I’m hoping to get some planting done when we are in Chichester at the end of May - one or two small trees and shrubs. We will be there 2 weeks so they will get a good soaking while we’re there, but then we are unlikely to be back for at least another month. During that time our electrics and water will be off, so I need to find a way to keep the plants going.
I wondered about placing two or three large bidons filled with water alongside the plants and attaching a drip watering system to each of the taps, opening the taps VERY slightly and just letting the water drip out through the system.
Any thoughts please on whether that might work?
NB: I’m itching to start planting. I realise the best solution is to do nothing until late autumn.
One alternative would be to find someone to water for me, but I would still need to provide a watering system that does not need access to electricity/water from the house.
We get our irrigation stuff for in the poly tunnel and out door spud beds from, waterirrigation.co.uk. They should be able to advise on what might work for you.
Sue, as other have suggested, I use simple 24 HR timers set to run 30 mins at around 6 am and then the same at 6 pm. The timers are connected to goûté à goute arrosage de surface and water comes from (luckily) a 30 m cu underground rainwater reservoir for one loop and the other loop runs off a natural source we have next to the potager.
Takes a wee bit of investment and if you need to water individual pots, then you will need to buy some other pipes and nozzles but very easy, and all you need is a pair of scissors to cut the tube.
I’d forgotten I had a battery operated timer years ago. I will need to fix it to a water butt tap, but that should be ok.
There is a tiny water butt installed by the builder, so I’ll buy a larger one to go alongside the shed. For the moment I’ll just fill it from the house and then install guttering along the shed roof in the autumn.
Just checking Mikey, is the hose attachment standard Gardenia etc? I note they talk about being compatible with Lidl hose system and Lidl aren’t always standard (eg vacuum cleaners)
