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WY_mark
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:01pm
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Hi all,
I'm hoping to put some hybrid poplars in the ground at our high plains cabin and they'll need supplemental water for at least the first year, maybe two. I'm thinking about getting a 275 gal water tank for rainwater or the ocasional supplemental fill from the nearby lake. we're at the place anywhere from once to four times a month. There is currently no well or power other than a generator. The tree location is, however, downhill from where the water tank would be. Does anyone have a good idea on how I can install some sort of battery powered system to release a few gallons of water from my tank on a regular schedule? would just a battery powered timer like what you'd put on a home work or is that dependent on the pressure in a household water line? (specific product links are appreciated) other ideas for getting the trees going?
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 03:23pm
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I plan to do the same thing using standard drip watering equipment such as you can get at most garden centers. The timers are battery operated and the batteries will last a season. Pressure regulators are part of the standard setup. Small sprinklers are probably best for trees since you are trying to hit the whole root area. This is what they use for some commercial orchard setups. You can get better quality timers from professional orchard suppliers on the net. Just make sure you do all your calculations for the system according to the manufacturer's instructions. Those 5/8" diameter irrigation poly hoses will only feed a certain number of sprinklers at a time.
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Kudzu
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:46pm
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http://www.nativnurseries.com/
I know the above is geared more for the South, but you might find the link interesting. Also, some of the staff would probably more than happy to answer any of your questions.
Good luck on your trees.
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WY_mark
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 05:54pm
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pressure regulators as in something to keep the pressure down? I can't imagine there will be too much pressure, but I guess full there will be 1000lb of water pushing it out. I'm likely not going to use sprinklers, we'll be starting from glorified twigs and we are in a high wind area, I'll put a perforated pipe in the ground by each tree otherwise I'm going to lose 60% to evaporation.
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MikeOnBike
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 06:00pm
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You will get .43 psi per foot of elevation of your tank above the eventual outlet.
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 08:04pm - Edited by: DaJTCHA
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I have the same issue, I really want to start some trees, but watering them is problem in between visits. We also travel to camp (on average) about 2 times a month during the driest/hottest times of the spring/summer, but I fear losing them. Coincidentally, I was also considering a 275 gallon tank that would be placed about 15 feet above the placement of the tree bases. We've got no electricity and no on-property water. I figured if I had a way of gathering the rain water off our shed-mahal and loading up the storage tote to max capacity, the only problem I'd need to address is a timed release of water to the trees that wouldn't exhaust our supply prematurely. Has anyone attempted a battery operated, timed released water delivery system and successfully rooted trees? We're at the top of the mountain (1600 feet) in Pennsylvania and it gets REALLY hot in late July / August / September up there.
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johng
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:19pm
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I can't help but wonder who watered all the trees in areas without human intervention. 
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Kudzu
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:39pm
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+what he/she said
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DaJTCHA
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 09:59pm
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Ummm...cute! But in reality, I've planted a couple of them only to have them burn out in the heat of summer. So this is the reality I've got to deal with and find a solution.
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oldgringo
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# Posted: 26 Mar 2013 10:12pm
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Why hybrid poplars? They don't live very long...seems a shame to put all of this effort into a tree you will outlive.
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Truecabin
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2013 02:20pm - Edited by: Truecabin
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Quoting: johng I can't help but wonder who watered all the trees in areas without human intervention.
Sounds like you don't grow stuff - intervention is required until the root system can get its own water. You can use the natural method but it takes thousands of years to get that tree where you want it.
Quoting: DaJTCHA Has anyone attempted a battery operated, timed released water delivery system
I haven't used one for trees but the battery-operated timer sounds feasible -it opens a big flow. You might check what is the shortest programmable time. It's way better than thinking you will get to the camp in time to water because if you miss 3 weeks in the hottest time then the trees are already dead and you're one more season behind schedule. If you are using rain catchment water don't bother with drip irrigation, with un-filtered water, tiny dripper nozzles will plug up and there's no pressure either.
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Kudzu
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2013 02:48pm
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"Sounds like you don't grow stuff - intervention is required until the root system can get its own water. You can use the natural method but it takes thousands of years to get that tree where you want it."
I have grown several trees, anywhere from acorns to seedlings, all in the HOT SOUTH. Not once have I lost any to heat or drought. Also, I never used any kind of elaborate watering system. I truly believe if a tree is watered twice a month it will survive in my neck of the woods. It must get a lot hotter up NORTH.
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creeky
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2013 03:20pm
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I'm no arborist, but I'm with oldgringo about the hybrid poplars. are you planning to use them as wind breaks to protect better trees?
The old fellow who planted my property did a line of poplars, and thirty years later they're big dirty trees that have no commercial value. If he'd planted oaks, or maple, or well anything else I'd have a line of wonderful trees instead of a line of trees that I clean up spring and fall while I wait for the big wind storm that will knock them all down.
They are pretty in the summer though. and the wild turkey will occasionally roost in them.
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WY_mark
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2013 03:53pm
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thanks for the suggestions, esp on unfiltered water clogging a drip system, didn't think of that. My main concern is one of the timers that's meant for a household water system working with what is effectively no water pressure.
Kudzu, our average yearly precipitation is under 14 inches and with the drought 10 seems like a miracle. The high Wyoming plains have pretty much nothing in common with the hot south. Wind is constant and evaporation is a huge concern. Our growing season is short and I'm basically wanting trees where nature wants grass. I don't care to plant a bunch of trees and wait 100 years for them to maybe live and maybe get over 10feet tall. If you observe the state's natural wind breaks here you'll see rows of trees left to their own devices, most are dead and after 15 years most are no taller than a man. great for a wind break, not so much for a guy who wants to sit under one and read a book before he's 70.
I want hybrid poplars because they grow fast, do well in our climate and help shield the others that come in slower. we have zero trees on our land, I want some trees to enjoy with a less than 10 year wait. I'll also plant aspen and other trees but they grow painfully slowly. I would love Lanceleaf Cottonwoods as they're perfectly suited for here except that they want a stream or other good water source and we have none. Oaks and other hardwoods aren't a great idea here both for their water needs and their tendency to break when we get an inevitable spring snow (the poplars bend and bow and spring back, the real native trees keep the leaves tucked away till May).
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Kudzu
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2013 04:19pm
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I hope you get what you want, good luck. Just for the heck of it, why don't you plant a couple of Sawtooth oak trees, they grow very fast.
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Truecabin
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# Posted: 27 Mar 2013 05:11pm - Edited by: Truecabin
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Quoting: Kudzu Also, I never used any kind of elaborate watering system.
Well, interesting your handle: Kudzu. Isn't Kudzu a vine that grows in lush environments, so well that it climbs and smothers trees? You have NO LOVE for trees except to grow them big then smother them? Bwaaaaahaaaahaaa ! (just kidding!  )
Wikipedia: Kudzu vine
A young tree needs help with water it until its root system develops to the point it can get the water itself. If there's water in your soil no point in adding much. What works in the deep south doesn't work in the High plains in Wyo.
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creeky
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# Posted: 4 Apr 2013 10:54am
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http://www.slideshare.net/Fiorella58v/l2t236
the title for this is
waterwise trees and shrubs for the high plains
ponderosa pine and bur oak come up frequently. i have a lot of bur oak and they're real pretty with good wood when it comes time for harvest.
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creeky
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# Posted: 4 Apr 2013 10:56am
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http://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/_files/documents/magazine/2007/summer/high-plains-re search-center-summer-barnyards-2007.pdf
from the u of wyo.
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neb
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2013 09:37am
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I planted some trees in an area that is very dry and not the best ground and had success so far. what I did was to get trees planted in spots that had natural run off and in spots that would be lower in eleavations so nature could help me. I also fenced around them and watered very good and then add heavy layer of straw to hold in moisture. I would get out there every 2 to 3 weeks and the ground under the straw was still moist. I would water well again and did that through the summer. They made it through fine last fall. I will do the same thing this year and see if they can make it. I want these trees to root in deep and fine their own life line so watering to much could harm the tree more. just my 2 cents.
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jammo
Member
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2013 10:05am
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Tree Gators.
www.treegator.com
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Rossman
Member
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# Posted: 5 Apr 2013 05:30pm
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Agreed, I was going to suggest exactly this, but I didn't know what they were called!
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