Do you have a newly planted tree or trees that are needing lots of water or live in a rural area where readily available water sources are not available and are beyond any hose you have?
Are you tired of vegetables that have no taste and very strangely never ripen. To those of you who live in rural areas, have access to community gardens, patio planters, square foot gardens, or rooftop gardens and want to grow your own tasty morsels. This article may provide a self watering solution for most of your watering needs.
How it Started. Watering newly planted trees in a rural area.
My quest as I began to experiment with different alternatives to water my rural Colorado trees and new plantings led me on the path I now find myself with Watering Rocks.
Planting seemed to me to be the easy part. The hard part that follows is the stress and worry of making sure they get enough daily watering and nutrition.
If you are not busy and never go anywhere then you probably look forward to the pleasure and enjoyment of pulling out the 100 plus feet of hose and giving your little friends a good drenching. Don’t forget to wind the hose back up.
Then there is the other worry of “OH NO” watering restrictions which come our way here in Colorado often.
What if there was a way to reduce this responsibility as much as possible, maybe to 2 or 3 times a week. What about a way to add nutrients to my full time watering help. What if I could use captured grey water as much as possible.
How it evolved.
Thus, the evolution of Watering Rocks Portable Automatic Drip Irrigation System Kits. It all started with a tin can with a hole in the bottom that would hopefully drip water onto my plants slowly. It dripped too fast and provided lots of rust.
We then made concrete variations that looked really good and performed admirably dripping water onto our plants. But the manufacturing was time consuming and the finished product heavy and fragile. They almost killed me carrying and delivering to shows and garden centers. What ever doesn’t kill ya makes you stronger.
After encouragement from buyers and retailers that the need was definitely there for a self watering system we decided to make the plunge and develop an HDDPE plastic version. That brings us to today. The Watering Rocks Portable Automatic Drip Irrigation System Kits.
What it is today. Portable watering system for newly planted trees, rural areas and urban situations.
We are proud of the current version. It is aesthetically appealing in Sandstone and White Granite. They hold 5 gallons of water, are light weight(4lbs empty), require no electric( uses gravity and water pressure from the pyramid shape), comes with 15′ of 1/4″ drip line, 6 adjustable drippers, and all the necessary components to make it work. They are easy to assemble.
Visit our website for FAQ’s, testimonials, tips and tricks for use, pictures, blog articles, and even a free book offer ” 101 Ways to Save on Water in Your Landscape”
Testimonial. Watering trees in a rural environment.
I planted 5 fruit trees last year in pretty bad soil, in the direct Colorado sun at 7000 feet altitude. We did not have a hose long enough to reach the trees. Decided to try using 1 rock at each tree and filled them once or twice a week depending on MY time available and weather conditions.
I now have 2 apple, 2 pear, 1 plum, and 1 peach tree well established. I also use them for my 2 blackberry, 1 raspberry, and 4 grape plants.
My routine involves getting my Honda ATV with trailer behind, picking up the plastic rocks and putting them in the trailer, driving to my spigot hose outlet, filling the rocks with 5 gallons of our well water each, driving to the plants, placing them in their spot at the plants, placing hose at the base of plant, and checking to make sure the desired drip is happening. Now they are ok to leave for 2-3 days or more depending on the weather.
Also, hint, make a small hole in the dirt 1-2 inches at the base of the plant so moisture will get to the roots easier and seep below the surface and last longer.
In Conclusion
We hope this brief article has provided you with an option for your portable self watering needs. Just remember this: Watering Rocks water your plants where you can’t and because of your busy schedule or vacation when you can’t.