Tree I.V. Root Seeker DIY Kit

Description

Got buckets? Turn them into tree watering systems! With this kit you'll get a Root Seeker and the Rubber Grommet needed to provide a good mating seal. We like our
Reservoirs
, but we also like to promote recycling of old stuff.
Patented design delivers 5-gallons at the natural perk rate of your soil
Save money and be environmentally conscience
Makes a great school or club project
You'll need a 1.375" Step Bit and a Drill with 1/2" chuck
Done right, works as good as our Original Base System
Instructions:
Included with your order. But here they are:
Turn the Bucket over
Place a mark 1" from the edge
Drill a hole with 1.375" Step Drill Bit (we offer them)
Weave the grommet into the hole
Go water trees
Follow-up
: It's fine to leave the system installed
year-round, but if you
prefer
to remove the
Reservoir
when empty, it's just that easy.
Reservoirs
stack nicely in the corner of your garage. We recommend to leave the Root Seekers capped and in place during
the growing season.
Not
slow-
drip
: Please don't expect the Reservoir to remain full for extended periods of time. Slow drip irrigation
makes absolutely no sense. It
promotes concentrated root development at the drip point, and actually makes a tree MORE dependent as it grows.
Very durable
: You know how tough a bucket is, right? It's like that. Tree I.V. will live longer than you need them. As our customer, we encourage you to find a new home for them when you're done. Please don't send them to the landfill.
Clay or compact soil
has high tension and a slow percolation rate. Heavy clay may require an initial plunging with a 5/8" dowel rod to get water flowing. This is not a problem with new trees, but can be with larger, established trees.
Want to dig deeper?
Tree sellers routinely overstate water requirements because neglect is what kills first-year trees. Why are they neglected? Because watering takes too much time! We designed Tree I.V. to be quick and easy to use, while being effective and efficient
at
getting a reasonable amount of water right where it's needed. We think even the busiest people can find one minute per tree each week. If you have kids, tell them to do it.
Why a 5-gallon bucket? Nothing is easier to handle, easier to fill, easier to find, and tougher than a good ole' 5-gallon bucket. We just add a sealed hole in the bottom. It's also convenient that 5 gallons of water will completely drench 5 cubic feet of soil, which is the size of the root-well of most new trees.
The Root Seeker pushes into the root-well until the wide shoulder makes solid contact with the surface. The shoulder keeps the water from resurfacing. The outlet holes are 4" to 9" below the surface. Water exits these holes moving down and out to deep soak the root-well. Most times, the top few inches will remain dry. Since roots seek moisture, they are encouraged to remain deeper than with surface watering. Surface watering will actually encourage root growth in the mulch, which you
want to
avoid.
Trees with a branch spread exceeding 6 feet should be considered for drip line watering. Placing three Tree I.V. systems around the drip zone will encourage outcropping feeder roots and a more independent tree. Watering larger trees at the trunk (like with bags do) may lead to MORE dependence on supplemental watering as the top grows. We want new trees to become independent after the first few growing seasons.