Rain collectors and watering trees

[barnag]

I have about 15 trees that need watering. Last summer I made multiple trips with as many 5 gallon buckets I could put in the truck from a nearby pond to the trees and back. (Using tree gators).
Thinking about putting a rain collector near the trees with a faucet to make it easier on myself. Any helpful tips from others who’ve done something similar?

[timoub007]

I have taken on a project to grow what I have termed my "vertical food plot", I have been planting pecan trees on my place in the Junction area. It takes some effort to get them established and keep them growing in this somewhat arid climate. After planting I immediately put a tree tube around the sapling, then a wire cage of 3-5 feet diameter. Both of these are staked down due to the high winds like we have been getting this week and to keep the animals from pushing the protection around. I water in each tree after planting too with about a half gallon.

Long term I have set up 275-330 gallon water totes near each set of saplings. I bought a hose end timer that can be set to feed daily for however long each setting as you wish (I typically do about 20 minutes each morning around sunrise). This is connected to 1/2" poly tubing ran towards each sapling. As the tubing passes by a sapling I take off the 1/2" line with a 1/4" drip line which goes right to the base of the trunk. After purging the air out of the lines I set the timer to deliver about a gallon of water each day to each sapling on that 1/2" line. I put about 5-6 saplings on a 1/2" line.

To fill the totes I use another tote bins I pull around on a small trailer. I was just filling this with a garden hose from my well but that was taking 45 minutes to fill each trip and I had to make several trips to fill all the totes. I rigged up a boat bilge pump to transfer from the trailered tote to the base totes, and this too was taking about 45 minutes. So as you can see, I spent a lot of time filling water totes when they were all empty. The key was to not let all of them get empty at the same time so I only had to fill one each trip to the ranch.

Well last year I went to harbor freight and bought a 2" water pump and now I can fill or empty a tote in about 5 minutes. Best $200 spent on this project last year!

I planted 11 new pecans last weekend and will plant at least that many more on my next trip out. I will put the watering systems on them around March, after the threat of freezing weather diminishes greatly, the hose end timers will freeze and break... been there...

Good luck,
Tim

[texansfan]

Have any pics of this set up?
Cages included.
I planted 3 gallon trees a couple seasons ago and simply let nature take its course
One apple tree got rubbed in half
They all got nibbled bald both seasons
3 peach trees didn't make it because of lack of water
I guess thisstill had more clay in it than the soil hand mile on the other side of the property
I have a well in property near the county road but that's 2000 feet away from these trees

Originally Posted by timoub007

I have taken on a project to grow what I have termed my "vertical food plot", I have been planting pecan trees on my place in the Junction area. It takes some effort to get them established and keep them growing in this somewhat arid climate. After planting I immediately put a tree tube around the sapling, then a wire cage of 3-5 feet diameter. Both of these are staked down due to the high winds like we have been getting this week and to keep the animals from pushing the protection around. I water in each tree after planting too with about a half gallon.

Long term I have set up 275-330 gallon water totes near each set of saplings. I bought a hose end timer that can be set to feed daily for however long each setting as you wish (I typically do about 20 minutes each morning around sunrise). This is connected to 1/2" poly tubing ran towards each sapling. As the tubing passes by a sapling I take off the 1/2" line with a 1/4" drip line which goes right to the base of the trunk. After purging the air out of the lines I set the timer to deliver about a gallon of water each day to each sapling on that 1/2" line. I put about 5-6 saplings on a 1/2" line.

To fill the totes I use another tote bins I pull around on a small trailer. I was just filling this with a garden hose from my well but that was taking 45 minutes to fill each trip and I had to make several trips to fill all the totes. I rigged up a boat bilge pump to transfer from the trailered tote to the base totes, and this too was taking about 45 minutes. So as you can see, I spent a lot of time filling water totes when they were all empty. The key was to not let all of them get empty at the same time so I only had to fill one each trip to the ranch.

Well last year I went to harbor freight and bought a 2" water pump and now I can fill or empty a tote in about 5 minutes. Best $200 spent on this project last year!

I planted 11 new pecans last weekend and will plant at least that many more on my next trip out. I will put the watering systems on them around March, after the threat of freezing weather diminishes greatly, the hose end timers will freeze and break... been there...

Good luck,
Tim

[timoub007]

I just got back from the ranch this afternoon after planting 6 more pecan trees and digging holes for 25 more trees that will go in the ground next weekend. They should have all gone in the ground this weekend but the icy weather delayed my shipment from Nativ nurseries. Box delivered a few hours after I left town on Friday. SMH

Anyway, I will take some pictures next weekend. I don't have the water totes full or timers on them right now due to the threat of freezing weather. I will start that back up in March most likely.

Tim

[Mountaineer]

I planted 16 today using tree tubes. My trees were delayed 3 days from Nativ also. I hope the storms tonight didn't blow the tubes off.

Barnag, how big are your trees that need watered? If you set the tree tubes down into the ground, they can hold water from running out as quick and collect condensation.





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[texansfan]

Originally Posted by timoub007

I just got back from the ranch this afternoon after planting 6 more pecan trees and digging holes for 25 more trees that will go in the ground next weekend. They should have all gone in the ground this weekend but the icy weather delayed my shipment from Nativ nurseries. Box delivered a few hours after I left town on Friday. SMH

Anyway, I will take some pictures next weekend. I don't have the water totes full or timers on them right now due to the threat of freezing weather. I will start that back up in March most likely.

Tim

Since the season is basically over I plan on planting six 30 gallon pecan trees within the next 3 weeks.
Nursery by my house usually strikes me deals during this time of year so I hope to get those 30 gal at $75 each (normally $200+)
I'm planting the indian varieties such as Kiawa and Pawnee

I need to source a post hole digger because 180 gallons is a bit much for my shovelling

[texansfan]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I planted 16 today using tree tubes. My trees were delayed 3 days from Nativ also. I hope the storms tonight didn't blow the tubes off.


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QDMA forums (RIP) taught me that I need to use tubes and cages on each new planting.
But I was knumbskull and didn't do it so deer have browsed all my leaves off every season and rubbed an Apple tree to death.
They rubbed a moon glow pear as well but it's survived.

I need to buy those tubes online

[barnag]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

I planted 16 today using tree tubes. My trees were delayed 3 days from Nativ also. I hope the storms tonight didn't blow the tubes off.

Barnag, how big are your trees that need watered? If you set the tree tubes down into the ground, they can hold water from running out as quick and collect condensation.

They are all either saplings or bareroot.
Ordered from the Wildlife Group last year. About to order some more from them and Nativ Nurseries.
I use the tree tubes too, great investment.

[JeffK]

Originally Posted by timoub007

I have taken on a project to grow what I have termed my "vertical food plot", I have been planting pecan trees on my place in the Junction area. It takes some effort to get them established and keep them growing in this somewhat arid climate. After planting I immediately put a tree tube around the sapling, then a wire cage of 3-5 feet diameter. Both of these are staked down due to the high winds like we have been getting this week and to keep the animals from pushing the protection around. I water in each tree after planting too with about a half gallon.

Long term I have set up 275-330 gallon water totes near each set of saplings. I bought a hose end timer that can be set to feed daily for however long each setting as you wish (I typically do about 20 minutes each morning around sunrise). This is connected to 1/2" poly tubing ran towards each sapling. As the tubing passes by a sapling I take off the 1/2" line with a 1/4" drip line which goes right to the base of the trunk. After purging the air out of the lines I set the timer to deliver about a gallon of water each day to each sapling on that 1/2" line. I put about 5-6 saplings on a 1/2" line.

To fill the totes I use another tote bins I pull around on a small trailer. I was just filling this with a garden hose from my well but that was taking 45 minutes to fill each trip and I had to make several trips to fill all the totes. I rigged up a boat bilge pump to transfer from the trailered tote to the base totes, and this too was taking about 45 minutes. So as you can see, I spent a lot of time filling water totes when they were all empty. The key was to not let all of them get empty at the same time so I only had to fill one each trip to the ranch.

Well last year I went to harbor freight and bought a 2" water pump and now I can fill or empty a tote in about 5 minutes. Best $200 spent on this project last year!

I planted 11 new pecans last weekend and will plant at least that many more on my next trip out. I will put the watering systems on them around March, after the threat of freezing weather diminishes greatly, the hose end timers will freeze and break... been there...

Good luck,
Tim

Got a link to the hose end timer that you use?

[timoub007]

I just ordered three more timers today, bringing my total to 10. These are what I ordered, as they appear identical to the several Orbit brand timers I have had for a couple of years. The Orbit ones are good, but these are cheaper and that matters when you get as many as I have. None of them will survive subfreezing weather though, so bring them inside once rifle season starts.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As for tree tubes, I have tried several and like these. First from AM Leonard:
https://www.amleo.com/max-grow-tube-...of-5/p/VP-MGX/

and these from Tree Protection Supply
https://www.treeprotectionsupply.com...ombitube-5-ft/

These wound up being cheaper when buying the quantity that I did because they are priced with the shipping included. Shop around depending on the number you need.


I did try some last year that I will recommend to avoid. These were blue in color and came as flat pieces that you had to roll in to a tube. They were a pain to curl and did not want to stay together. I wound up having to stiffen them with a bamboo shoot and wrap them with several rounds of duct tape, and some still could not survive the wind out north of Junction. I cannot recall where I bought them from, but knowing me they were a penny cheaper or something. Heed my warning and don't skimp here.


For cages, I bought the cheapest roll fencing I could find when needed. Last week I bought this from TSC
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...x-330-ft?rfk=1

I cut pieces 9-10 feet long and made a circle out of them. Then the cheapest stakes that I could find for both the tubes and cages are rebar. I bought 20 foot rods and cut them down to 4 foot long pieces with an abrasive blade on my circular saw. These wound up costing me about $0.50 a piece versus buying something for three to four times or more.
Last year I tried bamboo but could not get them to drive in to the west Texas dirt well enough stabilize things. Wind and deer pushed over many of the tubes.

Cages are a must with my deer density, and a good idea otherwise. The trees wind up being the cheapest part of this project for me.

On a side note, if I can ever find a supplier for cotton seed out around Junction then maybe I can use some of these cages later to feed that stuff out of.

Tim

[timoub007]

These are the crappy blue ones (in my opinion); DO NOT BUY
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/pr...=17142&redir=Y

Tim

[timoub007]

Texansfan and others, here are the pictures of the last round of planting I did. These were pecan, plum, pear and mulberry trees ordered from NativNurseries.


https://imgur.com/HWdmGmM


https://imgur.com/dGLsywY


https://imgur.com/gNhm78h

Note the bottle of water. I put 1/2 gallon of water on my trees after planting and will hand/bottle water them with 1/2 gallon each trip out to my place until the weather warms enough that I can put the watering systems in service. It takes a bit of time, but the future is worth it.


https://imgur.com/FDNfFhp


https://imgur.com/h4gzPDy


https://imgur.com/Dww9hZD


https://imgur.com/uImVWoj

And here is what can happen even with a cage and determined, hungry critters. I wish I knew what species did this. The cages around many of this year's plantings were made out of the cheapest wire cage I could find because I had so many to do. Well, sometimes the cheapest is not the best...


https://imgur.com/9hhN4o1

Whatever removed this pear tree ate the top half of it and left the root ball and bottom part of the sapling not too far from the hole. I planted it again but have little hope of it putting on leaves. I am not sure how long it was out of the ground. Anyway, I am glad that they only killed one of them so far, but they have a long way to go to get established.

You can also see some of the water totes in the background of several pictures. I typically elevate these on three or four pallets (see the one in the back of my pickup in the first pic) to make some room for the hose end timer and fittings.

Tim

[gtsticker]

Question? Why don’t you run a line from your pump To your trees. We ran 1” pvc irrigation pipe and then came off of that with 1/2 line and adjustable drippers. I just go start the pump at the tank and then walk around and check the trees to be sure the drippers do not clog up. The clogging is rare. You can buy the pvc cheap and run it a long way. As many trees as your planting it would be worth the investment.


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[texansfan]

This place had 30 gallon pecan trees for $30: http://www.athenstreefarm.com/tree_farm_inventory.html

[texansfan]

Originally Posted by texansfan

This place had 30 gallon pecan trees for $30: http://www.athenstreefarm.com/tree_farm_inventory.html

I called them and the only pecans they have left are 95 gallon trees at $352 each

I checked native and all they have listed in their site are the ten inch seedlings.
Is that what you got?

I'm really looking for something further along to produce quicker.

95 gallons is just a bit too big for me to handle.

[Mike Murphey]

I use 2 300 gal totes sitting on stands about 3 feet high. They are placed near a house/storage shed and have used flexible PCV tubing attached to the gutters of the house. From the bottom of the totes I attached a common header with a garden hose connection....I also attached a overflow pipe to divert overflow water away from the house.....I'll attach pictures later...

[timoub007]

Originally Posted by gtsticker

Question? Why don’t you run a line from your pump To your trees. We ran 1” pvc irrigation pipe and then came off of that with 1/2 line and adjustable drippers. I just go start the pump at the tank and then walk around and check the trees to be sure the drippers do not clog up. The clogging is rare. You can buy the pvc cheap and run it a long way. As many trees as your planting it would be worth the investment.


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The main reason is that I shut off my water supply each and every time I leave the ranch. I do not want to burn up my downhole pump if the piping above ground freezes and breaks. It has happened more than once in the last few years, even the cast iron pump body has frozen and cracked.

The first spot that I have planted the majority of my trees is close to the house and well so running a line would be possible if it wasn't for the concern of freezing. Another spot that I planted the fruit trees is close to a half mile away from the well. The third location that I planted some pecans at this year is somewhere in between, but still too far even if I could prevent the freezing issues.

My experience at my place has shown what I am doing now to be the best compromise.


As for which trees I ordered, I got the "rapid mast" seedlings from Nativ nurseries. Yes it will take years for nut production and that is why I am planting so many each year. I will lose some and don't want to be set back a complete year if I lose too many. Also, getting saplings to take root and live is an easier proposition than a 50-100 gallon root ball. Those sort of trees need much more water in their first year or three or you will lose your much higher investment. That is unless you live on property or visit and can water each week.

My thoughts and experiences, YMMV.

Tim

[TxAg]

^^^ if you run a line could you bury it? Just an inch or two would keep it from freezing

[timoub007]

It is not the line down to the trees that I am worried about freezing. I have had the 1.25" PVC pipe between the above ground holding tank and my pressure pump freeze and crack more than once. One time while we were at the ranch for a long new year's weekend and had the water system charged the actual pump body froze and cracked. I had to replace the pump but luckily my local friend has a neighbor who sells well equipment and allowed us to raid his shop to find what I needed. He billed me for what I used about 6 months later.

I added a bottom drain to the section of line that froze but a couple of months ago that section froze again. There was a pocket of water trapped in the piping because I didn't add a high point vent. Turns out that the person who drained it did not leave my heat lamp plugged in. Arrrrr

So I have not found a satisfactory way to leave the water system charged when I am not there. I am fortunate that my downhole well pump did not burn up the first time that the pipes froze. I had not shut off the valve from the 3,000 gallon surface tank to the pressure pump suction and that whole tank drained out! Live and learn, but I take fewer chances now when I am away.

T

[texansfan]

So I went out last weekend and put some 13-13-13 on my trees
Pears and nectarine are looking good
Apple's and peaches died.