Livingreen Design Series 3 Brochure - Flipbook - Page 268
266 tanker irrigation
tanker irrigation
tanker irrigation
• Wick: Tanker Wick are geotextile strips fitted to every Tank
and are the heart of the system. As they are manufactured
tanker – research proven
Accessories
from a special combination of woven plastics, they will
never deteriorate when left undisturbed. However where
frequent replanting of planters is necessary, for example,
hanging baskets and containers planted with bedding
267
Wick
plants, it may become necessary to replace the wicks after
a number of years. This can easily be carried out for all
the Water Cell systems and wicks are supplied for each
unit size precut to length. Modular systems, due to their
design, are much less likely to require new wicks but if
“ In summary, planters
containing Tanker systems
will save you half your costs
of watering while providing a
more attractive, healthier plant
with a much stronger and
better developed root system.”
Tanker was invented some 25 years
eventually this does become necessary then the units can
ago and at least two installations
be returned to us for refurbishment.
from that period survive and are still
functioning perfectly today. However,
• Dip Sticks: Tanker Dip sticks are flexible capillary rods that
to further prove the effectiveness of the
can be put down the filler tube and pulled out to show the
system, and in particular its potential to
exact depth of water in that tank or planter. For use where
dramatically cut the costs of watering
water level indicators cannot be used and particularly
Dip-stick
seasonal exterior displays, Tanker has
recently been the subject of intensive
suitable for large tree planters. Custom sizes available.
research at the world renowned
University of Reading Horticultural
• Floats: Polystyrene floats suitable for use with the flexible
Technology Unit.
Above: Interior planter
clearly showing superior plant
development in Tanker (bottom)
fitted planters after 70 days
of trials.
Top: Roots systems: left – without Tanker; right– with Tanker
Bottom: Tanker fitted window boxes - Day 56
filler pipe only. Cut to size. Supplied FOC with new flexible
filler pipe installations where requested.
Float for flexible tube
The trials were carried out on typically
planted interior office plant displays
and also on contractor style hanging
• Stoppers: These are used to seal the ends of Network
baskets, window boxes and exterior
units at the end of a run or to convert a network unit
planters. In every case identical control
into a Solo tank. Supplied FOC with every new Network
installation.
units were set up without Tanker
Stopper for
network systems
whenever the soil moisture content
fell below a predetermined point as
• Flexible pipe: Available in up to 50m lengths, this is both
the connecting pipe between Network Tanks and also
an optional filler tube instead of the rigid pipe system.
Flexible filler
or
Connecting pipe
per metre
A summary of results of trials conducted at the University of
Reading summer 2004 on hanging baskets, window boxes, patio
planters & interior displays.
• The use of Tanker systems in all situations tested halved the number of watering
visits required to maintain the plants.
• The amount of moisture in the soil was always more controlled with Tanker
measured by use of a Theta probe. The
systems present – they were less likely to be either very wet or very dry –
exterior planters were assessed for
promoting better plant development.
70 days and the interior for 5 months
Appropriate lengths are supplied FOC with new Solo and
Network systems where required.
being fitted. All the units were watered
Proof Positive
before a destructive analysis was
carried out to look at the root systems
and the fresh weights of the plant
• The plants in the Tanker watered units looked visually more pleasing than those
in the control units having a better, more compact growth pattern.
• The root systems of the Tanker grown plants were far better developed than
material in each. The results are shown
those that were top watered only. In exterior trials, the roots reached the bottom
in the panel opposite and conclusively
of the planters and formed dense masses while also being thicker and fleshier.
prove that fitting Tankers will both save
money on maintenance and improve
plant quality.
• Interior trials using Tanker or top watering alone proved that Tanker watered
units required at least 30% less water and still produced a better display.