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Last update on August 10 , 2023
Tired of water your garden by hand , or using other ineffective water methods ? Come learn how to install an easy DIY raised bed drip irrigation system of rules rather ! This system join mightily to a nearby spigot or faucet . It ’s simple , straight , and will preserve you tons of time , vitality and water ! It ’s also easilyautomatedwith the use of an optional hose timekeeper .
This guide will take the air you through how to install a simple drip irrigation system of rules for raised garden beds . Videoand photos are include . We installed this dribble arrangement to irrigate our magnanimous grow bag garden , yet it ’s utterly suited for traditionalwood garden bottom , metal raised bed kit , in - reason garden plots , and more !
Last yr , I also shared a tutorial on how we installed drip irrigation in our woodraised beds using drip mold tape , polyvinyl chloride pipe , and automatize valve . We love that pick too , but the system I ’ll show you today is even easy to set up . Zero plumbing acquisition are required ! It ’s also a little less lasting in nature – enabling you to easy disconnect or store your irrigation system during the winter if needed . ( Though you could also connect this eccentric of drip system to strong pipe and valves too . )
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A musical note on our grow bags : We have both 100 - gallon and 150 - gallon grow bags in our “ calendula farm ” . Unfortunately our exact bags are no longer available , butthis is another well - grade optionwith alike property and specs .
Supplies Needed for an Easy Raised Bed Drip Irrigation System
We get almost all of our drip irrigation supplying fromDrip Depot . They’re marvelous ! The affiliate links found in this clause gives us a small commission at no cost to you . We greatly prize your support , which enables us to partake tutorials like this with you !
Optional Supplies
Drip Irrigation System Layout and Pressure
It ’s best tonot surpass 100 to 200 feet of solid ½ ” irrigation tubing(the main personal line of credit that runs from the rap and between bed ) . Otherwise , your raised bed drip mould irrigation system may not have decent pressure towards the far end of the argument .
For very declamatory country ( where more than 200 + feet of line is want ) , it ’s good to split the system into separatezonesor shorter lines that will run at different time if possible . For instance , from two unlike taps , or with two disjoined melodic phrase using a 2 - release hose timekeeper . This is also helpful if you have various beds / areas with dissimilar water needs .
Drip components are designed to lock under 20 to 30 PSI . It’susuallynecessary to use a pressure regulator in dripping irrigation system because high pressure can “ blow out ” tender drip share . Normal house water pressure can be as high as 80 PSI .
Yet if pressure seems too low in your raised bed drip mold system ( and your star sign / rap pressure sensation is n’t crazy high ) , you could try out with NOT using a insistence reductant at the tap . When in uncertainty , use ahose thread pressure gaugeat the dab you ’re connecting the organization to to assess the pressure starting head . Then you may simply unscrew and remove the pressure level reducer constituent from the 4 - in-1 adaptor if needed .
How far should I space drip lines in raised garden beds?
It ’s best to space drip irrigation phone line in raised garden beds every6 to 12 inches – and no wider than 12 ” apart .
For example , in our 4×8 ’ call forth garden bed , we installed rowing of dripline every9 inchesevenly across the bed – or four lines total per bed . With emitters every 6 ” along the melody , this provides a nice even distribution of water thatsaturates the intact layer , earmark us to plant along the drip mould lines or in between . This is particularly helpful for closely - spaced planting like root veggies .
After all , one of the many benefits of grow in raised bed is that you do n’t have to follow rigid row planting , unlike traditional field course crop . Plus , the more moist ground there is around , the more the worms , nematodes , and good microbes will thrive ! Last but not least , water in a broad swath around plants ( as fight down to flat at their foot only ) encourage roots to explore , grow larger and blanket . That lead to bigger , goodish plants !
How to Install an Easy Raised Bed Drip Irrigation System
Step 1: Assemble Headers with Drip Lines
Each raised garden bottom or planter postulate a “ header ” . The cope are made with ½ ” self-colored tubing that sit down inside one of the inadequate ends of the bed , where the smaller dripline tubing connects to .
If you ’re set up drip irrigation in multiple raised garden bed of the same size , I bump it ’s easy tomake just one heading in or near the garden bedto physique out the sizing and spacing . Take note of the measure , and then use that header as aguideor prototype to pre - get together the remaining head in a clean body of work blank . ( Such as a concrete terrace or large board . ) That style , there is less jeopardy of getting soil inside the region as you make for – which can clog your emitters ! gather the headers first also establish the residuum of the system install very prompt and light .
Header Assembly
Step 2: Connect Drip Line to Tap
Step 3: Run Drip Line Between Beds
Step 4: Install and Connect Headers
Before add the header to your raised beds , flush the main linesto remove any potential dust that could overload emitter . only turn the piddle on and let it run freely out of the end of the rail line for a minute of arc or so .
After purge the line , connect the headers to the risers you ’ve added to each raised bed . Tuck the heading inside the unforesightful end of the bottom and sequester it to the riser pipeline . Secure it in office with landscape staples or pin . Next , position the drip tubing lines equally down the length of the bottom and immobilise them in place too .
Using the System
When you ’re quick to use your new raised bottom dribble irrigation system , but turn on the hydrant ! If you ’re using a hose timekeeper , will the main spigot ONat all times , lay out the timer , and it will let water into the lines per the docket you determine .
Once the system is determine up , it ’s easy tocalculate water useand catamenia pace ! Count the number of emitters per bed , then multiply that by the emitter flow charge per unit . For case , each grow dish shown in this deterrent example has 28 emitter , and each emitter is rated for ½ Imperial gallon per hour . That means each develop bag would receive 14 gallons of water per time of day the organisation runs .
How long should I run my raised bed drip irrigation system?
It depends ! Every garden has dissimilar piddle demands based on theunique mood , soil , season , temperatures and rainfall patterns . It also depend on your mulching practices , and how hungry your plants are . Larger , mature plants in the main “ fuddle ” more water than small ones . Soil protect with a dainty 2 to 4″ level ofmulchwill remain dampish much longer than bleak grunge , greatly reducing water needs .
In oecumenical , it ’s good toprovide less frequent , inscrutable , long wateringas opposed to short shallow bouts of water every day . This will promote mysterious healthy roots and stronger , more bouncy plants . test to water enough to keep the soil evenly moist at all time , but earmark it to dry out ever - so - somewhat between lachrymation . Of course , you never want the soil to be whole teetotal ! But remember that works pass off through their roots – so the soil should n’t be constantly dowse wet either .
In our climate , we typically run our raised bed drip irrigation system of rules for about 45 minute , twice per week . The time you run your system of rules will also motley bet on the type of emitters used . For instance , if we were using drip tube with 0.25 gallon per hour emitter ( instead of 0.5 GPH ) , we would execute the system for twice as farsighted .
Whendirect - sowingseeds , project to provide extra overhead or mitt - watering during the first few weeks . That will help keep the top of the soil nice and moist during germination and early root development .
Winterizing raised bed drip irrigation systems
As with all types of irrigation , it ’s best to winterise your raised bed drip irrigation system before freezing weather condition arrive . At minimum , thoroughly drain the arrangement and protect it with a squeamish deep bed ofmulch . Leaving standing water in pipes or valves can cause them to break through when the water freezes and expands . Or , to further reduce the danger of legal injury , folks in extremely cold clime may desire to remove the drip mold irrigation part entirely . Store your supplies in a protect positioning over wintertime , such as in a garage or exchangeable .
Thanks for irrigating with me!
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