Questions on Overcoming Sprinkler Lines and Avoiding Trees

[ttrigg]

Kanaka

Typically the "Schedule 40" (or Schedule 80) markings repeat every 12 to 18 inches. A few (and I emphasize FEW) brands are printed on several sides, most are on just one side. If you dug up for a foot of exposed pipe, I'm thinking you have thin walled pipe and need to plan on replacing sections of pipe that will be under your empire.

[PVT Kanaka]

FYI, we did a test dig this week.  Naturally, digging for a foot along the sprinkler line, we found no markings.  We are hosting Easter festivities and a birthday party over the next two weeks, so a more extensive excavation was not a good idea!

Given we will either be building over, moving, or replacing the piping, I guess we will get our answer when we actually start digging the foundation of the garden's retaining wall.

Thanks again!

[ttrigg]

Allow me to revise my previous comments.

Avocado trees are not really "male" or "female". Avocados like many plants do have male and female blooms (like Zucchini). The 'male' bloom is mounted on a very thin stem, the 'female' bloom has a thicker stem with a small bulge at the base of the bloom. That bulge becomes the fruit. Most plants with "sexed" blooms will accept pollen from sibling blooms of the same plant. A few (avocados and 2 types of strawberries as examples) will reject the pollen from sibling blooms.

The whole point is, if you want an avocado tree then you have one. If you want to enjoy the fruit (which is quite delicious and good for the body) you need to get another tree.

[PVT Kanaka]

Great tips, both about sprinkler piping and avocado trees (Male and female avocado trees...Learn something new every day!)!  

We were vaguely considering hiring someone per the other suggestion, but it sounds like we can avoid that and actually make use of the existing piping to help water the future railroad garden, too.  

I'll turn to with the spade and have my answer in short order.

Aloha!

[ttrigg]

First, I want you to dig down to the sprinkler supply pipe. expose enough of the pipe to read the printing on the pipe. You want to find the words "Schedule 40". Many sprinkler installation outfits use schedule 40 for the service line (from the water meter to sprinkler valves) and then a thin walled pipe to the sprinkler heads. Cost cutting practice, normally good for many years. If you find that the pipe is NOT "Schedule 40", then I'm not going to advise, I'm not going to suggest, I'm going to TELL you to dig up the pipe under your 'empire' and replace that section with Schedule 40. Thin walled pipe has a life expectancy of 5~12 years before it cracks and leaks from old age. Schedule 40 is good for at least 25+ years. Replacing PVC pipe is an easy do it yourself project. I will suggest adding a vertical 'stand pipe' near the middle of the 'empire' and cap it off during construction. After track installation you can add a 'gang valve' for micro tubing to water the plants you put inside your empire. Working with PVC is easy enough, just need a cutting tool, a bottle of solvent (cleaner) and a bottle of pipe cement. Do the same for the line near your property line and you will not have to worry about either line. Do not shrink your empire because of sprinkler line.

On your 'good/bad scale' adding depth of 'soil' and concrete footings becomes 'neutral' over top of schedule 40 pipe.

My front yard used to slope down to the sidewalk, about a 4 foot drop. 20 years ago I built a 4 ft retaining wall and back-filled over schedule 40 and have never had a problem.

As for the tree, running the track 2 to 3 feet from the tree will do well for many years. Every 4~5 years you will want to re-level the ground around the tree base, we are talking about 3~6 inches from the tree. Unless you have a "grafted" sapling all you will ever have is a tree. Avocado trees are 'male' or 'female' and will not produce fruit without a partner. If your plan is to harvest fruit then i would suggest adding another tree near by. They do not pollinate by them selves, the do need a partner.Check with your local nursery tree specialist. 

[Jerry Barnes]

Just have a company come in and move the sprinkle heads. Could maybe just elevate them where they are. Not all that costly and you can build how you want.

[PVT Kanaka]

Aloha!

The kids (6, 4, and 2)  and I went out back this week to locate the sprinkler lines in preparation for breaking ground later this month.  One line runs about three feet from the property line, and the other bisects the yard.  This brought up two observations and associated questions:

1.  I am assuming that burying them under 18 inches of soil, let alone the concrete foundation for the garden's retaining wall, would register as "bad" on the "good-bad" scale.  Should I conform the garden to the existing lines?  CINCHOUSE and I discussed cutting the garden in half to allow access to the pipe that bisects the yard, then bridging the two halves, which seemed reasonable.
2. The sprinkler line that runs parallel to the property line will mean I have to build close to an avocado tree sapling.  How much space do I have to leave this tree?  2 ft radius, for instance?  Oh, the tree stays.  The railroad must go around it.

I see I can now upload images (Don't know how I missed this item before), so I can do this in future posts if that would prove useful.

Thanks as always for the help!  We are still on track to break ground on the Triple O Line (Ogden, Oberammergau, & Olomana) in late April!

.