specialty PVC fitting

[cougar14]

At the hardware store where I work, we got these neat PVC devices for deep watering. Consists of a length of pipe drilled thru w/ LOTS of holes, a cap on top, and a tapered cone on the bottom to drive them into the ground around the dripline of plants. They're pretty pricey, seeing as how you need 4-8 for a fruit tree or 2-4 for veggies (trying to make the most out here in drought country). Would be a snap to make, IF you could find a source of the tapered end. Anyone got any ideas???

 

[soFlaNative]

Thinking you might need a starter hole even with the taper. Depending on the outside diameter and length of pipe 1/2 inch might work with the same size piece of rebar.

How does the watering part work with a cap on the top?

 

[cougar14]

You cut a groove in the top of the pipe in which you seat a 1/4" drip line. Then you put the cap on top to keep the drip line from popping out.

 

[cougar14]

this is what they look like...

Deep Drip Tree Watering Stakes | GEMPLER'S

I just can't part with 11 bucks for a dollar's worth of parts. Just gotta find a source of that tapered end.

 

[arjay]

You could epoxy a tight fitting 3" long dowel into the end and hit it with a grinder.

 

[boatme99]

Gee, I was making these in the late '70-80s, sans tip, of course.
I'd hammer them in (with a wood block on top, of course) the ground a bit, pull out the core, and repeat until it was the correct depth.
Or, place a few around the hole you've dug for the tree.

I think I found the idea in old landscaping book. And I mean the book was old in the 70s.

 

[cougar14]

Well, I believe the idea of the tip is to prevent the water from just draining out the bottom and not allowing the water to percolate out the side holes and nourish the root system.

 

[skrazo]

Why not just glue a cap on the end of a piece of pipe, drill holes in the pipe, make a pilot hole in the ground, put a block of wood atop the pipe, and drive it into the ground with a hammer? Would not work here in the Ozarks........too many rocks in the soil, but in sandy or clay soil, it seems worth a try. FWIW.

 

[cougar14]

...Lile you say, the pilot hole's the problem. Adobe's like concrete.

 

[Kinman]

People have been doing that in this area forever, originally with steel pipe...if you have a basic sandy soil most watering systems will promote a tree growing with a very shallow root system that makes them highly susecptible to wind problems. The "deep" watering system was figured out years ago and applied by smart guys, the word got out and some folks have been doing it for decades. Its been pretty interesting lately with a sudden increase in the number of micro burst type wind storms we have been having that the trees just tip over...no real tap root, just a series of shallow roots that will not support a large tree in a serious wind. I never used the deep watering system and have a 30foot blue spruce on my corner, I believe some of its root system run under the sidewalk which may increase its strength, the other large roots run just under and in some cases above the grass because thats where the water is.

 

[shaggist]

Why not do like SKRAZO says and put the pipe in a hole in the ground. You can drill that hole with a long auger bit and a 1/2" electric drill. Try your local hardware store for the auger, or get it online if they don't have one. They come in different diameters and you only need one long enough to get below the surface root system a short distance. Let's don't make this harder than it needs to be.