Episode: #9 28/10/06<
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane

We are all trying to find ways to reduce water usage in the garden and one simple way is to use plants that store moisture like succulents that store moisture in the leaves.

Another way is to deliver water directly to the root system, reducing evaporation.

One of the best ways to get the water in there is with a Holmans Water Smart Dripping Hose. They are made from recycled rubber, a great use of old tyres. It weeps water right along the length of the hose at a slow rate so it gets a chance to really soak into the soil.

The really clever thing about the system is that you can regulate the water supply. This compensates for different tap pressures and different hose lengths.

There are three different flow discs to choose from depending on your different situation and the rule of thumb is, the longer the hose the more pressure it is going to need. A hose about 15 metres long will use about 3 litres per minute disc, where as a 30 metre long hose will use a 6 litres per minute disc.

You can run a single lint from the tap or cut and join the hose using standard polypipe fittings and lay it out in any configuration you want.

It a good idea to grab a standard piece of hose or even polypipe and run it out to the edge of the garden bed to hook it up with the hose. This makes sure that you are not wasting any water with the hose running out of the garden bed itself.

When you buy your new dripping hose, take it out the packet and run it in a long line up the driveway and allow the sun to heat it up. This takes out its memory and makes it far easier to move around and manipulate in the garden bed.

You can bury it just under the soil surface or lay it on top of the soil with mulch. Its great for established garden beds. If you need to lay it around a corner it is best to use an elbow fitting to prevent it from any kinking.

It?s a great waterwise idea for getting optimum growth in your plants whilst using as little water as possible and it all comes from a recycled rubber product.

Holman Industries

http://www.holmanindustries.com.au/

Featured Product

Water Smart Dripping Hose

• Full colour retail packaging
• Porous hose
• Drip style irrigation
• 3 Different size flow discs
• End plug & hose snap-on included
• Delivers even water distribution the entire length of hose