| A few pots or hanging baskets can really lift a | | | | fix in position. Repeat until all your pots or baskets |
| property if they look good. Usually they do when | | | | are connected up. |
| you first put them in, but without careful attention | | | | If your plants are grouped connect up the plants |
| to watering and feeding, in a few weeks time | | | | in each group, then connect the groups using sub |
| they can be looking miserable and neglected - not | | | | mains. (the tube is all the same - a sub main is |
| the look most of us are after. | | | | simply a tube leading to a group of drippers. |
| We all know what we need to do - just go out | | | | You should have one open end left on your tube - |
| and water the plants regularly, maybe once or | | | | take this back to the WaterWand pump. Cut the |
| twice a day when it is hot, but therein lies the | | | | tube clean and square (a sharp knife is needed) |
| problem, life just gets in the way. | | | | leaving enough slack so that when connected it |
| We have all heard about irrigation, but isn't it | | | | will not be bent sideways or pull against the pump |
| complicated? Hundreds of little bits, a need for an | | | | connection. Push it onto the connector marked O. |
| outside tap, an unsightly hosepipe and a huge | | | | Now drill a hole in the top edge of your water |
| water bill? | | | | barrel - above the high water mark but low |
| There is an easier way. | | | | enough for the lid to fit on. You can drill the hole in |
| The WaterWand irrigation kit uses sunshine to | | | | the lid but this will make lid removal more |
| power your irrigation - no wires, no dangerous | | | | awkward. |
| electricity/water mixes. | | | | Thread tube through the hole and push the filter |
| It uses rainwater from your water barrel. No | | | | on the end. Adjust the tube so the filter hangs 5 |
| hosepipe bans, no nasty surprises in your water | | | | -10cm above the bottom of the barrel as in |
| bill. | | | | schematic. Take the other end back to the pump |
| The WaterWand solar pump is completely | | | | and fit in the same manner as the outlet tube. |
| automatic. It waters every 3 hours through the | | | | Pump operation |
| day, whether you are there or not. It waters | | | | A new pump may run for some time when it is |
| slowly, with drip or seep hose irrigation, so that | | | | first turned on. Ideally water should be directed |
| water goes exactly where you want it. Water | | | | back to the barrel until it stops for the first time. |
| has time to soak in rather than run off. Compost | | | | Then turn the pump to maximum and connect to |
| or soil does not have time to dry out. It waters | | | | the outlet tube. The pump will start up at 3 hour |
| more when it is sunny and your plants need | | | | intervals from when it is first turned on. If it |
| extra. | | | | applies too much water, turn it down. Repeat until |
| Soluble fertiliser (about a quarter normal strength) | | | | you are happy with the application rate. |
| can be added to your water barrel so your plants | | | | Remember as plants grow the pump may need |
| get fed as they are watered. They grow and | | | | to be turned up. |
| flower better. | | | | How much water is the right amount? |
| But most important of all the WaterWand is so | | | | Hanging baskets should drip a little after the |
| simple to set up that almost anyone can do it | | | | afternoon watering. Pots should also drain a little. |
| with tools that almost everyone has. | | | | You should be monitoring the driest basket or pot. |
| How to do it | | | | As long as containers are free draining, excess |
| Position pump | | | | water will escape. |
| The solar irrigation pump needs to be positioned | | | | Where to use it |
| so that it is facing in the sunniest direction and is | | | | Anywhere under the sun that needs automatic |
| not shaded. If your water barrel is in a shady | | | | watering and maybe feeding too. |
| position it is okay to position the pump some | | | | Care and maintenance |
| distance away. Ideally the pump should be just a | | | | · Ensure your water barrel and water are clean |
| little higher than the high water mark in the rain | | | | before you start watering. |
| barrel, but if needs be can be up to 6' (2m) higher. | | | | · Clean the solar panel with a damp cloth if it |
| It can be hung from a nail, hook or similar. | | | | gets dirty. |
| Dripper irrigation | | | | · Change the battery annually, especially before |
| Follow the link at the bottom to see a schematic. | | | | you go away. |
| Start with the most distant pot or basket from | | | | · Ensure your water barrel is full before you go |
| the pump. Screw a drip nozzle into the delivery | | | | away. |
| tube. Screw it right in or it will leak. Put a stake | | | | · Keep the WaterWand pump inside during the |
| onto the tube about an inch (3cm) back from the | | | | winter, away from severe frost. |
| dripper. Stake into your pot or basket so it drips | | | | · Do check regularly that the water application |
| near the middle. Route the tube back to the next | | | | rate is correct. |
| container, concealing it as you go and if necessary | | | | Limitations |
| clipping into place. When you have got back to | | | | The pump is designed for small-scale use. |
| where the irrigation needs to branch, cut the tube. | | | | · 5 - 6 large hanging baskets |
| It's safest to use scissors. Screw another dripper | | | | · 20 10 litre pots |
| in the end and hold in the desired position over | | | | · Maximum height above water barrel 15' (4.5m). |
| the pot/basket, then follow the tube back to | | | | It will pump higher, but you get less water. |
| where it needs to connect to the first piece. Cut | | | | · Normal flow rate 130ml/min. 50m of tubing will |
| the tube. Screw a tee into the first piece of tube, | | | | reduce this by about 10%. Keep tube lengths as |
| then screw the second piece of tube to the tee. | | | | short as practical. |
| When you have done this attach the stake and | | | | |