Corona Tools RootIRRIGATOR – Targeted Deep Root Watering Tool for Trees, Shrubs & Garden Plants, Efficient Direct-to-Root Irrigation

My backstory: I didn't know such a thing as a root waterer existed, but it was exactly what I needed. I have a small apple tree that I've never watered. Each summer it starts to get a few apples but they drop off when still small and green. A few years ago I decided to start paying attention to it and got someone to prune it three years in a row. Then it developed a lot more apples but again not a single one was left to pick. This year I put down weed block craft paper and wood chips on top, but didn't know how to water with these things sitting on top. I could see just soaking the wood chips but very little getting to the tree. Then I saw a video about a root waterer. I've been researching different brands. A couple of them come with reservoirs for adding fertilizer, but reviews say they're cheaply made and the plastic breaks pretty quickly. So I purchased this one which is metal. I can always buy one of those injector fertilizer systems (just a siphon that lets you put fert in a bucket and attach your hose to it.) I got the Rootirrigator today and used it immediately. It came fully assembled including the metal shut-off valve. It fit a standard U.S. hose perfectly so they must have fixed the problem that I saw in some negative reviews from 5 years ago. I used it right away and it did not drip or leak at all. It's well-made and sturdy. I like that the holes are on the side of the shaft, not the bottom, because that means that it won't clog with dirt as you're pushing it in. I also like that the measurements are on the side so you know when you've pushed it in 12 inches. A little tip: I already had a shut-off value on the end of my hose so I left it on. Now I have two in a series. I put my original valve on full and adjusted the one that comes with the irrigator so that the water comes out roughly 1 gallon per minute (I timed how long it took to fill up a half gallon bowl). I plan to leave the irrigator valve set to that position and only turn it on/off using my original valve. That way I know that 5 minutes equals 5 gallons.

I was reluctant to order this because of all the negative reviews about parts not fitting and leaking. The one I got was completely assembled and worked great right out of the huge box it came in. This one was different from other similar devices in that the water comes out of ports just up from the tip, instead of one hole in the very end of the tip. If you have hard ground, it is a little more difficult to get started because the water shoots out from the sides of the shaft. Just start slow and work it in little by little :) The up side is there is less chance of clogging! Stout materials I think will last many seasons. We'll see how it holds up to rust.

There are a lot of low ratings for this product. People mistakenly believe the threads are not designed for US garden hoses. The problem with this product is it is poorly engineered. The inside diameter (the root diameter) of the female fitting on both the shutoff adapter and the waterer itself is smaller than the major diameter (the outside diameter) of the garden hose, so the hose cannot be fully screwed in. The fix is to grind down the thread on male fitting of the hose until it screws in easily. It will seat against the washer for a leak proof seal. There may be some garden hoses, generally cheaper quality, that have slightly smaller male fittings already, which would not have a problem. This is a somewhat irritating problem, but the fix is bench grinder, or a small grinding wheel that fits into a drill, and just go round and round the male nozzle until task is accomplished. The device, other than this, is pretty solid and should last a long time.

This is an awesome tool - we are going through a mild drought at the moment and purchased this tool as a way to ensure I could take care of my plants while using the minimum amount of water to do so. By injecting water directly to the roots rather than broadcast spraying you can avoid evaporation and wasted water that doesn't perc down to the root zone. I used significantly less water and the vigor of the plants is apparent even in these 90+ degree days. The tool itself is quality - solid steel construction and the fittings are sturdy and leak proof. The comfort grip handles are a nice bonus as well. Hooked to your hose, the tool dispenses a large amount of water, right where you need it, in a very short period of time......just a few seconds at each plant is more than enough. A bargain at the price and a must have tool for any gardener.

The hose connection fitting is impossible to screw a hose into. It only allows a single turn and the threads jam. Tried two washers, same problem. Removed this useless part and managed to get the hose end tight enough to stop most leakage. The original outer fitting is only there to support a water on/off valve (which also requires extreme force to turn! Take it off). Sturdy and HEAVY, which may help those who refuse to properly prepare their soil for planting, but not necessary for those who do. Overall could be a good product if tweaked. I bought a Ross, works great.

Works great

Thing works great. I use it in the hard ULTRA hard ground around my new trees 🌲 For the roots to be able to expand.

Tool is well made, study. Has three watering holes near top. Comfortable handles. However, shut off valve is garbage. Threads for those are not cut properly and will not engage Male end of horses. I have tried three different houses, two high quality brand new hoses. Shut off valve binds. Replaces valve with new shut off valve. If it weren't for the inconvenience of returning the item I would do so. It's a shame, the tool is good, the valve is junk.

Just purchased this root feeder and immediately put it to use. It is well built and sturdy. It has a one-piece insertion rod, most offerings are two-piece with a screw joint in the middle, which I would consider a weakness when using in our very clay soil. The valve on the unit is very handy to control water flow. The three holes in the bottom distribute the water quite well. The cushioned handles are comfortable, but big. The depth indicator is a treat as it visually gives you a quick idea of how far you have inserted the feeder. All in all a very good unit. Would recommend.

Very nice root irrigator. Very solid and sturdy. I like the depth markings on it. Easy to push into the soil with the grips on the "T" handle. My last irrigator had some plastic parts that were beginning to leak, but this one is all metal. The valve is also a great feature.

Hooked up to the hose easily and was able to deeply water my trees! Exactly as I wanted

Excellent!

Works perfectly as advertised. Use to water our huge evergreens. Easy to install.