Spring is an invigorating and refreshing time of year. From Hawaii to Florida and California to Maine spring renews our spirits and excites us gardeners to the ideas of new and re-emerging plant growth.
I am writing this article just in case anyone might be looking for some spring watering tips and tools.
Most gardeners agree you should:
Water frequently but only when needed.
You need to water frequently new plantings until the roots take hold and can absorb more moisture from the soil. Be careful not to over water. Most plants cannot survive in consistently drenched soil.
Water the Roots
It is important to water the roots that are generally 6” deep for lawn and garden, and 12” deep for trees and shrubs. Use a screwdriver or spade to make a hole where water can get down to the roots.
Mulch to prevent water evaporation
Mulch helps keep the soil moist, reduces evaporation, and usually looks good too. Be careful not to mulch excessively. The soil needs to breath, and you don’t want mold and parasites to make a home. Mulching also reduces moisture competitors like weeds.
Fertilize when recommended
Most plants respond well to recommended fertilizers. Fertilizers are readily available at garden stores. Ask or look for the recommended fertilizers for each plant. Each plant’s needs are different. Plants absorb the nutrients they need from the soil, so it helps to add new.
Use the right watering tool
Lawns require more widely dispersed watering systems. Plants, trees, and shrubs benefit more from drip irrigation systems that water slower and deeper.
We have developed a tool for all the above-mentioned needs. Watering Rocks are a Portable Automatic Irrigation Drip System that is aesthetically appealing and cost-effective. It is a proven solution that will water when( because of your busy schedule ) you can’t and where you can’t.
Water Rocks can water directly to the roots because they water to the exact area you have placed the hole for deep watering.
The Water Rocks acts as a mulch where ever they are placed covering 192 square inches of ground( 16” x 14”). They look nice too!
Water rocks can make sure your plants are getting enough water by watering every day. They can prevent over watering by shutting off or adjusting the flow of water with the included adjustable drippers.
What it is
This sturdy, durable plastic(no BPA) rock comes in decorative White Granite and Sandstone colors. They are lightweight( 4lbs empty) and measure 12” high, 14” deep and 16” wide. Believe or not that size holds 5 gallons of water and if you want added nutrients.
That 5 gallons will water for 2-3 days and provide plenty of moisture for your plants as it slowly drips water 24/7, day and night. That saves you 3-4 days of watering, which also makes it an excellent vacation plant watering system.
The system includes 15 feet of 1/4” drip line to carry the water, six -1/4” adjustable drippers to control the amount of drip you want to the area you want, five – 1/4” Tbarbs to make branches off the line to the areas you want to water, and one threaded 1/4” barb to screw into the threaded hole on the bottom back of the rock for the main line hook up. Sounds complicated but is not once you see how the components work together to design the watering configuration you desire. Assembly usually takes maybe a half hour, and we are always available to assist by email or website.
Watering in Difficult Spaces
We like to use our ATV to load rocks either on the ATV when we only have 1 or 2, or in the wagon, we pull behind for multiple rocks. They are durable and handle well as we transport them to the house water hose, fill them up, add any fertilize we want and replace. The rocks fill up quickly with a hose that fits in the 1” hole on the top back side of the rock. You can also take water to the rock and fill it easily if you have a 2-gallon watering can with the spray nozzle removed, leaving the 1” nozzle head that fits into the watering rock fill hole.
Do you want water for more than 2-3 days?
Use one Watering Rock to fill the other rock and double the watering time. Another to triple watering times. We thought about manufacturing a 25-gallon rock and may someday but felt the 5 gallon was the best size to start with and offers the most flexibility for size and configuration.
These rocks have proven themselves many times, and there are some excellent testimonials and reviews out there to confirm that they do work and do work well. The rocks use pressure from the volume in the rock and gravity to facilitate the water flow which makes them completely portable and requires no electric. Just make sure the drip lines are flat to downward sloping.
If you need your water to go vertical see another product Hanging Basket Automatic Portable Irrigation Drip Systems( includes an electric pump).
Watering Rocks are offered by many vendors on Amazon, eBay, Walmart.com and other websites at prices that are much lower than the plants you want to save. You can visit www.watering-rocks for a complete list of where to buy, pictures, videos, helpful hints, and reviews. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about our time-saving Watering Rocks.
With this tool, you now will have the freedom to plant anywhere in your yard. When you are not watering plants, you can use a Watering Rock to fill animal water bowls, bird baths, Christmas trees, or anything that needs to have water consistently added.
Maybe, this is what you have been looking for. Get one and try it. We are sure you will be happy you did and so will your plants.