Watering raised bed

[coloken]

I am never quite happy when I try to water my raised beds. My water pressure is 80 pounds and the hose tends to blow every thing away. Making little ditches around the tomato plants doesn't seem to work either. This is Colorado so many times 90 degrees,9 percent humidity and 12 MPH wind, so The need is ofter. The soil is about 8 inches deep. The best I found was PVC pipe with holes at each plant.
Any suggestions beside a full drip system?
KennyP

[eltex]

soaker hoses? they have those little flow-regulator disks to decrease the pressure in the soaker hose.

[coloken]

Originally Posted by eltex

soaker hoses? they have those little flow-regulator disks to decrease the pressure in the soaker hose.

Thanks but My experience with soaker hose has not been good. They make a puddle in one place and dry in the next. All the way from dry to squirting a stream. Maybe a different make of one,.

[huntoften]

Drip irrigation is the way to go for raised beds. Dripworks has a great kir to get started...no wasted water!

[JerryL]

I'm also a great believer in drip irrigation. I use it in almost all my gardens.

I’m a fan of Dripworks also. They have a large variety of products.

[TomatoDon]

A 3 inch PVC pipe, 30-36 inches long, stuck at the base of each plant. You can use fertilizer and water that goes right to the root zone, and nothing is wasted. Fill the pipe with water and it will just absorb into the soil right where your plants need it most. If it runs out too fast, indicating it might be in an air pocket or sandy spot, just pull the pipe out by hand, add some potting soil and pack it a little, and stick the pipe back.

Over the years, I've tried everything I can think of and this works the best for me. ANY watering method that puts the water on top of the ground is going to have run-off and waste, and watering areas that will sprout weeds.

[amideutch]

I've used a soaker hose at my surrogate raised bed with no problems. If I had several beds I would look into a drip system. Ami

[b54red]

I have 9 raised beds and have used soaker hoses in them for the past couple of years. I get the hoses at Sam's Club where two 50 ft hoses cost about 13 dollars. I sometimes cut them so they are the right length for each individual bed and put them back together with cheap 1/2 inch hose fixers. To do this without damaging the hose which is more fragile than a regular hose I dip the cut end into some boiling water for a few seconds to soften it so the hose mender piece will slip in without splitting the hose. I sometimes have one blow out and I just cut it at the spot and mend it.

I also place a layer of cypress mulch over the surface of the beds and cover the hoses as well. This protects the hoses from sun damage and holds the moisture in much longer. I use this mulch fairly thickly especially in the few beds that don't get soaker hoses and you can spray the surface with fairly heavy streams of water without disturbing it so if you can find some cypress mulch you could use it to stop disturbing your soil surface when watering.

[CinnamintStick]

I also have very high water pressure (160 from my 2" pipe) so drips and drip hoses are blown up instantly. The cloth drip hoses work a little longer before they blow. I live in a wind tunnel in the high desert. So I know what dry is. I don't try raised beds. I am lucky that I don't have poor drainage and cool soil needing raised beds. I have great drainage and my soil is warm. Instead I plant in trenches. I water in the trenches and mulch heavy to protect from the drying winds and it keeps the plants cool.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by CinnamintStick

I also have very high water pressure (160 from my 2" pipe) so drips and drip hoses are blown up instantly. The cloth drip hoses work a little longer before they blow. I live in a wind tunnel in the high desert. So I know what dry is. I don't try raised beds. I am lucky that I don't have poor drainage and cool soil needing raised beds. I have great drainage and my soil is warm. Instead I plant in trenches. I water in the trenches and mulch heavy to protect from the drying winds and it keeps the plants cool.

160 psi from a 2 inch pipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You lucky dog.

Worth

[CinnamintStick]

Originally Posted by Worth1

160 psi from a 2 inch pipe!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You lucky dog.

Worth

Not so lucky. I cuss the guy who put it in. I have to repair broken pipe at least once a month. Last year I had a $2,000. water bill from the water line breaking.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by CinnamintStick

Not so lucky. I cuss the guy who put it in. I have to repair broken pipe at least once a month. Last year I had a $2,000. water bill from the water line breaking.

Why dont you put in a regulator?
Worth

[RebelRidin]

What Worth said. ???

[CinnamintStick]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Why dont you put in a regulator?
Worth

From talking to my plummer friend he says I need a adjustable regulator at my meter box. He said he could get me one cheap for $800. My meter box is a mile down hill from my house. If I drop the pressure to much I won't get water at my house. I have so many projects, not enough time or money. On the plus side, we have a lot of horses. I can fill a water tank in nothing flat.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by CinnamintStick

From talking to my plummer friend he says I need a adjustable regulator at my meter box. He said he could get me one cheap for $800. My meter box is a mile down hill from my house. If I drop the pressure to much I won't get water at my house. I have so many projects, not enough time or money. On the plus side, we have a lot of horses. I can fill a water tank in nothing flat.

I need some information from you and I will be able to help.

What is the pressure at the meter I assume it is 160 PSI.
Is the meter 2 inch.
Is the garden up high where you house is or in the lower area?
Is the pipe going to your house 2 inch?
What kind of pipe is it?
About how much higher is your house from the meter?
If you dont know this then about what angle is the slope?

Worth