DIY Raised Garden Bed PVC Irrigation
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- čas přidán 16. 05. 2020
- I wanted to build a simple, adaptable irrigation setup for my four new raised beds. It is probably not perfect, but in my initial tests this seemed to work as needed. I will also be able to add a timer to the system easily since I had enough water pressure and volume to run all four beds at once.
I've never posted stuff like this before but I do stuff like this all the time. If you have questions or comments I will be happy to try to answer.
This watering solution has proven to work for what we need. I have made some tweaks to it though (Responded to a comment below with these but will repost it here for good measure.)
1) Instead of all four running at once, I have it now set on a timer so that it does two at a time. Totally enough pressure to run two of them at once.
2) I have a four way timer, with one hose going to beds 1&2, and another going to beds 3&4. The pressure is actually controlled by the ballcock valve on the stem running up each bed.
3) I did redrill the holes in the 1/2" pipe to get a better angle on it. That was just a trial and error thing on my part to get it where I wanted it.
4) Also, I have done away with the straps. I was initially afraid that the holes would get clogged if I just had them laying on the dirt. But they were laying on the bed this past year and there was no issue with them getting clogged.
Thanks going to make a set up for my 85 yr old grandparents for next year's garden. I like your design works well & simple. I was thinking why not connect the runs at end & then when you moved them a little to get precise spots I said wow that's great!
Nice job! I'm in my back yard right now mocking mine up...have to test it and tweak it before "the boss" sees it tomorrow (HaHa).
Thanks. We've got some rainstorms now, so haven't needed it just yet, but it was good to see the test work as planned. But you mentioned the REAL test...getting approval of "the boss"! :)
Outstanding job!
Thanks for posting
Great job! I need an irrigation system in my beds but I'm afraid I would jack it up! 😫 maybe I'll get the nerve to try to DIY someday soon! 😊
Thanks for the video. I'm at the stage now where I have to figure out how to do the same thing.
Great video! Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge.
Works ok but will larger holes deliver more water or further reduce the pressure....
Thank you for this great idea. Now, how do I know that I have given enough water to my plants?
Nice job! I have 12 6 ft. by 3 ft. beds. How many beds can i water at a time. I can't tell how long your beds are
It would have looked nicer ,neater if you drilled your boxes after the valve
What did you use for strapping on your raised beds?
Just saw this video. How does this watering system hold up in areas that freeze to the point of breaking pipes. I imagine that it would work if it were in greenhouses during cold/freezing weather. Would I have to put pipe insulation on the whole system for the winter?
A hard freeze would be required to burst PVC pipe. In that case, your plants will freeze before the pipes will. Disconnecting at the hose bib and covering the bib prior to winter is all that is necessary.
What did you use for pipe support?
Does the system have enough pressure to water all the beds at once? I had a flat setup like this in my garden, but had to mess around with it to get the pressure right for the end lines. I want to do the up/down setup so I can walk over it, just like you have in your system, but wasn't sure if the height would lessen the pressure. I'm wondering if having the water input at the middle of the line is what makes the difference?
I actually have made a tweak to it, because it was a little low to have full control.
Instead of all four running at once, I have it now set on a timer so that it does two at a time. Totally enough pressure to run two of them at once.
I have a four way timer, with one hose going to beds 1&2, and another going to beds 3&4.
Also, the pressure is actually controlled by the ballcock valve on the stem running up each bed.
Also, I have done away with the straps
How are these holding up? I read elsewhere that they might not do well with direct sunlight.
Just spray paint them - that will protect them
They sell 15lb psi reducers.
White PVC, whether class 200 or schedule 40 grade, is NOT uv stable. It breaks down in sunlight. It is designed only for direct burial in soil and not for running through the air exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time. All above ground pcv pipe needs should be met by uv stabilized grey schedule 80 grade pipe. It is significantly more expensive so should make this design worse though also making it better.
A drip system here would be more affordable, provide more flexibility in water delivery, be more adaptable, and easier to install.
Sometimes there's a reason that almost the whole of the landscape construction and maintenance industry does something differently than yourself.
Why do you have hay down ?
Can’t say for him, but hay is extremely cheap in some areas, and so it is used to make pathways…..it stops (some) weed growth and stops the path from turning into a muddy mess in the rain. Many people use wood chips for the same reasons, and they have a uniform look.
Why not just lay it directly in soil
Dirt will clog the holes. Lol
@@sandygentry8455 That was my thought initially, but I have actually gotten rid of the straps and have just laid them on the bed. This year that worked fine and I rarely saw any getting clogged.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm