Irrigation Systems for Watering Raised Beds
Having a raised bed watering system is essential, but how do you set one up? Horticultural expert Sarah Jay explains the process and how to choose your components!
Contents
Nothing makes your gardening efforts more effective than an efficient raised bed watering system. Whether you choose drip irrigation, soaker hoses, a sprinkler system, or an automatic watering setup, you will save time and energy once it is in place.
Irrigation systems are especially beneficial for raised garden beds, preventing issues like uneven watering and waterborne diseases while also promoting water conservation. With soaker hoses or drip lines, delivering water directly to the soil right where it is needed is not just possible. It will happen.
Systemic irrigation is one of the best additions to a vegetable garden. You can drip water into certain areas while leaving more drought-tolerant sections out of the system if needed. Let’s discuss how to get an irrigation system installed so you can enjoy thriving greenery.
Watering System or Hose?
While a garden hose is a perfectly adequate way to water plants, switching to an irrigation system offers several benefits. By watering at the root zone, you deliver moisture directly to the plant while avoiding waterborne diseases like powdery mildew and other fungal spores that thrive on wet leaves.
Irrigation systems also help prevent water from evaporating on plant leaves, reducing waste and minimizing conditions that promote disease.
With an irrigation system, you can simply turn it on, take your daily garden walk, and turn it off. Instead of dragging a hose around, you can focus on inspecting your plants to ensure they are healthy and strong. If you use an automatic system with a hose timer, you may not even need to turn it on and off, giving you more time to relax in the morning or tend to your garden when it is most convenient.
Soaker Hoses
Soaker hoses are an excellent way to irrigate plants gradually while delivering water directly to the root zone. Typically made of rubber or polyurethane, they contain dozens of small holes that slowly release water into the garden. Some soaker hoses have an outer cloth layer, while others are made of recycled rubber and are entirely porous, allowing water to seep out along the entire length.
One of the benefits of a soaker hose is that it can simply be laid in raised beds to water existing plants. This makes it especially useful for square-foot gardening as an alternative to drip irrigation. Unlike drip irrigation systems, soaker hoses do not require installation beyond placement and connection to the main water source.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation systems in raised beds offer gardeners an efficient and customizable way to water plants. Some systems come with multiple parts for assembly, while others include the basics, allowing you to add components as needed. Every drip irrigation system includes hoses or tubing, either with pre-punctured holes or the option to puncture them yourself. Once connected, they slowly release water into raised bed gardens and can be positioned to target specific plants and areas. Systems that allow you to poke holes provide the flexibility to design a water-conserving irrigation setup tailored to your garden.
A drip system may also include various drip heads. These range from simple holes in a hose to attachments that control water flow more precisely. If you are comfortable using a basic hole for irrigation, look for porous pipe, drip tape, or laser tubing. However, if your water has a high mineral content, these types of emitters can clog easily. In that case, a sprinkler emitter is a better choice, as it forces water out above ground, similar to a traditional sprinkler system but at a lower intensity.
In raised beds, you can set up a system that directs water through a line leading to the bed, then releases it through a protruding sprinkler head. This approach works well for a garden irrigation system, particularly for plants that are not prone to mildew.
How to Set Up a System
Installing soaker hoses or a drip system involves varying levels of difficulty based on your preferences and the equipment. Before you install a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses in your raised bed gardens, consider the following.
Main Water Source
Start at the main water source. Does your irrigation come from rain barrels or a well pump? Or do you plan to use a spigot on the side of your house to water your raised beds? Consider whether your system will use PVC pipe or flexible hosing. Will it connect to another system? Most importantly, what is your biggest garden inspiration?
Once you have thought through these factors, you can plan how to set up water lines from the main source to your garden beds. One key consideration is whether the piping will run on the ground or be buried. While underground piping offers a cleaner look, it requires more setup than simply placing garden hoses on the surface. However, burying the piping also reduces tripping hazards in the garden.
Decide whether to trail the piping along the side of your raised beds or bury it so it emerges within the garden grid. If your raised beds are not yet installed, you have more flexibility to set up an in-ground drip system. If your beds are already in place and you are concerned about trip hazards, covering surface hoses with a few inches of mulch can help keep pathways clear.
Hose Diameter
Hose diameters vary depending on irrigation needs. Wider tubes deliver more water to a bed, while smaller hoses provide less. To start, determine how much water you want to supply and whether you plan to adjust the system over time.
Most standard hoses, including soaker hoses, come in ¼, ½, ⅝, and ¾-inch sizes. Main lines can range from 1 to 3 inches wide, as they need to withstand the bulk of the water pressure. Most drip irrigation kits include ¼ or ½ inch tubing that connects to the main line.
A general rule of thumb: the higher the pressure, the wider the hose.
Water Pressure
Most drip irrigation systems operate effectively at 25 psi but can function at lower pressure, around 15 psi. If the pressure is too low, watering may be inconsistent. Too much pressure can cause parts to detach or hoses to burst. There are ways to regulate higher pressure within the drip line, which we will cover in the next section. Lower pressure is more difficult to adjust and often requires a system specifically designed for lower flow rates.
Fortunately, many irrigation systems on the market include hoses with the right diameters to funnel more water directly to plants than a standard hose. If you are unsure which system will provide the best water delivery for your garden, use a pressure gauge from your local hardware store to measure the water pressure before making a selection.
Miscellaneous Equipment
Now that we’ve covered the basics of watering plants in raised beds, let’s discuss a few additional tools that can improve your gardening experience.
Pressure controllers are a great option for high-pressure water sources. They come in low, medium, and high-flow formats. If you know high pressure is an issue, a controller will regulate it so you can water directly without losing equipment or damaging plants.
Another common issue is hard water, which contains excess minerals that can overwhelm plants and soil. In this case, installing a hard water softener at the water source can help. These systems remove excess minerals, keeping the soil in your beds healthy and stable. Filters, which serve a similar purpose, range from simple hose screen attachments to full pump filtration systems. More complex filters may not be necessary, as a small hose attachment is often sufficient.
To make watering fully automatic, install a timer at the source to turn irrigation on and off without manual intervention. Some timers are solar-powered, sensing the rising and setting sun to adjust watering times. Others are high-tech and can be controlled via a mobile app. While timers are convenient, they can sometimes malfunction. If you have extra money to spend, consider a timer that operates on a set schedule rather than solar timing.
During summer, when water evaporation is a concern, a timer is a great tool to ensure efficient watering with minimal effort. In any season, a functioning timer can help reduce the time spent dragging a hose around the garden.
Mix and Match Systems
One way to explore different watering systems in your garden is to mix and match methods. If you’re growing traditional crops alongside a more freeform garden, a combination of drip irrigation for the former and soaker attachments for the latter may work best for you and your soil. If you’re like me and grow tomatoes in pots, you can set up a drip irrigation system for the pots while running another line through a pathway to your raised garden. Every few years, you can experiment with different irrigation methods, updating your system as you go until you find the approach that works best for your garden.
The mix you choose may involve different types of emitters. If evaporation isn’t a concern in one bed, a standard sprinkler emitter may be sufficient, while tomatoes might benefit more from drip tape. Crops may respond best to PVC-guided systems, while other plants that receive enough rainwater may only need occasional hand watering. Determine which plants require specific watering methods and adjust accordingly.
Steps for Installation
No matter the season, it’s never too late to set up a raised bed watering system. Follow these steps to fill your garden with lush green plants all year round.
- Do some research. Learn what your plants need, what the soil fill and seeds in your beds need, and determine which system is best. Consider the main source of water in your yard and the water stream strength and mineral content.
- Draw out your design. A visual understanding of the design helps you develop a plan. Get as specific or general as you want here, including actual measurements and proportions.
- Find and purchase the equipment. Choose either a full kit or assemble the parts yourself. Consider hose diameter, emitters, and any miscellaneous items you might need.
- Lay out the tubing. Before you get into the install, ensure your design works by placing everything where it will eventually go.
- Proceed with the install. This is the hardest part, but it’s the most important! If you’re working with a kit, follow the instructions. Otherwise, stick to the design and you’re good to go!
- Sit back, relax, and enjoy the extra time and money you’ve saved. Now that you have a system, you don’t have to work as hard in your garden, and your plants are happier. Make any adjustments as you go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to water a raised bed garden?
Anything that is well-planned and suits your needs is best. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation are typically what most gardeners go for, but if that doesn’t work for you, use something else.
Should I water my raised beds every day?
That depends on what soil you’re working, and what plants you’re growing. Some, like tomatoes, need consistent water every day. Others don’t need water more than a couple of times per week. In a raised bed you’re retaining more moisture than you would in the earth. Consider the timing of irrigation in your planning process and you’ll be off to a good start.
