Need help with slowing down water flow in swale
MTguy
10 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (10)
MTguy
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Drip System - Pressure Regulators - Water Flow - Need Help
Comments (5)sfhc, My 2 cents it to get a regulator on your house because your faucets, shower and water appliances are not designed to withstand high pressure over time. Nor is your irrigation system. High pressure systems are prone to water-hammer problems and noisy pipes. You shouldn't be looking for the govt agency to install something a home builder should have done and usually does. The water agency sets its limit very high so it isn't required and doesn't have to pay the cost of giving everyone a house pressure regulator. Normal house pressure should be 45 to 60 psi. If you had your house at 55 psi, your in-line pressure regulators for drip would work. You want a 15-30 psi limit for drip. JMHO Aloha...See MoreNeed help/advice on ebb and flow with clay balls! Please help!
Comments (5)I did find out that after a few waterings the balls didn't seem to be as floatacious as they had been - quite a relief. I think they just float a lot when they are brand new / very dry. Here is what I have now: - 5 gallon bucket as the res. - I find it takes only 2 gallons to completely flood to the overflow level, and as was said, I am only flooding to about half of that height b/c the rest will wick and stay moist. So it's probably only about 1 gallon to flood the tray. This is great! Saving $$$ on nutes in my small system with an efficient reservoir and flood tray. - I put the air stone back in the res. after charlie little's comment. I was afraid to because I don't have a lid for the bucket (yet!) and a little bit of water drops tend to jump out of the bucket. I put some black/white poly on top of the bucket as a temporary lid and it's working fine to keep the water droplets inside. - I am considering drilling a hole very near the top of the bucket and attaching a fitting so that I can easily make a light-tight reservoir by routing the hoses through there. The power cord for the pump would be a challenge though, unless I can get an air lift to work, then there would be no bulky end to a power cord so it would be easy to set up. - I put black/white poly in between the plants so that you can't even see any of the clay balls. I think I need to set the timer down to maybe every five hours instead of 3 as I think there will be ample moisture in there. - Tomato seedling leaves are curling really bad and I think it may be because they are too wet so I didn't irrigate at all today and will cut the timer back more for tomorrow when I go into the office. - Once the seedlings take off a little more I will try to post some pics. - I am not using organics yet but want to try at some point in the future....See MoreWatering trees/flowering bushes: slow trickle vs fast dump of water?
Comments (13)"For instance, if you have a moat around your tree and all the water stays inside the moat, fast deluge wont hurt." But with various trees and shrubs in MOST North American climates, this is setting up disaster if heavy rains cause the roots to rot. You can always add water to soil, you can't subtract it. So, there's a tradeoff. Yes, what you are saying can superficially make watering easier and I've done it for things like Brugsmansias before. I have a new hydrangea planted in a slight depression (but roots level) because I know it's already a dry spot under a thirsty Ilex opaca and I have no doubt it will be fine. I would never plant any rhododendron that way. (or even a fancier, rarer hydrangea like a non-hybridized Chinese species. H. sargentiana likes it wet in terms of high rainfall, but DOES NOT like permanently wet feet and hot summers. I had one die in a prolonged rainy spell a few summers ago ago)...See Moreslowing down stormwater..
Comments (14)Given that your land (how big is the property?) and the neighbour above you’s land slopes, where does the water naturally drain to? We only have a suburban 1/4 acre but the neighbour to the north of us is on higher ground and directs their downspout at the back corner of their house to drain into our north alley. Our lot slopes both N to S and also E to W so all the water drains eventually to what we call ‘the wet corner’. While that area never has standing water, in spring any hole dug there immediately fills with water! By mid-summer the area has completely dried out.... An important element of this garden in the backyard is the path network. The paths, in addition to being functional for garden maintenance, are key to directing water towards the wet corner. The path in the north alley has log edging but most of the rest do not. Over time the paths have developed a slight scoop in the bottom that helps direct water. During heavy rain, the north alley path can be under water for a few hours but the water soaks into the ground (clay soil with a topping of pine bark mulch - that has degraded over the years - and some coarse sand.) In steeper areas where running water can erode the path or areas where water can lay for longer periods in spring, we added ‘crusher run’ gravel to the path material to aid in drainage and also make it easier to ‘erase’ any erosion on the paths. Given how dry it can get here in summer, I actually value the neighbour’s ‘gift’ of water! By the looks of your pictures, the scale of your issues is much larger than ours :-) When we bought the house here, there was evidence (scale deposits on the concrete block basement wall along the north alley) that there had been drainage issues in the past. We had that wall dug out and found that the tile drain at the foundation footer was clogged with clay silt. So all the drainage tile along there was replaced with new plastic piping with a filter cloth on top. There is also a sump pump in that corner of the basement that pumps water out to a ditch in the front. All the houses along this street have sump pumps and the streets in this neighbourhood have ditches. Hopefully you can find a way to manage the water to make it a valuable/functional force in the garden....!...See Moreraee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMTguy
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agopls8xx
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMTguy
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoMTguy
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agonandina
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agogabatoire
3 years ago
Related Stories
LANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Design Your Landscape to Slow Down Water
Putting the brakes on stormwater runoff is the first step in sustainable water design
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESSlow Design: Today's 'Wabi-Sabi' Helps Us Savor the Moment
Learn about the design movement that's aiming to satisfy our real needs, leaving materialism in the past
Full StoryLIFEYou Said It: ‘Slow Down and Recharge’ and More Houzz Quotables
Small spaces stood out during a week of stories celebrating different lifestyles at home
Full StoryFEEL-GOOD HOMEThe (Lost) Art of Laziness
Do you go to bed with to-do lists flashing through your head? Try one of these ideas to give yourself a break
Full StoryLIFESlow Living 101: Tips for Turning Off the Chaos
It may feel as though you're too busy to slow down and enjoy life. But even little changes can have a big effect
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNHow to Move Water Through Your Landscape
Swales, underground pipes or a mix of both: There’s more than one way to distribute water in the garden
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Function and Flow Come First
A designer helps a passionate cook and her family plan out every detail for cooking, storage and gathering
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESBudget Decorating: How to Decorate Smart and Slow
To make the most of your decorating dollar, forgo the disposable stuff, think vintage and free first and give yourself a splurge
Full StoryGREEN BUILDING4 Ways Green Roofs Help Manage Stormwater
See how a living roof of any size can have a big impact
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: Rammed Earth and Vineyard Views Stun Down Under
Tightly edited colors and materials let nature shine, while solar panels and a passive orientation help this home tread lightly on the earth
Full Story
pls8xx