Field Manual

Seacrest Series Lightweight Planters With Built-in CWS Irrigation

How Controlled Watering Works

The plant and sensor work together to bring the exact amount of water to the plants according to their needs. The sensor controls the water flow in response to the plants use of moisture in the soil.

Starts Watering Slowly

When the plant needs water, it draws moisture, drying both soil and sensor. Air passes through the dry sensor and the tube, releasing vacuum. This allows moisture to flow slowly into soil from inlet area.

Stops Watering Completely:

When the soil and sensor become moist, sensor blocks air passage to reservoir. The vacuum is restored, preventing watering until plant removes moisture from soil, and the cycle begins again.

Prior to Planting

Transport: Inspect the planter upon delivery from carrier and note any damage at that time. When transporting empty planters on site carry the planter between two or more people, on 2 or 4 wheel dollies, or move on a pallet. Do not roll the planter on its base rim unless the stopcock drain assembly has been removed from the bottom of the planter.

Soil Mix: Start with evenly moist, good quality professional potting soil. We recommend that it be a "soilless" media composed of approximately :

• Approx. 1/3 Peat Moss
• Approx. 1/3 composted pine, redwood orApprox. 1/3 fir barkpeat moss
• Approx. 1/3 sterilized coarse sand, or combination of perlite and/or vermiculite.

Do not use field soil in these planters. A slow-release fertilizer may be added to the soil mix before planting if desired; however, add at only one quarter of the recommended amount. Before planting, make sure that the soil surrounding the plant's root ball is evenly moist. It is important that the plants are not excessively dry or excessively wet when planting.

Situate the Planter: Move the planter to its final location, remembering to rotate it so that the fill hole and drain stopcock will be accessible both during planting and when the plants have grown. Protect all surfaces near the planter which may be damaged by soil mix, plant container, tools etc. Draping the planter rim and outside walls with a tarp will reduce the clean up effort. Tape the sensor to the outside wall of the planter during planting to avoid hitting any part of the sensor with tools.

Tree Tie-Downs: The SS-5536 and SS-3830 planters come equipped with anchor points for tree tie-down cables. If tie-downs are to be used, then unscrew the protective bolts and replace with the eye bolts that are included with the tie-down package. Remember to attach the tie-downs during the planting process to avoid having to search for the eyebolts later. The three anchor points are located below finished soil level to be as unobtrusive as possible.

Getting the Plant and the Soil in Place

1. Visually inspect the planter. Check that all the inlet discs are held firmly in place by their retainer rings, that the stopcock drain assembly is securely in place, and inspect the entire planter for any other obvious damage. Leave stopper in place to prevent potting soil from entering reservoir.
2. Place a 3" white plastic root confuser disc over each water inlet, and the large drainage pad in place over the brass drain fitting, fabric side down.
3. Unfold the large sheet of soil separator fabric to cover the base of the planter, then use a few shovels of moist potting soil to hold it spread across the bottom. Add more mix to press the edges of the soil separator fabric up the sidewalls of the planter.
4. To install the siphon tube assembly, clear a space near the sidewall (not over a water inlet) and place the 3x3" drain pad either side up. Stand the fabric-wrapped end of the siphon tube on the pad and hold in a vertical position while packing potting soil around it. Once supported by a few inches of potting soil the siphon tube should be able to stand unsupported.
5. Measure the height of the plant rootball. Continue filling the planter with potting soil, (packing firmly by hand and making sure that the siphon tube is standing straight) until the soil level is such that when placed on the soil, the top of the plant's root ball will be about level with the fill hole. Place the plant rootball in the planter and position to your satisfaction.
6. Continue filling the planter with soil mix, making sure to firmly pack the soil mix around the rootball as you go. If tree tie downs are to be installed, attach them to the eye bolts at this stage. Fill with potting soil to the finished soil level.

Sensor Placement

1. Activate the sensor by dipping it in water for a full 15 seconds
2. Use a trowel or similar tool to make a trench from the midpoint between the plant stem/trunk and the planter sidewall to the point where the sensor is attached. The trench should angle down from the planter sidewall.
3. Lay the sensor tube on the bottom of the trench so that the sensor tip is positioned 1/3 to 1/2 way down the height of the planter.

   36" high planter - 8"-12" below surface of soil

   30" high planter - 6"-9" below surface of soil

   22" high planter - 5"-8" below surface of soil

   17" high planter - 4"-7" below surface of soil

   12" high planter - 3"-5" below surface of soil

4. Make sure that there are no kinks in the sensor tube, then cover and fill in around the sensor with potting soil. Firm the soil mix well, especially around the sensor tip, to ensure close contact between the sensor and soil.

Adding Water

Fill the reservoir with water only after checking that the planter and the plant are positioned correctly. Be careful to remove any stray soil mix from around the filler area to prevent soil from getting into the reservoir. Remove the filler stopper, insert a hose and half fill the reservoir with water. Replace the stopper, inserting it firmly and with a twist to ensure that a tight seal is made.

Leave the planter alone to allow the CWS to set up its own watering cycle. Do not frequently pull the stopper to check the reservoir. This interrupts the natural watering cycle and can cause overwatering.

After the initial two or three days, return to check the planter is watering correctly. When the system is functioning, the soil surface should be dry or drying out down to the sensor depth. If the topsoil is still moist, don't pull the stopper. If the soil is dry, a vacuum should be produced in the reservoir- pull the stopper while listening carefully for the sound of air being pulled into the reservoir (it makes a "whooshing" or a "popping" sound).

If the soil surface is wet, no air movement is felt or heard when removing the stopper then consult the section "Trouble Shooting Instructions". If the soil surface is drying out and the air movement can be heard or felt, then the planter has been planted up correctly and is now establishing its own watering cycle. At this point the reservoir may be filled all the way to the top, and the stopper firmly replaced as before.

Underplanting Shallow-Rooted Plants with Larger Plants/Trees

Completely install the larger plant, activate and place the sensor, and fill the reservoir as outlined in the instructions above. Make a note of the depth of the sensor. Excavate spaces for underplantings in container 1" deeper than the underplanting rootballs.

Topwater underplantings regularly to provide the shallower plants with a water source until they have the chance to grow down to the level of the moisture sensor, typically 3-4 weeks. Carefully top water the plants with no more than two cups of water per plant initially, until the plants have had a chance to grow down to the moisture level.

Operation

Water Filling Schedule

Check the reservoir no more than absolutely necessary to determine how much water the plant is using. After 6-8 weeks the plant will have acclimated, and you can estimate typical water usage and be able to work out a filling schedule to minimize maintenance visits. Remember, as seasons change, the filling schedule will also change. Similar or different plants in different locations will demand water at differing rates. Always allow for at least a week's supply of water in the reservoir in case of unusually hot or windy weather. Do not allow the reservoir to run dry between fillings.

Adjust your site visits according to the needs of your thirstiest plants. Top off the reservoirs of all planters at once to be sure that some don't go dry. Take advantage of the Controlled Watering System to streamline your maintenance visits.

Fertilizing

Once the plantings have become established in the planter, or anytime after that, fertilizer may be used. Planter Technology recommends using HM-10 time-release fertilizer for sub-irrigation systems. Add 3 tablespoons of fertilizer every 3-4 months. When using other fertilizer,add water soluble fertilizer directly with the water when filling the reservoir. Use fertilizers at 1/4 recommended strength. Adding fertilizer to the reservoir at full strength may cause severe root and leaf burn. Apply fertilizer in this way three or four times a year at times most beneficial to plant growth.

NOTE: Never use organic type fertilizers. These are not water soluble and also encourage the rapid growth of algae which could reduce the efficient delivery of water into the planter.

Stopcock Drain Assembly

When in normal use, the drain stopcock valve may be left in the closed position. In normal conditions, the planter requires no drainage. If left open, the stopcock will not block any water that may condense in the tube from time to time depending on the weather conditions, which may lead to weepage and staining the surface the planter is on. After exposure to heavy rain or if the planter has been top watered by mistake, the stopcock should be opened to allow excess water to drain away. Proper drainage after rains is critical to the health of the plant. The stopcock is threaded to accommodate a standard hose fitting. By attaching a hose and then opening the stopcock, it is possible to carry the drain water away without wetting the ground around the planter. (When draining the planter in this way make sure that the opposite end of the hose is at a lower level than the drain stopcock.)

The siphon tube is provided as an emergency drain to remove accumulated water from inside the planter. Simply open the top of the tube, and siphon the standing water out.This may need to be repeated several times to get all the water out of the planter.

Using the Tamper Resistant Stopper (TSP-6888, Optional)

Tamper resistant stoppers are used to prevent removal in heavy-traffic locations. The metal topped stopper is opened with a standard hex wrench. To close, hold the stopper firmly in the hole, insert the hex key in the screw top, and turn the hex key clockwise several times until resistance is met. To open, insert hex key and turn counterclockwise 3-4 times. Be sure not to overturn key!

Maintenance

Trouble Shooting the Controlled Watering System Irrigation

1. The soil seems too wet -
   An airtight seal must be maintained in the planter for the CWS to properly function. The most common problems that lead to overwatering include:
   • A loose or improperly seated stopper. It must be firmly twisted down to ensure an airtight seal!
   • Loosely packed soil. Firmly pack the soil, eliminating air pockets. Add extra soil if necessary.
   • Poor soil/sensor contact. Check that the sensor is properly placed, and that soil is firmly packed on top of the trench. Check that the sensor tube is still firmly in its fitting.
   
   After checking the above conditions, allow the planter to function for another week. Recheck to insure that the soil surface is dry or is drying out down to the sensor depth.
2. The soil seems too dry -
   The topsoil in a SeaCrest Series planter will appear dry when the Controlled Watering System is functioning properly. The best way to accurately determine the moisture level is with a soil sample probe. Look to the relative health of the plant for an indication of proper watering - some plants will simply not require much water, and will appear not to use up the reservoir. Even though they may not take up much water, they still may be very healthy. Remember, the planter only waters as the plant uses the water. If things still seem dry:
   • If the reservoir is empty and the soil appears completely dried out, the soil may have lost its ability to absorb water. Moisten from the top (avoiding the sensor area), kneading and stirring the soil if necessary to get the soil to absorb water.

   The water flows into the container through a number of inlets - check for signs that the soil is being evenly moistened in all areas of the planter.

Long-term Preventative Maintenance for the Controlled Watering System

Like any system., the CWS may require maintenance over time. The sensor tubes, stoppers, inlet disks, and soil separator fabric may need to be changed to keep the CWS functioning as designed. The maintenance required depends upon the careful use of the planter.

Planter Technology recommends:

fill the reservoir with clean water, keeping dirt and other debris out. Over time, algae growth due to dirty water or soil in the container can lead to blockage of the inlet disks at the base of the planter.

Don't allow the reservoir to go dry - this may lead to mineral build up in the water inlet discs, preventing full water flow.

Use Biobarrier squares for plants with aggressive root systems - A plant's roots will naturally seek out a water source. Over time particularly aggressive root systems may go through or around a single layer of fabric, clogging the inlet disk from the container side (preventing water flow). Biobarrier fabric is chemically treated to prevent roots from going into the reservoir.

Should you find that the water level in the reservoir is not dropping, the soil is dry at lower levels and the plant looks like it isn't getting the water it needs, then there may not be enough water making it through the inlet disks. Drain much of the water out of the planter, lower a hose towards the bottom of the planter, and flush the inside with high-pressure water. This may serve to disrupt any debris or blockage on the underside of the disk. If that doesn't solve the problem, add a mineral dissolving agent into the water (such as a decalcifier, etc.), to dissolve minerals that may have built up in the disk, clogging the micropores.

If these solutions don't clear the discs, dig out the plant to prune the roots back. At the same time, replace the inlet disks with new ones and use Biobarriers to ensure that build-up doesn't become a problem.

Further questions? Simply email or phone us at (800)542-2282.

Keeping the SeaCrest Series Planter Looking Great:

• The SeaCrest Series planter's durable polyethylene construction allows for easy cleanup. A dirty planter, whether covered with graffiti or grime, can be cleaned with hot soapy water and a stiff brush. For paint or more difficult marks, paint thinner may be used.
• The planter's surface can be brought back to a luster using standard furniture polish.

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