what's the best way to water plants using the tractor?

[gemini5362]

i had some sloshing but i live on pretty rough terrain and did not have that much slosh out. I did drive slow though

 

[Rowdius]

attach a chain to the draw bar and to the plant, then drag the plant to water

"You can drag a plant to water, but you can't make it drink."

 

[gemini5362]

I've used a couple of plastic 55gal drums for watering seedling trees. I bought them for $9 each at Rural King (farm store), and then added some connectors so I can mate garden hoses to them. Then either in my pickup bed or using the FEL bucket, I lay them on their sides and allow gravity to flow water through the garden hoses. Not enough pressure to use a sprayer, but good enough for keeping my seedlings alive this very dry summer.

Actually this idea seems to me to be pretty good. You can get some 3/4 inch hose and a valve to allow it out. if you want to get really fancy get a piece of pipe instead of the hose and an electric valve to open the water flow then you dont have to leave your tractor. Personally I am cheap so probably would get just a 3/4 inch hose and fitting with a ball valve. If you need a bit more pressure then just put the ball valve on the bottom of the hose and raise your bucket higher.

 

[wushaw]

The problem I have with using too big of a hose is most of the water will just run off and not soak in even if I have a little **** built up around the tree.

I will just park my tractor and go do something else instead of watching water flow whe I am watering trees.

 

[gordon21]

Those cube shape plastic barrels inside a crate are called IBC's You can usually find them in the industrial section of decent sized city. Down by the rail yard, junkyards, recycling places, etc. The people that sell used plastic barrels will have them.

They are used for a variety of liquids, most often used for food/juice concentrates. Specialty ones are rated for various chemicals and can be re-used but are very pricey. You want a run of the mill one time use food grade model. Probably well under $100 almost anywhere in the USA. It will be in it's own custom wire frame/pallet and are sturdy enough to travel from South America here to the USA by the thousands every month.

They are cheap because many can't be re-used for food and they are bulky to store and dispose of or they came from overseas and the tote value was part of the price. It is like bulk steel cargo containers going down in price. Tens of thousands enter the USA every month from overseas and will never go back to their origin country.


Reconditioned ones can sell for a little over $100 Better ones can be completely refurbished and are used over and over.

http://www.qualservcontainer.com/catalog/c3_p1.html

 

[IXLR8]

I have been known to just fill the fel bucket with water drive over to the tree and dump it out of the bucket.

Ahh.. so my neighbor is not the only one who does that.

 

[diyDave]

Whichever method you use to get the water to the plant, here is a tip that we have used for years: When you plant something, plant a bottomless tin can that will hold about a gallon of water, right beside it. When you water, fill the tin can, and let the water leak into the soil at its own speed, takes less time to water, and you get less weeds germinating because the water goes in deeper, and doesn't spill out on top. You can also drill a few small holes in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket, and fill and let it drain slowly. Not as pretty as those tree-gator bags, but doesn't cost $20 either!

 

[gemini5362]

dave I have not done this but have heard of it being done. people take and make the hole bigger than the tree when they plant it then get some 4 inch leach line pipe and put that in the hole with the tree you then filll the pipe up and let that leach out into the root system.

 

[Fast Eddie]

attach a chain to the draw bar and to the plant, then drag the plant to water

Chickenman

That's the best idea yet. What should I tell my wife when she sees me doing this? This is true: When I bought the tractor she asked me to raise my right hand and repeat after her:" I will NOT destroy the entire property without discussing it first". She's petrified that I have a piece of equipment that can do big things.

 

[john_bud]

When I read the title to this thread I was imagining 100# of ice in the FEL bucket with 4 cases of beer and 4-5 buddies shooting the bull out by the plants. Every 30 minutes or so, your wife comes out and moves the tractor to a "dry" spot.

jb