Installing Dripperlines
onto New Plants
onto New Plants
GC Pro-I Tip
New Plants
New Plants
Technical Bulletin Series
|
|
Installing Dripperlines onto New Plants |
GC Pro-I Tip New Plants |
Technical Bulletin Series
|
| Providing superior water distribution for newly planted shrubs and trees is essential for expecting to have successful installation. |
|
The specification line in the GC Pro-I Calculator for New Plant installation,
will read something to this effect:
"Applies 5.9 gals. Drip Spiral: 3" to 14"; 4.2 sq ft."
This indicates the volume of water that will be supplied during a single day's irrigation (whether or not
that irrigation is split into multiple start times.) The following detail, specifies the inner and outer diameter of the drip line Spiral to be installed.
(see below)
|
|
|
The final specification lists the soil area to be irrigated in square feet.
A 14" radius (this line example) would have an area equal to 615 sq. inch or 4.27 sq. ft.
This information is given in order that the spiral extend far enough from the trunk, yet not too far.
Calculations for Moisture Depth are based on this specified area!
The new plant will extend roots throughout the provided moisture zone.
If this area is too small, the soil will be too most and roots will not grow as well or
as far out as they should.
If the area is too large, the soil will not have sufficient moisture and much of the water far away from the trunk will not ne utilized (except perhaps by unwanted weeds). |
|
|
Here a young plant has been installed and the dripperline irrigation spirals from the center outwards.
Enough moisture is being provided within the initial planting hole,
but then as the spiral extends too far from the plant itself water is being wasted.
The additional rings on the Spiral could be added on, in the future when the plant is ready to make use of them. |
|
Often a single shrubbler (like this) for a plant is installed. This overly concentrated and poorly distributed water application is asking for trouble. 
|
|
If the moisture happens to be sufficient for this plant initially, it rarely is wide enough for the plant after a couple years of growth.
|
|
Dripperline is recommended by the GC-Pro-I Calculators for several reasons: 1) This method is the best for equally distributing moisture throughout the root zone area. 2) Dripperline is easy to use. 3) Most economical ! |
This large spiral extends approximately 24 inches out from the trunk of the new plant being installed.
Each successive loop in the spiral extends further from the trunk, and the spacing between
each successive loop is to remain relatively even (measuring is not necessary)
|
| The "Garden Calculator Pro I" provides recommendations for installing a specific number of emitters and then running the system for a specified time in order to achieve the calculated water volume needed to adequately irrigate the soil surrounding the plant in question. As water expense is usually an concern, the Calculator also provides an estimate of the annual cost of watering the plant according to these specifications. You will find how low this cost really is. |
Using 6 inch spacing dripperline
|
A section of dripperline with 6 inch spacing running for 10 feet costs approximately $1.80. As is seen this represents a very economical method for providing uniform moisture distribution around a new plant.
|