I stumbled across this thing called an OOZE TUBE.  They hold various amounts of water (15-25-40 gallons) and work in the same capacity as a drip irrigation system.  The 40 gallon one usually comes with 4 emitters and the lines.   They may also be known as "tree gators".

Has anyone used them??   

I was thinking of making my own, so to speak, by purchasing the water tubes that they use for pool covers. (search: water tubes in eBay's yard/garden/outdoor living category).    Also wondered about using the water tubes to construct "wall-o-water" gadgets that seem to be in use in the vegetable gardens....used to insulate the plants??

Thoughts??

I can't speak to the tree gators but I really enjoy my automated drip system.  What would be the advantage to you of using the tree gators as opposed to a typical drip system?

For a beginning grower, I think the ooze tubes/gators provide a greater aspect of portability.  While I figure out where I am putting what, or if I decide to move things, all I have to do is move the ooze tube/gator.   Whereas, if I had the system inground/lying above ground I may potentially waste material because I moved things around.  

Pros/cons to both systems, but prior to today I had no idea the ooze tube even existed, but it provides a great resource for watering if you are going out of town, etc.  Don't have to worry about a water line being turned on, etc.

I have used tree gators a couple of times they work very well for a tree placed in a remote area.
In the south the water gets very hot in them so I would not use them on small plantings I don't know if that applies in KY
 keep in mind you do have to fill them in place and a large one takes a lot of time to fill.
As far as going on a short vacation with new plantings in the field that is a perfect application.
It really depends on your unique situation.
They really don't work on potted plants though.

Jim,
The water would indeed get quite heated in them even here in KY.  I wouldn't use them on small plants, but the fact that you can pop an adapter in them and then run your drip line tubing and emitter is a plus for me. 

Have decided what I will likely do is go ahead and find a 55-gallon plastic drum & purchase the hardware that will be needed to make it a rain barrel.  Then, invest in the hardware that is the pressure valve for the drip irrigation.  So, that research will be one of my winter projects along with mapping out where I want to put what.  THOUGH, I will have the majority of my plants in a safe place (similar to Jason's setup) & that will make the setup of the drip irrigation that much easier.   BUT, I think I will invest in a few ooze tubes (or make my own from the pool cover water tubes) for some "other" trees that will need a more definite/consistent water source....and by using the tubes I don't have to worry about a certain teenager mowing over my drip irrigation lines.

Sounds like a plan get the rain barrel as high as you can the higher it is the more pressure you will have for your drip

i have been using drip system since earlier this month due to my vacation. i have left it on and stopped watering in the morning.

one mistake i have made about this is that drip system with drip head doesn't cover all the surface of my soil on 10 g pot. what i have found out is one area that didn't get any water was drying up. i change the location of the drip head to cover that area yesterday.

i'm sure there are better systems than what i'm using. need new type of head to cover all the surface so the plant is watered evenly on the surface so all the roots will get the water, not just some places.

pete

Pete
You can put 2 emitters in yor large pots they need more water than the small ones anyway.
Or I think orbit makes an emitter that is adjustable I believe it would cover a 10gal pot
Thats the beauty of drip if it don't work change it you can't do that as easy with an underground system