What type of irrigation system are you using for your planted trees, other than a water hose moved to every tree?

Still-a-dream for me, and definitely a drip-system...

I use a drip system that is connected a spigot set on a timer.  I bought it from lowes.  Easy to setup, there is 1/2" tubing that you bury underground and you connect 1/4 tubing that runs up above ground to whatever your watering.  There are a variety of drippers and spray heads that you can use. 

I use 1gph drippers for my 2 fig trees.  they are watered 3 times a week for 15 minutes.  coupled with the summer rain it seems to be working fine. during the 'winter' i cut back watering to 5 minutes.

i've probably got 200 trees on my drip system.  there's just no way i could tend to them by hand.  it's all automated.  i only look at drip as a way to keep them growing between rains. 

you got city or well water?  if your water has deposits, i highly recommend the little flag drippers.  i use 1 gph drippers and run them for 99 minutes 3 x a week.

This is very ironic!  Just 2 weeks ago, I purchased many little parts to setup an watering system.  I've got 12 trees planted inground, about 50 in 2 and 3 gallon pots, and about a hundred little guys in 1 gallon pots.  I've been very lucky because it has been raining daily the past week!  This gives me time to design and build my system.  I'm also adding 24"x24" pavers to connect my greenhouse to my sidewalk and side wall so I don't have to keep mowing and weed wacking everyweekend.  I also bought some of those quick connectors so I can disconnect my drip system quickly so I can liquid feed my trees at random.

Dennis
zone 7b, Charlotte, NC

 I have a well not city water, very good water. I use a drip tape system in my garden but when it comes to the trees I can not decide what type system I need to use. I did not want to use anything with spaghetti tubing. I have the small sprinkler you put in a riser from a PVC line but you would have to install two at each tree to cover both sides. It also will spray about a eight foot circle. I plan to install a PVC line down each row of trees. I would like to concentrate the water at and around the tree and not be watering grass.

Hi Jstall Just a suggestion on my part if your tress are in ground I can see why pvc might be your better option you can come off the pvc line with funny pipe and tee off and place 2 bubbler sprinklers or more down the road if you deem necessary. the funny pipe is much easier to work with and move. I don't know if the names are the same there. Hope this gives you some ideas.

NCSU wrote an article suggesting the use of micro sprinklers instead of drip for blueberries.  They pointed out that more of the root system would get covered.  Since figs have extensive root systems, I went with that.  This is the second year for my in ground figs and the rain dissipated repeatedly.  The last good rain was on March 29 when we got 1.25 inches.  I have sandy soil and my figs are growing well with the main crop on the way.  You can buy micro sprinklers from Dripworks or other irrigation companies but I got mine at Lowes.  I use 1/2" mainline and I buried it a few inches for lawn mowing using a small mattock.  I waited until after a rain so the soil was soft.  The micro sprinklers only use 10 gal per hour.  In one hour the rain gauge says they put out .7" from my well.  The water is hard but I don't use a filter and it is fine.  The nozzles come in different patterns like half circle but I find the quarter circle best.  If you have low hanging leaves they can block the spray, so you might use two micro sprinklers.  Just get some extra 1/4 hose to replace the one that they supply and you can water both sides of the plant.

terowan nice trees and irrigation set up

terowan nice trees and irrigation set up I have a similar set up in a small area in front of house tied into sprinkler system and ran 1/2 inch poly and came up with the micro sprinklers. I plan on doing same with in ground trees once I plant a few more next season 

Thanks Sal.  It's a flexible system.  I've got them all over the front and back of my 1/2 acre yard.

This is the upgraded version that gets both sides equally.

Tim, your system looks very good. Your trees and garden look great. I will have to check out those sprinklers. I did not want to use spaghetti tubing but from the looks of yours it seems manageable. Thanks for posting.

Thank you and you are welcome Joseph.  I'm glad to help.  The micro sprinkler system is very easy to use and affordable.  In the vegetable garden I do use drip, but I've learned the hard way that perennials in the south need irrigation especially the first year and they do much better with it even after that.