Most hanging basket programs are similar – they are a headache for those taking care of them. The impact on the city makes it a point of civic pride that overrides the cost and effort of maintenance. 

Tournesol Siteworks has developed an irrigation solution that addresses the two main problems – labor and run-off. Any irrigation solution has to be able to get a meaningful amount of water for the plants and keep the water level consistent.  It also needs to work within the framework of most common maintenance practices. Water applied to a basket needs to stay there, and not drip down onto a sidewalk or roadway.

Our AutoFill Hanging Basket system can either be filled by hand or through an automatic irrigation line on a timer.  The reservoir can fit directly into the basket, or if that takes up too much soil volume, there is a version that wraps around the most common pole sizes.  The capacity of each system depends upon the type of reservoir, but most programs anticipate that they can double their current maintenance interval without changing equipment. Payback on installation of the system can be just one season.

• Each pot or planter has its own valve, and adjusts the moisture levels independently of other pots on the same line.
• No central timer or valve system required-may be used with gravity or pump-driven systems. Requires no wires or electricity.
• Ultimate water efficiency-little evaporation loss, no irrigation water overflow, drainage control
• Healthier plants through consistent, horticulturally sound watering practices.
• Easy design, installation, & system maintenance

We use our patented AutoFill valve connected to an automatic irrigation line or a  gravity-feed reservoir to solve the problem.  The AutoFill’s float action allows just the right amount of water from the oversize reservoir to the plants without letting them go dry. The result is a full, healthy basket with a dramatically extended maintenance cycle.

See a detailed animation of how the AutoFill system works        

The AutoFill hanging basket system relies on a 9”dia x 2”h AutoFill AF-900 unit planted into the bottom of the hanging basket.  If the basket has a source of automatic irrigation, that’s all it takes. The AF-900 contains the AF valve, and works in any kind of basket and planting plan.

	The AFIR internal reservoir system is planted directly into the basket with the AF-900, and displaces soil volume.  There are different sizes and volumes, depending upon the size and maintenance schedule of the basket.  They are filled from below with a standard wand through a tube that sticks up over the rim of the basket.
For those programs unwilling to sacrifice soil volume or are limited by basket size or weight, the AFPM is a pole-mounted reservoir that will fit on any pole between 4-6”.  The unit, with a silicone clamping ring gasket, is designed to be put on and taken off every season with no damage to the pole.  The external reservoir can either feed single or double hanging baskets.

Model	Description	Size
AF-900	AutoFill Reservoir	9” dia x 2.5”h
AFIR-20	Internal reservoir for AF-900, 1.5 gal capacity. Does not include AF-900 unit.	For 20” baskets
AFIR-24	Internal reservoir for AF-900, 2.5 gal capacity. Does not include AF-900 unit.	For 24”+ baskets
AFPM-456	Pole mounted reservoir for AF-900, 4 gal capacity. Includes tubing, does not include AF-900 unit.	For 4, 5 & 6” poles
AFHB-10	10” hanging basket with integrated AF-900 reservoir, polypropylene	10”dia x 8”h
AFHB-20	20” hanging bowl, LLD polyethylene, includes hanging chain. Available in standard colors only. Does not include AF-900.	20”dia x 10”h
AFHB-24	24” hanging bowl, LLD polyethylene, includes hanging chain. Available in standard colors only. Does not include AF-900.	24”dia x 12”h

AFHB-10           The smallest version of the AutoFill Hanging Basket, it integrates the AF-900 right into the bottom of a 10” basket.  This unit requires an automatic irrigation line to function. Optional accessories include a hanging chain or a wall mount bracket.
AFHB-20           A 20” polyethylene hanging basket with integrated hanging chain.  Available in a variety of standard colors.
AFHB-24           A 24” polyethylene hanging basket with integrated hanging chain.  Available in a variety of standard colors.

AFHB-BM14      The patented BloomMaster hanging basket – the strangest hanging basket you’ve seen, but with results you can’t beat.  The octagonal holes on the side of the basket allow for aeration and planting on the sides of the pot, but keep the moisture where it belongs!