A drip irrigation system is a great way to water raised beds. A drip system for raised beds gets water to the plant’s roots while keeping it off the leaves. An added bonus is you can grow more plants with less water.
Benefits of Drip Irrigation for Raised Beds
Drip irrigation involves a slow application of water to a plant's root area through individual water release mechanisms called emitters. This allows for a very focused application of water. No water is splashed on the foliage and, since the water is delivered under the soil, little is lost to evaporation. And watering so deeply encourages the roots to grow down. In addition, weeds growing between plants are deprived of water and die.
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Choosing a Drip Irrigation System for Raised Beds
All drip irrigation systems have five different components:
- A water filter
- A pressure reducer
- A pressure gauge
- A header pipe
- Drip lines
The two primary types are a rigid drip system and a flexible T-tape system. The former is more expensive but lasts longer, while flexible drip tape, also called T-tape, is cheaper, but it’s only good for a season or two.
If you are just getting started with drip irrigation, consider buying a complete system from a supply company. They will sell you one based on how many containers you want to irrigate. As an alternative, retrofit your current raised beds with drip irrigation, using elbows and pipe and putting the drip lines at ground level.
Keep your maximum water pressure in mind. An irrigation drip system can not deliver more water than the supply and pressure permit. Also, be sure to design the system with your plants in mind.
How to Install Drip Irrigation in Raised Beds
Raised beds can also be retrofitted to use drip irrigation. It is just a matter of using elbows and various lengths of pipe to allow the drip lines to be at ground level between the beds.
Winterizing a Raised Bed Drip Irrigation System
If your winters get cold, you’ll need to winterize your irrigation system. If the temperatures are very cold, the water in the components of the system will freeze. Water expands and can split the tubes.
Drain the water out of the system through the mainline ends and the ends of the T-Tape. Then replace the line ends to keep dirt from getting in. Store the filter indoors. Flush the system when you start up again in the spring.
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