Automatic Garden Drip Irrigation Part 3: Final Prep Work, Drip Tubing, Fittings & Emitters
2v2 Dispute #2
March 28, 2013
Durban Poison
March 28, 2013
In this final part to my installation of an automated raised bed garden drip irrigation system, I lay the weed block, use compost for mulch, install compress…
34 Comments
another good video!! You are a quiet a landscape person,its turning out great.
Looks like your going to grow a lot more food this year. good job & thanks for the update
Larry
Since it’s a raised bed, tilling isn’t necessary year after year because compaction isn’t an issue. The weed block will keep weeds and grass from living underneath. At the end of the season, I’ll pull up the tubing, slide the weed block out and let the fresh season’s compost layer on top. I’ll then cover with a tarp or black visqueen to keep birds from planting seeds over the late fall and winter. Next season, I’ll set it back up, dig my plant hole, add fresh compost in the hole & plant. 😉
I’m using 1/4″ predrilled tubing from Lowes. It sends a drip about every 12″. Why did you pick the 1/2″? It looks harder to put together than the 1/4″.
I’ve used that type of drip pipe before. It works well. The problem is at the end of the season and storing it for use next year. This year I’m going to try drip tape instead. Also, good tip for you. If your local garden center sells it, buy Black Kow Mushroom compost. It is the best stuff I’ve ever used. See if you can get a discount if you order it by the pallet because its expensive.
If I want an emitter along the edge of the bed, or run drip tubing with an emitter over the end and into a container for container plants, I can that way 😉
I’m going to try 1/2″ once the beds are empty. I put the 1/4″ AFTER I had a raised bed full of tomato plants. I snaked the 1/4 thru the tomato trunks with those green plant stakes with the tubing taped on the end.
I like to till in the fall & the spring. What do U do with Ur beds? with the tubing, weed cover, and irrigation lines on the bottom??? thanks
Last year I planted eight. The tee pee just looks cool when it’s covered with green leaves 😉
great video! I’ve found its much cheaper and easier to use 1/2 ” p.v.c. pipe and just drill a small hole @ each plant.I did this last year and had 6,80 ft.rows,each valved,worked great.I used concrete rebar saddles to hold the pipe elevated.Preen weed block works the best,trust me I know,tried em all.Like the A-10 flyover,they train near here too.Reaganite Sr.is a very smart man,was thinking not a good idea to trellis squash as well.Cant wait to see the bounty growing.
Your beds look outstanding! I hope to use some landscape fabric around my tomato plants this year in the raised beds to see how they like it. Thanks for sharing!
What’s the advantage to using a closed loop system versus just running your lines down the bed and capping them off?
Also thats a real nice set up your going to have such a nice garden this summer.
Also curious as to what zone you are in. Those feed lines will need a drain point somewhere. You have to put those things 2 feet deep in my zone, 7b, or they will freeze in the winter and crack.
Great job. You should donate you old plant beds to someone you might know. It’s a good way to energize someone to start growing their own food. To plant a garden is to believe in the future.
Cheers
Louise
It wasn’t that hard at all. I like the flexibility of putting emitters exactly where I want them and not wasting water. Also, 1/2″ tubing was only $10.30 per 100 feet at Sprinkler Warehouse. I can also connect to the 1/2″ tubing with 1/4″ line on the edge of the beds and run it into containers we might want to put on the ends or along the side of the bed quite easily this way.
After trying soaker hose last year, I think I’m really going to like the pressure compensating emitters. Next year, If I want to change it up, I just have to pop in a goof plug and move the emitter. Yeah, I’m going to give the squash & Zukes plenty of room to grow this year. Naturally.
How Many cantaloupe do you plant around the TP? Is there any reason you dont plant them at a trellis like your watermelon? By the way, I am learning a lot with these videos.
I put it in about 3/4 of an inch.
Hi there is one thing i want to tell you about using pvc for watering.You mite filter the clorine but i know for a fact that all the glue joints and the pipe being new will make some very nasty tasting water for a long time.I plumed a whole house with all pvc and the people complained for the longest about the water tasting nasty .I said run the water a long while before you drink it.If i were you i would run that for a while cause all the chemical plastic can’t be good for your plants.Paul
Good advice.
Thanks Larry. The way the economy is going, It’s good insurance.
Keeps the grass from growing up into the root growth area and it encourages worms. By the time the grass is killed off, it will decay from the worms 🙂
Why do you put cardboard at the bottom of your bed?
Thank you!
I’m in 7b also. In an earlier episode I indicated that I would disconnect and blow the lines down with an air compressor so that water in the lines and freezing wouldn’t be an issue.
Learned a lot. Thanks. I hadn’t considered the weed guard. I am now. We bought a cheap drip irrigation system from Lowe’s online. Mine will not be as slick as yours, but I think I learned a lot watching how you did yours, so I really appreciate it. Thank you sir!
I like to mix in the rock dust though and the cattle pond dirt had a bit of clay in it, so I think it’s good to mix in the compost with the mini tiller. It only takes a few minutes for this first year bed. In season to come I may just do that though, so as not to disturb the benefical worms doing their dandy thing 😉
You know, I’ve already put them together and Reaganite Sr. brought some more dirt & compost for them. I think what I’ll do instead is grow more food to give to friends and family. In addition to the tons of plants already under my grow lights, my wife has a lot seeds she wants to direct sow, so we’ll do that too. I love your attitude Louise!!
How far does the tubing and PVC pipe insert into the T and 90 degree connectors?
I’m glad it could be of help to you. Thank you for watching.
Thanks Rick. It’s going to be worth the effort for seasons to come 😉
Since u don’t step on the beds and compact them, u don’t need to till it in. Just let ur layers build up. U r basically doing “lasagna” gardening in a contained space
Yeah, I used soaker hose for the first part of last year and it stunk. The pressure would be gone by the end of the run. This is going to be much better. 😉