[pookey]

I have the lamest water pressure imaginable and it takes forever to water my containers, and I have just started planting my beds and I'm getting worried about how I'll keep everything watered in dry weather.  

I know I need some waterbuts, I am on the hunt for some cheap containers.  I was going to ask some farmers if they have any plastic drums from fertilisers etc.

Anyway, I thought I would set up some sort of automatic watering system that could run from the waterbut, and I could top up the water but with the tap water if its low as I assume the water will flow faster from the but than my tap.

So... what type of system would be best, theres seeper hoses or the gardena type that have all the little tubes coming off.  I have quite a few containers dotted about a large area (up to 10 metres from the tap in 2 directions, then I have beds up to about 12 metres from the tap, then I have an area accross the drive with spuds in (up to 30metres from the tap).

[purplebat]

you're lucky- we're about 4 miles from the tap!  

[shaun]

have you thought about a seeper/dripper hose connected to your water butt

[pookey]

have you thought about a seeper/dripper hose connected to your water butt

Thanks Shaun, yes I had thought about a seeper hose for the main beds, but would I beable to use some sort of connectors so that I could use normal hose for areas where there was no planting.  also, how would I water the containers, or would I seperate drip set up for the containers.

Would I need any kind of pump on the water but or would good old gravity surfice?

[shaun]

you can cut it and connect it at intervals where ever you want it,as its not under pressure you can use a small bit of 15mm copper and a tie wrap to connect it.
you just need a tank connector from a plumbers supliers to connect your tap,try and get the water butt off the ground a bit to gain a bit of height.

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/15mm+tank+connector+washer/pid/1418295
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/stopcock+bs+15mm/pid/2788677

[pookey]

you can cut it and connect it at intervals where ever you want it,as its not under pressure you can use a small bit of 15mm copper and a tie wrap to connect it.
you just need a tank connector from a plumbers supliers to connect your tap,try and get the water butt off the ground a bit to gain a bit of height.

http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/15mm+tank+connector+washer/pid/1418295
http://www.edirectory.co.uk/pf/880/mia/d/stopcock+bs+15mm/pid/2788677

Hi Shaun, forgive my dimness, but what is the purpose of the tap connector (is that used to hold the tap in place from the inside)?  also, do I need one of these proper taps because the plastic water but taps wouldnt give me enough pressure?

[shaun]

the tank connector is so you can connect a tap to it,the ones that come on water butts are no good to connect a hose too.
if you know what i mean. :?

[pookey]

thanks shaun, i just looked at a waterbut tap and all is clear now - i get what you mean.    Back to the soaker hose. could you make your own by perforating a normal hose with a thin spike - like a corn on cob spike or thin screw driver?

[shaun]

if you put holes in the hose pipe it will empty the water but as quick as you can fill it.my seeper hose is like a type of foam and it just soaks through it very slowly.give the holes a go and see what happens