Reddit reviews Rain Bird GRDNERKIT Drip Irrigation Gardener's Drip Kit
We found 3 Reddit comments about Rain Bird GRDNERKIT Drip Irrigation Gardener's Drip Kit. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Provides everything needed to install a water-saving Drip system with coverage up to 75 square feet in garden or landscaped areasPrecise Drip watering for green, healthy plant growth with low water usage and fewer weedsSimple installation without need for digging or plumbing skillsWaters root zone of plants with emitter devices for better health and water savings up to 40%Includes installation tool to simplify insertion and removal of small barbed fittings and drippers/emitters50-piece kit with instruction manual: includes spot watering emitters, 1/4" distribution tubing, stakes, and fittings, 1/2" emitter and distribution tubing, stakes and fittings, plus regulator and faucet connection kitFor automated watering add a reliable Rain Bird professional-grade hose end timer (Amazon ASIN B006JZ514U sold separately)
Clay soil is fertile, holds water, and is structurally sound. The primary problem with clay is compaction due to small particle size leading to drainage and plant rooting issues.
Once you amend clay soil with compost and perlite, feed with a slow-release organic fertilizer, mulch with wood chips, and keep watered with a simple drip irrigation system - you have basically solved your problem forever.
Unlike sandy soils where you deal with parasites in the soil (in warm climates) and constantly needing to fertilize, clay soil is already in a position to be transformed into ideal soil. Your under layer, beneath your plants, is hard soil and rock, which is ideal for structural roots for trees and shrubs, and holds heat, water and nutrients.
As far as drip irrigation, get 1/2" tubing from your hardware store, and 1gph Rain Bird pressure-compensating emitters (a 30-pack should cost $5). You'll need an adapter to connect it to a hose spigot or to an existing sprinkler head or irrigation line. Amazon has a kit available but honestly you don't need the kit, it's usually cheaper to just get the parts you need from the hardware store.
Clay is back-breaking to start with, but once you get plants in the ground and they get established, they do great. As someone who gardened in South Florida for a long time, it was killer to get root diseases randomly, or have a pest come through that killed all your citrus. You don't really have those issues in any of the areas around the base of the Appalachian foothills or going towards the gulf with red clay soil.
I just looked and you are the same person that posted about doing drip irrigation with a plastic bag so I am going to assume that you do not have irrigation set up at your house and you are looking for other methods to care for your plants.
For less than $100.00 you can set up a pretty solid irrigation system for a medium sized garden.
I personally use this timer:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FBOUEJC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I think that you can get it for a lower cost from store but this timer works great for me they have lasted 2 seasons and are still going strong.
I have this kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LO4FFG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Which is amazing. It allows you to add on more as your garden grows and also it allows for you to be able to place it under the mulch.
Even from amazon this set up will cost you under 100 and really allows you to care for your plants properly.
The bottom line is you live in the desert. You can grow in Vegas and do so very easily but you need to adjust your methods for your environment.
This system from Rain Bird lets you put the water where you want it. Put the supply hose between the source and the target then connect the dripper where you want the water. Pair this with something like the timer that /u/kittenplusplus shared and you're good to go.