I have a gardening irrigation system to look after my garden as I travel away from home often. Suggestions. 1. Use large diameter 25mm diameter poly tubing. 2. Don't put terminators at the end of each run, instead place a tap so you can flush the pipes say every month. 3. Small sprinklers get blocked, yes use impact sprinklers. The end result is a much more reliable system that I have more certainty in especially when I'm away from home
I only have a small garden and I use terracotta pots, seal the hole up, bury it in the ground, up to the lip of the pot and fill with water. I use the saucer as the lid. A self watering system. I only have to fill the pots up, reducing water use. I understand this won't be practical for a large garden, but it works great in a small garden.
Mark if I may add, I was also bitten by wasps. At the time I had an above ground pool which of course is treated with chlorine tablets. I dipped my arm in the pool for 5 mins and all side effects from the bite were gone. I was also amazed by the result! I have 3 arms now, but no more burning sensation lol
I’ve been hanging out here for a bit, and have learned a great deal. I just moved to a new property and have so much sand. I live in New Mexico and our environment is similar to yours. I’ve got to address the established drip system and I can’t stand the skinny drip lines either. Now I’m on a well and I know they would just be completely plugged up. This information was great. And I have been inspired to address the current system and the food garden going in this Spring. Chickens and a truck full of mulch are this weeks projects. First, I have to scrounge in my sprinkler parts and head out to the succulents and iris’. Thank you, sir.
I was thinking maybe I'll ask Mark how he waters... Then found this video... Very practical... Well done... Generally speaking mate you're videos are an example of hardwork, application through learning and desire. I watch a few different TH-cam gardening videos and yours are my favorite. Thank you and great stuff.
really informative vid, mark! thanks for sharing all the things you tried first and how they worked or didn't work - this is what we love about your style - keep 'em coming :) I mean, ants building nests in the system?! Who knew! That's QLD for you, if it isn't biting you, it's nesting in your stuff or eating it. that's the kind of info you can only get on channels like yours that helps others avoid the same mistakes and try something else instead - and together we all get better!, and it's a bloody public service you deliver. Cheers!
Thanks Amy and so glad you found it informative! I like making longer content like this but I worry people may find it boring as I tend to ramble on - anyway I appreciate your feedback. Yes, ants have indeed gotten into my watering systems before (the buggers) and when they do they get swept along the pipes and end up forced out the tiny sprayers and inevitably get stuck so the whole system requires flushing and unblocking... Not fun. Cheers :)
I love your honesty and thanks for posting such an informative vid. Answered all my questions that having been running around my head in regards to irrigation systems. Thanks heaps.
We had one of those paper wasp nests set up hanging directly above our front doorway. They must have gotten accustomed to people walking under them constantly because they never bothered us or attacked anyone. They did succeed in keeping away annoying door knockers though! They would come halfway down the driveway, see the wasp nest, turn 180 and walk away.
I'm surprised nobody makes 'fake' wasp nests for people to hang around their homes and sheds to deter unwanted visitors. Although they're hardy folk in Australia, so maybe you'd need something a bit more dramatic, such as giant spider-webs or fake crocodile footprints...🤭
Hey mate, love your channel. I live in Brisbane and am currently using 25 mm polypipe from bunnings which makes a huge difference, as you have a lot less pressure losses in your system thus a lot more efficient and energy saving as well. Cheers 🙏
Mark, the best way to treat wasp stings is to dab vinegar (even apple cider vinegar) to the wound. For bee stings, however, baking soda mixed with a little water, sorts it out quickly. No redness or pain within an hour in most cases. These natural remedies saved me much grief when I was in my garden and got stung one time too many. Kia Ora.
OMG the old you was so inexperienced compared to how you are now. Now your videos literally just pull me into your videos. Honestly seeing the old you compared to the new you is really inspiring
We've had too much water for the last 3 years. Wish we could have sent you some. Glad it seems to be settling down this year. I lost 3 fruit trees and 4 blueberry bushes to root rot.
I've been overthinking watering my veggie garden all this time. I use a 19mm with thin risers and got sick of catching it with the whipper snipper and all the blockages. I got the shits and ripped the whole lot out this morning. Thanks for the great idea of the impact sprinkler. I have one in the shed and I'm off to set it up now. Oh, and don't get me started with those paper wasps! They defend their nests viciously. I did a revenge "drive-by" on some the other day in the paddock basher.
Hi Mark, I've got a reasonably large backyard and have started to grow my own kale from seed from last years crop. I've noticed it was useless to try and grow seed this last December as we had over 48c temps and everything just died so I asked a professional and he said that seeds getting temps over 63c is what they would have received, they become useless. So, now that it's end of Feb' 2019 it's becoming cooler enough to germinate the seeds and they seem to be coming on well and will soon be transplanting them into the ground. I have prepared a few long rows but wanting to setup a sprinkler system using poly pipes with a timer. I have one already for my little green house and found that you don't need to have it going that long as they get pretty much soaked. I would however want to just wet the ground and not the plants once they're in the ground. I've always believed in watering the ground is much more important than watering the whole plant itself as it's the ground that where the plant grows from and the plant gets it's Chlorophyll from the sun. What would you suggest in using for ground cover watering? Should I use maybe a drip system or just smaller, finer spray heads?
Yeah kale is super hardy but trying to germinate in our summer is difficult alright! Best when it's cooler as you've discovered. A drip system is probably more appropriate but I recommend you use a simple inline pressure reducer for better performance 👍
Not sure if this is any use, but I vaguely heard of different irrigation systems used by ancient and present farming in arid and even desert countries; such as underground irrigation, preventing water evaporation and taking it directly to where needed. Also, not sure if this is viable for you personally, but I'd be tempted to try thicker layers of wood chip mulch, as much area coverage as possible, preventing water evaporation. Bearing in mind, my only experience is as a small garden keeper, and in a predominately wet climate. I agree with the hand watering method too, for given reason. Thank you for the invaluable information you share, and the most enjoyable viewing :-)
So with you with the impact sprinkler after tubing being so challenging on my hands .. even with gloves... and I love my Dad’s old garden sprinkler (which is metal ... so no plastic either)!! Would like to work on the idea of ‘channel’ irrigation on a small scale compared with farm versions but using gravity somehow... more like the Nam irrigation you showed for your pest video and ducks!! Actually maybe the ducks would like it!! Creating moats to stop ants even! Just a thought!! After being in the fires in Victoria I am very glad for the extra water blowing onto the green lawn my brother had around the veggie gardens and therefore a barrier for the house!! We survived needless to say!!! PS: glad to have found your down to earth videos! I am still catching up on many years of your helpful tips! Cheers from Cairns!
I really liked the point of exercise and inspection... and let's not forget therapeutic. Thank you Mark. I have been enjoying your channel for quite some time now and appreciate it very much. You well deserve the reaps of your hard work! Mark today as Day 1 of my journey. 3 Beds (12'w x 3'd x 2 1/2'h). Super excited. I'll be providing a lot more views for you... that's for sure! 😉I can easily see an extra digit of subscribers. 💪🏼~ Tucson, Arizona
Wait, I didn't know you have a daughter. Oh, that was you screaming and running away from the wasps LOL If I remember right, you pick some basil leaves, chew it and apply to the wasp sting. I had an irrigation system installed in my front garden but the darn thing keeps leaking. I ripped it out and just water by hand. When I get lazy I let the hose flood the area and that's watering LOL I noticed how much your garden has changed over the years. I prefer the raised beds, The other is backbreaking, maybe I am getting old LOL Your orchard is beautiful as always. I love it :)
Thank you . I garden as much as I can in the Philippines, and many of the plants you grow there we try to grow here. I have to work on improving the soil.
Mark next time you get stung by a wasp put some red wine vinegar on that spot. It will take away the pain, swelling and help you recover fast from it. Thank you for all your videos! Love them.
I have a "garden cat", poor little dude showed up all scrawny and beat up last season. I nursed him back to health and he has done a WONDERFUL job keeping rodents out of the garden. He isnt exactly friendly (was probably abused and thrown out in front if my house), but we have an understanding.
Appreciate the video. Question: lets say you wanted to plant vegetables in the area near your orchid where you’ve been using reclaimed waste water...how would you neutralize the soil? I live in a community that has reclaimed water for the installed sprinkler system for the grass and was told not to plant vegetables in the yard. Trying to find a way to start a garden other than using pots. Thanks and keep the great videos coming.
Self Sufficient Me We water by hand, and have a rain water catching system of three barrels, two of them actually catch the water right from the rain gutters, and the third one is the overflow. This spring I'm planning on adding two larger barrels in which I would pump the water from the catchment barrels into them for more storage and not have to use town water at all, which pay for. From those the water would be gravity fed through a watering hose, so we wouldn't have to carry the water, and still have opportunity to inspect our crops in our raised bed gardens. Fifteen of them, and planning for one large this year's new addition.
In the greenhouse I made the same mistake as you although it's not a biggie, the emitters with thread are meant to attach to risers while the barbed ones are for attaching directly to the 13mm pipe
Thanks for sharing been thinking about a water system gives a person alot of options. Hope you get feeling better after the sting you had. Iam allergic to stings of wasp etc. I usually have to go to hospital. Be careful. Watch you soon.
25c each for those plastic connectors...now 2023 over $1 each..I spent hundreds on the crap to get the same result...lots of disease overhead spraying too...I wish I saw this video years ago.would have saved me the same pain and money...its bang on. as they all are ;)
If you keep some plantain growing around your gardens, it’s great for stings and cuts. Just crush a bit of the leaf and slap it on the injury. Pain goes away(or at least lessens) almost immediately, and draws the poison out of stings for super fast healing. And by plantain I mean the medicinal herb, not the banana like fruit
Ive got 3 battery operated digital tap attached irrigation valves. I use them so that all my garden is watered regularly......otherwise I'd forget. The system waters all the veggies, all the 60 roses, and my shade house. Its low pressure and I've installed all of it. Fantastic.
Really enjoy your channel I am in South Texas east of 35 so similar weather. I am not as able as you but am trying to build a bigger garden. Thanks for your info and help.
Hi Mark. A very interesting video, and I hate paper wasps too! With reference to your septic water I wondered if you had considered using a reed bed filtering system to clean the toxins out of it? You certainly have the space to achieve it if it was out effective.
Those little sprinkler heads are notorious for clogging and maintenance to mitigate that you need to set up a simple filtration system that will hold back all those particles that comes with the water, and that will reduce maintenance tremendously
Hi Mark love your show I am trying to be self sufficient in my suburban garden I am getting ready for spring summer veggies. We have a water tank which keeps filling up haven’t used tap water for my garden since we purchased the tank about 5 years ago. Our main concern is the water in the tank it’s a fairly big tank and the outside of the tank is green like from Bunnings. But is it safe for the garden after a few years without cleaning it I wouldn’t know how to do that it was quite empty at one stage left the tap on by mistake my husbands concern is it may not be safe to use we don’t use it for drinking just gardening Thanks heaps ANNA
I keep looking at the upfront expense of drip irrigation, soaker hoses etc, and the fact that people who use them are constantly fixing leaks and clogs.... and I keep right on hand-watering with a can or regular hose. Another factor is relying on electricity - in my area rolling brown-outs are very common all summer long, and every time the power goes out the timers stop and have to be reset. Sometimes that doesn't happen for weeks, but sometimes it happens 2-3 times a day. My goal this year is to put in a couple water barrels in strategic places and buy an electric pump that can be carried from one location to another; just drop the inlet hose in the nearest water barrel and spray away.
heat helps putting them on, but isn't required... try to zone out your system with solenoids close to the tap, if you can - bury as much as you can, but if you can't then buy UV resistant pipes. You can have it connected to a irrigation timer setup, if you're unsure of how many zones you need, buy one with 4 zones that can be expanded upon to 16 zones (or 32 zones if you're industrial) Connect up the zones with the wires, refer to the install guide of your watering system, use burial grade core wiring, there are different grades but your local hardware store will know what you need, you need 2 wires per zone. You don't have to do this, but it is a good idea, label inside the solenoid location on the pipes where it is going, for example zone 1 would be zone 1, you label zone 1 at the pipe to go to zone 1 and you label the pipe on the other end with "zone 1" it will help with troubleshooting when it comes time.. which there will be a time. Try to keep a map of where you are laying the pipe out, best to use long lengths without any breakages underground, if possible, directly pointing towards the garden zones. Keep the map in a place where other important home things are, like your rental agreement or stovetop manuals... you seriously should keep those as well, t's a good idea to keep all these things to give the new owners a "value added" perspective. Remember, the less the flow rate, the less the length and zones you can have, plan wisely... Even if you are feeling like you are asking stupid questions they may not be stupid but vital and great questions, asking a plumber in a hardware store your questions can save you a lot of heartache. If you need more flow rate, a great way to do it is quite a simple one... you make a big ass cistern out of a rainwater tank and use that as an auxiliary tank with some water pumps ,unless you run through 1.5x the tank capacity each water, you should be fine, if you need more flow, put another bunghole in the tank and connect another tap. - and with that you got half a toilet. Yes there are other important things, but those are the main thing you need to worry about... planning, staging, flow rate and planning for disaster, the rest is... fiddly bits. With time, plastics will grow brittle or lose their shape and may need replacing, hopefully my advice will make the replacement less painful and more like... well, let's hope it isn't as painful as a root canal
Most of your watering setup would be considered a water conserving system in the southwest USA where water resources are tight and declining year after year. Small sprayers, drip irrigation, etc. is kind of the norm for water conservation when you need to irrigate at home. And we get far less rain here in the SW USA than you are getting there in QLD.
We grow Plantain in pots around the property. When I get stung I chew up some Plantain leaf and apply the spit poultice to the sting. This draws out the venom and greatly reduces the pain and inflation...
Antihistamines are good for that.. Benadryl, but won't help with the pain.. ibuprofen should help. I saw your"booster" pump? How's that connect with the system? Who's eating all that food? You can as well? Just a gorgeous"allotment".. does that mean you own it or "allowed" to inhabit a certain amount?
Hi Mark, really enjoyed this video! Just wondering how far your impact sprinkler reaches (ie- how big is your veggie garden)? Looks like a great fuss free option!
Hi Mark, watch all your videos, so helpful even tho u r QLD. In SA, I could never have fruit trees not netted, sooo many birds. I was very interested in ur irrigation experience as I have a relatively big veg garden too. If u water overhead with the impact sprinkler, do you get more fungal disease?? 👍 Hope ur feeling better soon xx
I have a pretty big garden and it takes 3 hours to complete water it especially in summer. It may take only half-hour if I have a sprinkle system. It's pretty hard to go away for holiday if we have to water the garden every day but don't have a set-up sprinkle system. Is there another option to water garden? Physically without being at garden every day ?
Hi Mark! I'll be moving to an area with quite a bit of snow for a good portion of the year. Any thoughts of irrigation systems that are freeze damage resistant? I'm not sure how cold it gets where you live. What sort of irrigation might work well in a greenhouse?
if you don't have a stop handy but have a zip tie, you can just bend the end of the pipe back onto itself and use the zip tie to hold it folded and not leak
Let me guess... you thought about the 2nd line/timer, as you were cutting the video? :) I am tinkering around with drip line irrigation, and water pressure is even more of an issue there, as the diameter of the water lines is quite small.
to the guy that sold you the pump I would have said "I would be happier, if the manufacturer sent me someone to repair it, considering that there is a reasonable durability issue, if I had known that the pump would fail every year I would not have purchased it in the first place, I would like a refund or someone to repair it" you are legally permitted to that because "reasonable durability" and "if I had known that, i would not have purchased the pump" comes under major failures in Australian consumer laws
I water my fruit trees by hand, but I have two 5 gallon (20L) buckets with a few holes drilled in the bottom. I fill up the buckets and they water the trees for me.
Gidday Mark ..Question... using the grey water around the fruit trees... do you find you get an increase in weeds from that watering... I was using ours onto the "lawn" of our new digs and it seemed to promote weed growth... Cheers p.s. we are in Busselton W.A. very sandy soil
good day sir you've been a great gardening teacher for me thanks for posting youre videos i had learn a lot. how can i water my lemon trees deep by hand water ? my lemon trees is showing some drought symptoms and now is there flowering sesason my lemon tree is about 1 year old
Carry a AFTER BITE. or a small bottle of Ammonia with a paper towel, cotton ball, something to apply the ammonia, just a little on the sting, apply for awhile. All gone. It works.
Obviously you don't seem to have any problems from it, but I thought that many plants didn't do well with overhead watering. Burning leaves, decreasing pollination, inviting various diseases, etc.
Hi, Maureen! 🙂 I know what you mean, and I'm sure you're right, but I think that a lot depends on the overall humidity. If Mark's prevailing winds are fairly dry, moisture wouldn't hang around long enough to cause the problems you mention, so perhaps that's why he can get away with it. I'm not sure why sun-scorch on wet foliage doesn't do more harm, unless he times his watering carefully to avoid the hottest part of the day. Or maybe the low humidity helps out there, too?🤔 I'm in the north of England where things are permanently grey, wet, and gloomy. The humidity is outrageous; lawns do well, but for anything else mildew, rot and disease gets in everywhere, all the time, even in so-called summer (ha!), so watering takes a bit more care than in regions where you can 'splash it on all over'. I only have a tiny garden and 7' greenhouse, so I water everything by hand, strictly roots only. Lush things like tomatoes are still horribly susceptible to rot and disease, though.
Wow, 40C..do you grow tomatoes successfully in that heat? We live in Texas and regularly see that temperature in August. Last year I blocked direct sunlight from noon till sunset and the plants survived but I've got nothing close to the production you get.
I hand water for a couple of reasons, gets me walking around the garden with the single focus of watering & while I do this I look for pests & relax in equal amounts.....Mark I have my fair share of runs ins with them swines...paper wasps very friendly insect they are..
Hi, Gary! With a name like yours I can see you strolling through your garden at high noon with a clinking of spurs and a six-gun in each hand, waiting for the Wasp Gang to show... 🙂
Good tip.....instead of using stops at the end of each run of pipe...add an inline tap instead...then you can flush out the whole system by opening the tap for short time...flush out and close the tap again..problem solved..:)
Hi Mark: I am afraid I have to say to you that nowadays, no one can say anymore, 'I just didn't know what to do with this and that ...' (I can't believe I am saying this, because I am not very savvy on computer stuff) All you have to do, even in an emergency, is to just google: 'What is the best home remedy for wasp stings' (or anything), and instantly you will get answers. The one that I remembered was about baking soda. Last summer we had wasp invasion into our house. I got stung few times when I tried to kill them. But I didn't remember to google. I just endured the pain. Finally we had to have somebody come and do some spraying. Now I google everything.
nice & Kind man understanding of wasps. I had a nest in the mirror of my car. I worked all around them and since they were used to me they didn't bother me. Once I accidentally bumped the mirror and a guard wasp came out and bumped into my forehead. Just a be careful warning. We all got along fine. After a few years, they abandoned the site. No harm to anyone and an insiteful relationship for me.
We have lots of different types of wasps here and most live fine around us in the garden but these paper wasps are very aggressive and will attack if disturbed regardless of intention which makes them a danger around the home and especially kids etc. Cheers :)
Good day, i would like to ask you, how often i should water my dawrf peach, that i just planted in my garden from a pot? Someone told me that i require less than once a week!!! Is it true?
I have a gardening irrigation system to look after my garden as I travel away from home often. Suggestions. 1. Use large diameter 25mm diameter poly tubing. 2. Don't put terminators at the end of each run, instead place a tap so you can flush the pipes say every month. 3. Small sprinklers get blocked, yes use impact sprinklers. The end result is a much more reliable system that I have more certainty in especially when I'm away from home
Great suggestions, especially not putting the terminator on the end of a run. 👌
I only have a small garden and I use terracotta pots, seal the hole up, bury it in the ground, up to the lip of the pot and fill with water. I use the saucer as the lid. A self watering system. I only have to fill the pots up, reducing water use. I understand this won't be practical for a large garden, but it works great in a small garden.
No worries about the wind as far as I’m concerned, it’s all part of nature to me. I love your channel Mark!
Mark if I may add, I was also bitten by wasps. At the time I had an above ground pool which of course is treated with chlorine tablets. I dipped my arm in the pool for 5 mins and all side effects from the bite were gone. I was also amazed by the result! I have 3 arms now, but no more burning sensation lol
I’ve been hanging out here for a bit, and have learned a great deal. I just moved to a new property and have so much sand. I live in New Mexico and our environment is similar to yours. I’ve got to address the established drip system and I can’t stand the skinny drip lines either. Now I’m on a well and I know they would just be completely plugged up. This information was great. And I have been inspired to address the current system and the food garden going in this Spring. Chickens and a truck full of mulch are this weeks projects. First, I have to scrounge in my sprinkler parts and head out to the succulents and iris’.
Thank you, sir.
I was thinking maybe I'll ask Mark how he waters... Then found this video... Very practical... Well done... Generally speaking mate you're videos are an example of hardwork, application through learning and desire. I watch a few different TH-cam gardening videos and yours are my favorite. Thank you and great stuff.
really informative vid, mark! thanks for sharing all the things you tried first and how they worked or didn't work - this is what we love about your style - keep 'em coming :) I mean, ants building nests in the system?! Who knew! That's QLD for you, if it isn't biting you, it's nesting in your stuff or eating it. that's the kind of info you can only get on channels like yours that helps others avoid the same mistakes and try something else instead - and together we all get better!, and it's a bloody public service you deliver. Cheers!
Thanks Amy and so glad you found it informative! I like making longer content like this but I worry people may find it boring as I tend to ramble on - anyway I appreciate your feedback. Yes, ants have indeed gotten into my watering systems before (the buggers) and when they do they get swept along the pipes and end up forced out the tiny sprayers and inevitably get stuck so the whole system requires flushing and unblocking... Not fun. Cheers :)
I love your honesty and thanks for posting such an informative vid. Answered all my questions that having been running around my head in regards to irrigation systems. Thanks heaps.
Hi Mark. Best time to do wasps is dusk when they are all back in the nest.
cheers Thor
Ahh, ok, thanks Thor! :)
@@Selfsufficientme Yeah, best time to hammer the wasps.
We had one of those paper wasp nests set up hanging directly above our front doorway. They must have gotten accustomed to people walking under them constantly because they never bothered us or attacked anyone. They did succeed in keeping away annoying door knockers though! They would come halfway down the driveway, see the wasp nest, turn 180 and walk away.
I'm surprised nobody makes 'fake' wasp nests for people to hang around their homes and sheds to deter unwanted visitors. Although they're hardy folk in Australia, so maybe you'd need something a bit more dramatic, such as giant spider-webs or fake crocodile footprints...🤭
Hey mate, love your channel. I live in Brisbane and am currently using 25 mm polypipe from bunnings which makes a huge difference, as you have a lot less pressure losses in your system thus a lot more efficient and energy saving as well. Cheers 🙏
Mark, the best way to treat wasp stings is to dab vinegar (even apple cider vinegar) to the wound. For bee stings, however, baking soda mixed with a little water, sorts it out quickly. No redness or pain within an hour in most cases. These natural remedies saved me much grief when I was in my garden and got stung one time too many. Kia Ora.
OMG the old you was so inexperienced compared to how you are now. Now your videos literally just pull me into your videos. Honestly seeing the old you compared to the new you is really inspiring
We've had too much water for the last 3 years. Wish we could have sent you some. Glad it seems to be settling down this year. I lost 3 fruit trees and 4 blueberry bushes to root rot.
Loving your videos. I play them and listen while I work from home. Excited to get back to vegetable gardening. 🤘🏼
I hand water. It gets me outside and, like you said, you inspect as you go.
Yes, Carol, I agree that's my favourite way to water :)
Ditto, therapeutic too!
Takes too much time if u have a big garden...
@@MicroageHD yeah
I've been overthinking watering my veggie garden all this time. I use a 19mm with thin risers and got sick of catching it with the whipper snipper and all the blockages. I got the shits and ripped the whole lot out this morning. Thanks for the great idea of the impact sprinkler. I have one in the shed and I'm off to set it up now.
Oh, and don't get me started with those paper wasps! They defend their nests viciously. I did a revenge "drive-by" on some the other day in the paddock basher.
Hi Mark,
I've got a reasonably large backyard and have started to grow my own kale from seed from last years crop.
I've noticed it was useless to try and grow seed this last December as we had over 48c temps and everything just died so I asked a professional and he said that seeds getting temps over 63c is what they would have received, they become useless.
So, now that it's end of Feb' 2019 it's becoming cooler enough to germinate the seeds and they seem to be coming on well and will soon be transplanting them into the ground. I have prepared a few long rows but wanting to setup a sprinkler system using poly pipes with a timer. I have one already for my little green house and found that you don't need to have it going that long as they get pretty much soaked. I would however want to just wet the ground and not the plants once they're in the ground. I've always believed in watering the ground is much more important than watering the whole plant itself as it's the ground that where the plant grows from and the plant gets it's Chlorophyll from the sun.
What would you suggest in using for ground cover watering?
Should I use maybe a drip system or just smaller, finer spray heads?
Yeah kale is super hardy but trying to germinate in our summer is difficult alright! Best when it's cooler as you've discovered. A drip system is probably more appropriate but I recommend you use a simple inline pressure reducer for better performance 👍
Not sure if this is any use, but I vaguely heard of different irrigation systems used by ancient and present farming in arid and even desert countries; such as underground irrigation, preventing water evaporation and taking it directly to where needed. Also, not sure if this is viable for you personally, but I'd be tempted to try thicker layers of wood chip mulch, as much area coverage as possible, preventing water evaporation. Bearing in mind, my only experience is as a small garden keeper, and in a predominately wet climate. I agree with the hand watering method too, for given reason. Thank you for the invaluable information you share, and the most enjoyable viewing :-)
So with you with the impact sprinkler after tubing being so challenging on my hands .. even with gloves... and I love my Dad’s old garden sprinkler (which is metal ... so no plastic either)!! Would like to work on the idea of ‘channel’ irrigation on a small scale compared with farm versions but using gravity somehow... more like the Nam irrigation you showed for your pest video and ducks!! Actually maybe the ducks would like it!! Creating moats to stop ants even! Just a thought!! After being in the fires in Victoria I am very glad for the extra water blowing onto the green lawn my brother had around the veggie gardens and therefore a barrier for the house!! We survived needless to say!!! PS: glad to have found your down to earth videos! I am still catching up on many years of your helpful tips! Cheers from Cairns!
I really liked the point of exercise and inspection... and let's not forget therapeutic. Thank you Mark. I have been enjoying your channel for quite some time now and appreciate it very much. You well deserve the reaps of your hard work! Mark today as Day 1 of my journey. 3 Beds (12'w x 3'd x 2 1/2'h). Super excited. I'll be providing a lot more views for you... that's for sure! 😉I can easily see an extra digit of subscribers. 💪🏼~ Tucson, Arizona
I have a small simple garden sprayer/sprinkler system that was given to me that is wonderful!
Very very helpful. Filled with lots of info and wisdom. Thank you.
I grew tons of squash, zucchini, and cucumbers below our septic drain field last year. TONS!
So many I had to give half away.
Haha you mentioned you had some pot plants growing and I'm thinking "yeah he is my kind of guy".
Wait, I didn't know you have a daughter. Oh, that was you screaming and running away from the wasps LOL If I remember right, you pick some basil leaves, chew it and apply to the wasp sting. I had an irrigation system installed in my front garden but the darn thing keeps leaking. I ripped it out and just water by hand. When I get lazy I let the hose flood the area and that's watering LOL I noticed how much your garden has changed over the years. I prefer the raised beds, The other is backbreaking, maybe I am getting old LOL Your orchard is beautiful as always. I love it :)
U running from the wasps at the end was just good entertainment 👌
Thank you . I garden as much as I can in the Philippines, and many of the plants you grow there we try to grow here. I have to work on improving the soil.
Thanks for the advise to hand water my garden. You are the greatest!
Mate I like your honesty with gardening it can be more trouble than you can emagin but we try any way watering is defiantly a nightmare
Mark next time you get stung by a wasp put some red wine vinegar on that spot. It will take away the pain, swelling and help you recover fast from it. Thank you for all your videos! Love them.
I love your dog - so happily entertaining itself all the time... :)
I have a "garden cat", poor little dude showed up all scrawny and beat up last season. I nursed him back to health and he has done a WONDERFUL job keeping rodents out of the garden. He isnt exactly friendly (was probably abused and thrown out in front if my house), but we have an understanding.
Appreciate the video. Question: lets say you wanted to plant vegetables in the area near your orchid where you’ve been using reclaimed waste water...how would you neutralize the soil? I live in a community that has reclaimed water for the installed sprinkler system for the grass and was told not to plant vegetables in the yard. Trying to find a way to start a garden other than using pots. Thanks and keep the great videos coming.
I just loved seeing your garden. It's 21° here in central Florida. Depressing.
Thank you Nancy, I hope the video warmed you up a bit! Don't worry, spring is on the way :)
Great info Mark, you are the best & great to see Wifie Too!!!!!
I am at Warwick in Beautiful QLD
Thank you Mark I need to work on my watering system this year too. In the spring this is the snow melts.
Thanks Mark, get into it mate! After the snow melts of course... Cheers :)
Self Sufficient Me
We water by hand, and have a rain water catching system of three barrels, two of them actually catch the water right from the rain gutters, and the third one is the overflow. This spring I'm planning on adding two larger barrels in which I would pump the water from the catchment barrels into them for more storage and not have to use town water at all, which pay for. From those the water would be gravity fed through a watering hose, so we wouldn't have to carry the water, and still have opportunity to inspect our crops in our raised bed gardens. Fifteen of them, and planning for one large this year's new addition.
Your lawns look nice and green Mark! On the Southside of Brisbane we have near drought conditions.
In the greenhouse I made the same mistake as you although it's not a biggie, the emitters with thread are meant to attach to risers while the barbed ones are for attaching directly to the 13mm pipe
Thanks for sharing been thinking about a water system gives a person alot of options. Hope you get feeling better after the sting you had. Iam allergic to stings of wasp etc. I usually have to go to hospital. Be careful. Watch you soon.
Hey Mark, what sort of Watering tap timer do you use now? I looking for a new system for our veggie garden/flower garden.
Thanks.
Great channel.
25c each for those plastic connectors...now 2023 over $1 each..I spent hundreds on the crap to get the same result...lots of disease overhead spraying too...I wish I saw this video years ago.would have saved me the same pain and money...its bang on. as they all are ;)
If you keep some plantain growing around your gardens, it’s great for stings and cuts. Just crush a bit of the leaf and slap it on the injury. Pain goes away(or at least lessens) almost immediately, and draws the poison out of stings for super fast healing. And by plantain I mean the medicinal herb, not the banana like fruit
You've got a beautiful place, great video thanks for sharing!
Thanks David and thank you for watching! :)
Ive got 3 battery operated digital tap attached irrigation valves. I use them so that all my garden is watered regularly......otherwise I'd forget. The system waters all the veggies, all the 60 roses, and my shade house. Its low pressure and I've installed all of it. Fantastic.
Really enjoy your channel I am in South Texas east of 35 so similar weather. I am not as able as you but am trying to build a bigger garden. Thanks for your info and help.
Hi Mark. A very interesting video, and I hate paper wasps too!
With reference to your septic water I wondered if you had considered using a reed bed filtering system to clean the toxins out of it? You certainly have the space to achieve it if it was out effective.
This video was helpful and I like your "payback" outro.
Awesome vid, thanks a million. Hope the head is better! Nasty paper wasps!
Those little sprinkler heads are notorious for clogging and maintenance to mitigate that you need to set up a simple filtration system that will hold back all those particles that comes with the water, and that will reduce maintenance tremendously
Hi Mark. I've read a bit about tomatoes not liking having their leaves wetted too much. What's your experience with that?
Good videos mate learning alot
Excellent sprinkler information. Hate those wasps!
Hi Mark love your show I am trying to be self sufficient in my suburban garden I am getting ready for spring summer veggies. We have a water tank which keeps filling up haven’t used tap water for my garden since we purchased the tank about 5 years ago. Our main concern is the water in the tank it’s a fairly big tank and the outside of the tank is green like from Bunnings. But is it safe for the garden after a few years without cleaning it I wouldn’t know how to do that it was quite empty at one stage left the tap on by mistake my husbands concern is it may not be safe to use we don’t use it for drinking just gardening Thanks heaps ANNA
Audio is fine... You're stronger than me, I can't garden in January - its just TOO hot for me
I keep looking at the upfront expense of drip irrigation, soaker hoses etc, and the fact that people who use them are constantly fixing leaks and clogs.... and I keep right on hand-watering with a can or regular hose. Another factor is relying on electricity - in my area rolling brown-outs are very common all summer long, and every time the power goes out the timers stop and have to be reset. Sometimes that doesn't happen for weeks, but sometimes it happens 2-3 times a day. My goal this year is to put in a couple water barrels in strategic places and buy an electric pump that can be carried from one location to another; just drop the inlet hose in the nearest water barrel and spray away.
Hi from Texas Love your videos
I appreciated all the info Mark. It's got me thinking and that's a good thing. Cheers
Great video Mark! The inspiration is amazing. I need to go garden now!
Great video as always and really informative
Hi Mark. Doesn't the overhead sprinkler interfere with the corn when it is pollinating the ear tassles?
Love your work son 😁
heat helps putting them on, but isn't required... try to zone out your system with solenoids close to the tap, if you can - bury as much as you can, but if you can't then buy UV resistant pipes.
You can have it connected to a irrigation timer setup, if you're unsure of how many zones you need, buy one with 4 zones that can be expanded upon to 16 zones (or 32 zones if you're industrial)
Connect up the zones with the wires, refer to the install guide of your watering system, use burial grade core wiring, there are different grades but your local hardware store will know what you need, you need 2 wires per zone.
You don't have to do this, but it is a good idea, label inside the solenoid location on the pipes where it is going, for example zone 1 would be zone 1, you label zone 1 at the pipe to go to zone 1 and you label the pipe on the other end with "zone 1" it will help with troubleshooting when it comes time.. which there will be a time.
Try to keep a map of where you are laying the pipe out, best to use long lengths without any breakages underground, if possible, directly pointing towards the garden zones.
Keep the map in a place where other important home things are, like your rental agreement or stovetop manuals... you seriously should keep those as well, t's a good idea to keep all these things to give the new owners a "value added" perspective.
Remember, the less the flow rate, the less the length and zones you can have, plan wisely... Even if you are feeling like you are asking stupid questions they may not be stupid but vital and great questions, asking a plumber in a hardware store your questions can save you a lot of heartache.
If you need more flow rate, a great way to do it is quite a simple one... you make a big ass cistern out of a rainwater tank and use that as an auxiliary tank with some water pumps ,unless you run through 1.5x the tank capacity each water, you should be fine, if you need more flow, put another bunghole in the tank and connect another tap. - and with that you got half a toilet.
Yes there are other important things, but those are the main thing you need to worry about... planning, staging, flow rate and planning for disaster, the rest is... fiddly bits.
With time, plastics will grow brittle or lose their shape and may need replacing, hopefully my advice will make the replacement less painful and more like... well, let's hope it isn't as painful as a root canal
Most of your watering setup would be considered a water conserving system in the southwest USA where water resources are tight and declining year after year. Small sprayers, drip irrigation, etc. is kind of the norm for water conservation when you need to irrigate at home.
And we get far less rain here in the SW USA than you are getting there in QLD.
We grow Plantain in pots around the property. When I get stung I chew up some Plantain leaf and apply the spit poultice to the sting. This draws out the venom and greatly reduces the pain and inflation...
Antihistamines are good for that.. Benadryl, but won't help with the pain.. ibuprofen should help.
I saw your"booster" pump?
How's that connect with the system? Who's eating all that food? You can as well?
Just a gorgeous"allotment".. does that mean you own it or "allowed" to inhabit a certain amount?
Hi Mark, really enjoyed this video! Just wondering how far your impact sprinkler reaches (ie- how big is your veggie garden)? Looks like a great fuss free option!
Hi Mark, watch all your videos, so helpful even tho u r QLD. In SA, I could never have fruit trees not netted, sooo many birds. I was very interested in ur irrigation experience as I have a relatively big veg garden too. If u water overhead with the impact sprinkler, do you get more fungal disease?? 👍 Hope ur feeling better soon xx
I have a pretty big garden and it takes 3 hours to complete water it especially in summer. It may take only half-hour if I have a sprinkle system.
It's pretty hard to go away for holiday if we have to water the garden every day but don't have a set-up sprinkle system.
Is there another option to water garden? Physically without being at garden every day ?
Hi Mark! I'll be moving to an area with quite a bit of snow for a good portion of the year. Any thoughts of irrigation systems that are freeze damage resistant? I'm not sure how cold it gets where you live. What sort of irrigation might work well in a greenhouse?
lol love the ending... Go get them Buggers!!
Hi.... Mark 🎥👍👍👍
How did you make the greenhouse. It looks easy. What are the items you used.
Do you know how to set up a watering system for low pressure, like water from rain barrels?
if you don't have a stop handy but have a zip tie, you can just bend the end of the pipe back onto itself and use the zip tie to hold it folded and not leak
Such a beautiful yard I want itt!!
i've got a small garden and just bought the up to date hozelock version of this system
Let me guess... you thought about the 2nd line/timer, as you were cutting the video? :) I am tinkering around with drip line irrigation, and water pressure is even more of an issue there, as the diameter of the water lines is quite small.
to the guy that sold you the pump I would have said "I would be happier, if the manufacturer sent me someone to repair it, considering that there is a reasonable durability issue, if I had known that the pump would fail every year I would not have purchased it in the first place, I would like a refund or someone to repair it" you are legally permitted to that because "reasonable durability" and "if I had known that, i would not have purchased the pump" comes under major failures in Australian consumer laws
I water my fruit trees by hand, but I have two 5 gallon (20L) buckets with a few holes drilled in the bottom. I fill up the buckets and they water the trees for me.
Gidday Mark ..Question... using the grey water around the fruit trees... do you find you get an increase in weeds from that watering... I was using ours onto the "lawn" of our new digs and it seemed to promote weed growth... Cheers p.s. we are in Busselton W.A. very sandy soil
I have just a little varanda whats Ur advice so I can grow vegies
hi mark i enjoy watching yor vido it helps out a lot on what to do 👍👍
Very helpful video Marc! Thank you so much..
good day sir you've been a great gardening teacher for me thanks for posting youre videos i had learn a lot.
how can i water my lemon trees deep by hand water ? my lemon trees is showing some drought symptoms and now is there flowering sesason my lemon tree is about 1 year old
A dose of activated charcoal is a fast method of extracting those poisons also making a charcoal poultice
Carry a AFTER BITE. or a small bottle of Ammonia with a paper towel, cotton ball, something to apply the ammonia, just a little on the sting, apply for awhile. All gone. It works.
Put a 5 micron sediment filter on the pump output. Will cut down on clogged heads.
Obviously you don't seem to have any problems from it, but I thought that many plants didn't do well with overhead watering. Burning leaves, decreasing pollination, inviting various diseases, etc.
Hi, Maureen! 🙂 I know what you mean, and I'm sure you're right, but I think that a lot depends on the overall humidity. If Mark's prevailing winds are fairly dry, moisture wouldn't hang around long enough to cause the problems you mention, so perhaps that's why he can get away with it.
I'm not sure why sun-scorch on wet foliage doesn't do more harm, unless he times his watering carefully to avoid the hottest part of the day. Or maybe the low humidity helps out there, too?🤔
I'm in the north of England where things are permanently grey, wet, and gloomy. The humidity is outrageous; lawns do well, but for anything else mildew, rot and disease gets in everywhere, all the time, even in so-called summer (ha!), so watering takes a bit more care than in regions where you can 'splash it on all over'.
I only have a tiny garden and 7' greenhouse, so I water everything by hand, strictly roots only. Lush things like tomatoes are still horribly susceptible to rot and disease, though.
Thanks for the info
Thanks Mark for the informative video, really appreciate your videos.Sorry about the wasp sting, lil bit of apple cider massage helps.
Thanks Carryadah, and I appreciate the first aid tip will keep it in mind! Cheers :)
Wow, 40C..do you grow tomatoes successfully in that heat? We live in Texas and regularly see that temperature in August. Last year I blocked direct sunlight from noon till sunset and the plants survived but I've got nothing close to the production you get.
I hand water for a couple of reasons, gets me walking around the garden with the single focus of watering & while I do this I look for pests & relax in equal amounts.....Mark I have my fair share of runs ins with them swines...paper wasps very friendly insect they are..
Hi, Gary! With a name like yours I can see you strolling through your garden at high noon with a clinking of spurs and a six-gun in each hand, waiting for the Wasp Gang to show... 🙂
Good tip.....instead of using stops at the end of each run of pipe...add an inline tap instead...then you can flush out the whole system by opening the tap for short time...flush out and close the tap again..problem solved..:)
We have the wasp in FL. as well. Ours have a little more brown and less yellow but its the same bastard.
Hi Mark: I am afraid I have to say to you that nowadays, no one can say anymore, 'I just didn't know what to do with this and that ...' (I can't believe I am saying this, because I am not very savvy on computer stuff) All you have to do, even in an emergency, is to just google: 'What is the best home remedy for wasp stings' (or anything), and instantly you will get answers. The one that I remembered was about baking soda. Last summer we had wasp invasion into our house. I got stung few times when I tried to kill them. But I didn't remember to google. I just endured the pain. Finally we had to have somebody come and do some spraying. Now I google everything.
+Dorothy Fu thank you and yes I agree google-ing has helped me many times also! Cheers :)
Hehehe nice ending!
Lots of good info as usual :)
nice & Kind
man understanding of wasps. I had a nest in the mirror of my car. I worked all around them and since they were used to me they didn't bother me. Once I accidentally bumped the mirror and a guard wasp came out and bumped into my forehead. Just a be careful warning. We all got along fine. After a few years, they abandoned the site. No harm to anyone and an insiteful relationship for me.
We have lots of different types of wasps here and most live fine around us in the garden but these paper wasps are very aggressive and will attack if disturbed regardless of intention which makes them a danger around the home and especially kids etc. Cheers :)
Hi Mark what kind of a weed mat you used on your garden especially where the galvanised beds situated?
Good day, i would like to ask you, how often i should water my dawrf peach, that i just planted in my garden from a pot? Someone told me that i require less than once a week!!! Is it true?
Love those little eggplants... :-))