with the replacement of the 15 Norton vines I inadvertently killed with sulfur in 2015.
The new, improved system was modified break it into three stations with an input manifold with three manual valves. In addition, I added additional drip heads and put two at each vine, 12 in. on either side of the trunk. My thinking is this places the water a short distance away from the vine and encourage the roots to spread. This required removal and re-installation of most of the drip heads and repair of the old holes with "Goof Plugs." A few of the plugs leak a harmless amount, but do no harm.
The drip heads are rated at 1/2 gallon per hour. I am currently running the system three hours each station on three successive days each week, beginning on Mondays. I am no longer worried about rain.
The only remaining task is to add the drip sprinklers for the rose bushes at the end of each row.
The system doubled in size from last year, due to the addition of about 100 vines along with the replacement of the 15 Norton vines I inadvertently killed with sulfur in 2015.
The new, improved system was modified break it into three stations with an input manifold with three manual valves. In addition, I added additional drip heads and put two at each vine, 12 in. on either side of the trunk. My thinking is this places the water a short distance away from the vine and encourage the roots to spread. This required removal and re-installation of most of the drip heads and repair of the old holes with "Goof Plugs." A few of the plugs leak a harmless amount, but do no harm.
The drip heads are rated at 1/2 gallon per hour. I am currently running the system three hours each station on three successive days each week, beginning on Mondays. I am no longer worried about rain.
The only remaining task is to add the drip sprinklers for the rose bushes at the end of each row.
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