Stolen Idea

Now the last of the fruit trees have been planted I started thinking about Jan keeping them alive.  Obviously they are planted in sand and the climate is hot.  Thirty minutes of automatic water reticulation three times weekly is probably only going to wet the top six inches of sand.  This is likely to result in the tree roots growing close to the surface.  I’ve therefore stolen and idea!

Last month whilst heading to the supermarket we passed a council water truck watering the native trees on the road verge.  That is when I noticed each tree had a length of PVC pipe buried vertically beside the tree trunk and the driver of the truck was directing the water down the pipe. 

Today I used three lengths of surplus 25mm plastic water reticulation pipe to make my own spears.  I used the heat gun to soften one end of each length of pipe and then squashed it with my hand whilst wearing a glove.

Next several vertical rows of 2mm holes were drilled in each pipe.

Using a rubber headed mallet I drove each length of pipe into the ground beside the trees.

Jan should now be able to deliver water and liquid fertilizer to the base of each tree.  If I get very keen I may cut the tops off three empty plastic soft drink bottles and fit them to the tops of the pipes as funnels.