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DIY Drip Irrigation Systems

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 11:38:30 GMT

How to Install Drip Lines in Your Garden

Installing a DIY drip irrigation system into your garden is a great way to reduce your garden chores while also reducing the amount of water you use in your garden. Drip irrigation is easy to install and even easier to use. Once you’ve got your DIY irrigation system in, you’ll have more time to enjoy your garden!

DIY Irrigation Systems: Why Drip Line

We chose drip line over other types of irrigation (such as in-ground sprinklers) for a few reasons:

Drip irrigation systems are very water efficient. Very little water is lost to evaporation, unlike overhead sprinkler systems.
Drip irrigation puts the water right at the base of the plant rather than watering the leaves. This minimizes moisture-related problems on plant leaves.
The materials are easy to find locally.
The materials were cost effective.
The line is heavy duty and will last a long time, and is relatively easy to work.
The components for installing DIY drip installation are interchangeable, making a custom line arrangement simple.
The hoses are brown or black, meaning that the hose will blend in with the topsoil. Having everything blend during this transition period is a nice touch.

Steps: Planning DIY Drip Irrigation

Sketch out the area using the paper and pencil. Draw a rough perimeter of the garden, the water spigot, and any other important features (fences, walkways).
Sketch in imaginary drip lines where you envision your lines going. Make sure to pass the line close by existing plants or areas in which you plan to install new plants. Draw drip emitter line (line with holes in it) wherever you have plants that require water. Draw solid/blank hose line to connect the drip emitter line from the garden to the water tap. You don’t want drip line with holes in it coming immediately out of the water spigot as it will create a muddy mess by your water outlet.
Measure the garden area. Add the measurements to your drawing. Also measure the desired drip line lengths as best as you can. Wrap the tape around the garden as if it were the line. If this is too fussy, just loop the tape around the garden leaving lots of space, and take that measurement. When you have the actual emitter line, winding the hose through the plants will take up the extra line. Update your sketch to include any changes.
Calculate the total length of required emitter line and solid line that you’ll need for your irrigation system design. Plan to buy 5-10% more line than you’ll need (of each type).
Calculate the type and number of connectors and collars required for your desired configuration. If it isn’t obvious what you’ll need, go back to your drawing. Make sure you’ve sketched out exactly where the emitter line will go, and then where the solid line will go. How many emitter lines come out of the solid line? Ask yourself what each connection will have to look like. Each time you connect a line to a connector, you’ll need a collar to hold the line onto the connection. For instance, a T-shaped connector has 3 lines going into it and would therefore require 3 metal collars (see photo above). It can be a bit tricky to imagine. If you can’t picture it, just buy a few of each type (T, Elbow, Straight), and then return what you don’t use.
If you’ve ever wanted to lay landscaping fabric or add more topsoil to the garden, now is the time. Trying to add fabric or soil under the lines is a challenge If this is on your mind, do it now (before you install your DIY drip irrigation lines on top of your garden bed).

Steps: Installing DIY Drip Irrigation

Purchase your supplies. Keep the receipt in case there is an extra T-connector or two hanging around when you’re done.
Uncoil the tubing lines along a smooth, dry surface such as your lawn to allow the coiled line to settle and relax into straighter line
Set up the watering timers for your desired time. Check your bylaws for the hours in which watering is allowed. Early morning, such as 3-5 AM, is generally a good pick.
Attach the watering timer(s) to the water outlet(s). Make sure the tap is set to off before/during/after attaching it.
Lay out the solid/blank line from the water outlet to the garden.
Lay out the emitter line around or beside the garden. Envision how the line will weave through the garden, but keep line in large loop around/beside the garden for now. You’ll put it in it’s permanent place after the connections are done.
Once you’re sure you have enough line, use the garden shears or a tubing cutter to cut the solid and emitter tubing to the desired lengths. Leave a little extra on each unless you are 100% confident in your measurements and ability to install connections.
Place metal connector collars around all the tubing ends.
Push the tubing connector into the cut ends of the hoses.
Slide the metal collars up onto the portion of the tubing which is on the connector. Use the drill to tighten the collars onto the tubing.
Install any remaining connectors.
Install the hose connector on the end of the solid line that will go into the water outlet.
Connect the hose connector to the watering timer.
Use the timer’s manual setting to “pressure test” the system. Turn on the irrigation system and walk the length of the line. Pay special attention to connections. If you notice a connection that is leaking, tighten the collar. If that doesn’t fix the connection, turn off the water and replace the connection.
Once you’re sure the system is working as intended, place the line up into the garden in the permanent location. Use the landscape staples to hold the line in place.

2019 SGASA Symposium

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 11:33:29 GMT

Navigating the future

The 2019 SGASA Symposium was held in a lush and very green KwaZulu-Natal, a stark contrast to the dry conditions of the previous symposium held in the Cape. Good news to the industry is that conditions have vastly improved in the Cape over the past year with some dams fuller than they have been in years.

This year the symposium was based in Hilton with pre-symposium and symposium tours all departing from Hilton as well as all the symposium presentation day being held at the Protea Hotel.

On the 3rd of June delegates flew in from all parts of the country to King Shaka International from where everyone jumped onto a bus to Umdoni golf course on the Natal South Coast for lunch. Interactions with old friends and colleagues was only broken by the opening address and welcome by Rob Perry (SGASA Chairman).

After lunch the first pre-symposium nursery tour and the only one for day was held at T&T agric. As this was the 1st nursery tour of a macadamia nursery since SAMAC joined the association there was a fair amount of interest in this tour. Colin Rand was extremely accommodating and attentive to all delegates despite simultaneously managing an extremely busy nursery operating at full stream. Of special interest was the way in which Colin can micro graft his Macadamia trees.

The long trip back to Hilton was rewarded by the towns excellent dining options and pub facilities hosting some of the delegates till the early hours of the following morning.

Tuesday morning started early with the first stop being at Sappi Richmond. A nursery with a long-standing affiliation to SGASA and a very special place to Rob Perry, who was able to showcase his incredible hard work over the many years working there and managing the nursery.

After a presentation and tour of Sappi Richmond the bus departed to Sutherlands Seedlings/Kings Grant where the group was greeted with coffee and snacks by Shaun Biggs and his team before receiving a talk on water and air management for plant rooting by Dr Paul fisher. Dr Fisher a Kiwi native now living in the US and has over 20 years experience in applied research and farm advising for the commercial greenhouse industry. Dr Fisher manages two university/industry groups to undertake applied research and grower training for greenhouse floriculture production and water conservation.

After the talk and lunch at the spectacular Kings Grant we were welcomed with a song by the staff of Sutherland Seedlings. The group then split in 2. Shaun Biggs (owner) and Phillip Ashton (manager) guided the 2 groups through the nursery. The highlight of Sutherland seedlings was the different Ellipot machines that were on display. Adrian Hembling, manager of Ellipot was very informative of the various machines. The day ended with the long bus trip back to the Hilton hotel where delegates enjoyed a fine meal.

Wednesday was the first day of the official symposium with the bus departing for the first visit to CPS seedlings. The group was welcomed with coffee and snacks by Julian Chaning-Pearce and his team followed by a nursery tour. It was very easy to see why the Changing-Pearce brothers are one of the leaders in our industry. Neatness, good management and well thought out SOP’s are seen in the quality seedlings that they produce.

The next visit for the day was Sappi Clan. Being one of Sappi’s flag ship nurseries, Sappi Clan failed to disappoint. It is immediately clear on entry where breathalyzer tests are necessary to gain access that this nursery would be one of the highlights of the 2019 Symposium. Sappi Clans specialisation is in Clonal propagation and this was show-cased by Wynand de Swardt and his team guiding us through the propagation facility. Raised hedges, a state-of-the-art pump room, vast rooting houses, grow out multispans and the sowing room were but a few highlights of what was a great visit.

The 3rd and final visit of the day was at Sunshine seedlings. Ken Leisagang, Bryn Pollard and Ian Sumner were our guides for the nursery tour. After a quick welcome we were fortunate enough to have a look at their production areas which includes their superior Urbinati sowing line, a Cocomill 100 supplied by Bark and Fibre Enterprises which enables quick handling and expansion of coir blocks. Kens biogas plant and essential oil distillery explains why this nursery had won the innovation award last year. The tour was concluded with drinks and snacks provided by Sunshine seedlings and beer on tap supplied by Ezigro nursery.

The Protea hotel Hilton played host to the final day of the conference, a full day of presentations. The highlights of the presentations included Ilke Opperman and Godfrey Sitole talking about non-hazardous pest and disease control and growing eucalypt seedlings in paper pots respectively. James dick gave a presentation on air filled porosity followed by Shaun Biggs giving feedback on leading forestry, fruit and vegetable seedling players around the world. Robert Pattison-Emms then presented a talk on the 8 steps to pest and diseases control. Dr Lindy Esterhuizen also gave feedback on the cabbage project.

Dr Paul fisher was the key-note speaker of the symposium giving talks on the day about water quality and treatment for healthy roots, filtration, sanitation, and system design to avoid root diseases. He also gave a talk on efficiency, costing and profitability for your nursery.

The day ended with motivational speaker Martin Dreyer, a multi-disciplined adventure sportsman, sharing his many adventures and life stories.

After a very busy week everyone was able to meet for the gala dinner again sponsored by Sakata and held at the Protea hotel Hilton. A bit of rain and cold made for a very cosy dinner. Schalk Bezuidenhout once again served up brilliant humour made even better by the delicious food and tasty drinks. The most improved nursery prize was awarded to Zululand Nursery. The innovation trophy was awarded to Top crops Mike Kruger and the max Bothma floating trophy for service to the association was awarded to Quinton Mulh for all his hard work on the Leaflet.

Thank you to all that were involved in organizing this incredible symposium. The 2020 symposium will be held in Tzaneen.