Sprinkler or Drip System - Edumacateify me!

[RWebb]

I thought about putting a sprinkler or a drip system in my backyard ang got a couple of companies to give me estimates. One set. was about $2,500 and the other was $6,000 (!) We ain't talking about a large estate or anything crazy either.

So I'm thinking about doing it myself or at least running some pipe so I don't have to spend all day moving a sprinkler around.

Suppose I want to water a couple of small areas next to my deck "staircase": it runs down the hill of my backyard in several stages with steps in between. Say I have 3 areas to water (flower gardens) and each one is about 3 ft x 10 ft.

What size pipe should I buy to run all those together at the same time?

I'll stick some spray heads on (maybe 3 or maybe 4) and run the pipe along the deck. I can just connect a garden hose to it for now and save on all the fancy automated stuff, right?

[John Rogers]

Hummm, I guess the 20+ years I spent in the Navy on many ships and going for months and months never seeing grass made me appreciate the fact I can water it myself when I want to. In the San Diego area it takes me 15 to 20 minutes every couple days of quiet and reflective time to make the plants, lizards and humming birds happy. Unless some stupid local law sez you have to have a plummer do it, I'd do it myself. Remember larger is better for pipe size, less pressure drop.

[motion]

Whip up a drawing and take it to HD. They'll set you up.

[stomachmonkey]

I once looked at DYI in ground sprinkler.

Concluded the money (minimal) I saved was not worth the time investment.

Sounds like you don't plan on digging so it may very well be worth it for you.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by motion

Whip up a drawing and take it to HD. They'll set you up.

This^^^

Use 3/4 inch schedule 40 PVC.

While at Home depot pick out a burly guy or gal to dig the trenches for you.

Depending on your water pressure you may want to install multiple valves.

When gluing the PVC the bottle says "sets up in five minutes" but read on and it says "fully cures in 24 hours" let the glue cure for a day... ask me how I know.

[scottmandue]

Sprinklers? In Oregon? It is a sign of the Apocalypse I tell you!!!

[motion]

I'm fighting with irrigation today. I have new 1" inline Rainbird valves. Pressure before valves is 50psi. Pressure after valves is 40PSI. Really? That sucks. Sorry, Randy.

[jyl]

I have installed an in ground sprinkler w/ fancy controller and 6 circuits. Other than the digging, it is easy as pie and kind of fun. Some pressure and gpm calculations and then glue plastic together, like building a Revell F-4 Phantom when you were little.

[scottmandue]

Sorry, I see you are not planing digging or adding valves... however the rest of my advice stands.

Maybe roof girl does sprinklers on the side? If she drops by be sure to get some pics and post them here.

[jyl]

On the other extreme, a simple drip system is a $50 starter kit from HD, $50 of additional emitters and tubing, and a $40 battery powered timer that screws to your hose bib and controls two drip circuits. I put one in this spring, waters all the plants in our backyard and some of the front yard planters, saves me a few hours a week in the summer.

If all you want to do is water three 3' x 10' beds, I'd consider a simple drip system. You can use soaker hose instead of individual emitters. I've never tried the micro sprayers and micro sprinklers.

[motion]

+1 on soaker hose. I'm a big fan. A soaker hose doesn't break like all that teensie drip line stuff.

[Hugh R]

If you do drip, get pressure reducers, and the little tool to punch the holes in the main feeder tube for the connections. If you do PVC use the primer and the glue, buy a PVC cutter, don't use a saw.

[scottmandue]

Have you considered just drinking a lot of beer and coffee and... well... you know...

[jyl]

Randy doesn't want to stand in his planter, dripping away for hours - he's got better things to do - like sprinkle the lawn

[RWebb]

Yes - that is my current way of "sprinkling" Scott! It is good, clean fun. I also have 2 spray heads in raised beds that cover the lawn incompletely and a long run of soaker


I'm told I need 5 zones.

The 3 flower beds along the deck/stair are small but need water. From there the hill drops off abruptly to a narrow flat area at the bottom of the property. That is the N. side of the yard.

In the center and S. side, there is a raised flower bed held in place by a rock wall about 4 ft. high. Just W. of that is the lawn - about 600 ft2 and used for drying out backpacking tents, dog play area, gf sunning, etc.

To the W. of the lawn is a raised berm in an "S" shape about 2 ft high - it is planted with flowers, so needs water. (by "planted" I mean I paid some guys to scrape off all the errant grass and weeds, had top soil blown in, and then scatter bulk wildflower mix in the spring - low effort & low cost).

To the W. of that berm, the hill drops off sharply - so sharply you cannot walk there without some good tread on your boot - you'll fall in sandals or slide in shoes - ask me how I know. it is nasty clay and was covered in English Ivy when I bought the place. I paid some guys to pull the ivy out and then killed it by pulling off any hopeful leaves and shoots it sent up for the next 2 years. My goal now is to plant some St. Johns wort as a ground cover. Toss Calif. poppy seed down there and sprinkle it enough to get things started and then maintained. Maybe plant an azalea or something if I get excited.

As on the side by the deck/stairway, there is a narrow flat area that runs all along the bottom (W. side) of the property. I have some kind of ground cover started down ther, and am not sure how much water will be needed there.

I left out the 6 big cattle troughs and bathtubs I have stuck on top of that deck/stairway at the far North edge of the property. They have bamboo in them to screen out a neighbor. I fill up the planters every week or two and have a hose system setup for them. But I'd like a better way to ensure the right amount of fill. Right now, the ones higher up or closer to the inlet for the hoses are getting the most water. Others, further away don't get enough and I have to supplement them.

So the lawn & berm need water too - 2x/week. I'm not clear on how much water is needed in other areas.

I think I will try to run things on top of the ground this (remaining) year, like the stuff over by the deck/stairway. Then I can just connect a hose there and do 3 beds at once.

Next year I can dig trenches and dig under walkways, burrow under the rock wall, etc., and maybe add automatic controls.

I found this:

http://www.rainbird.com/documents/diy/HomeownerDesignRequestForm_EN_RevJAN2012.pdf


I just don't understand the $2,500 much less the $6,000.

In summer, Oregon can be hot and dry (up to 100 oF) and no rain for 2-3 months. Worse, the climate is changing and we will be similar to what the area around Suckramento is now in some years (that latter area will become like LA).

[Don Plumley]

Sprinklers and drip systems are my life long nemesis. But I've showed them - I just let everything die every summer.

[MBAtarga]

The contractor that gave you the $6000 quote did NOT want the job.

I've installed half a dozen or so systems - on my own homes, neighbors, and relatives. Smallest had 4 zones or so - largest I think had 6. Trenching and filling in the trenches is the most difficult part of the job - other then connecting into the existing main line to the house. Sometimes those compression T's can be a pain to install with no leaks.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by motion

Whip up a drawing and take it to HD. They'll set you up.

Or go on Toro's or Rainbird's site & download their stuff...get free layout with all the info as to what to buy from them. One of them may charge $25 or so...but still, beats paying for someone's boat/car/vacation home, etc.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by motion

I'm fighting with irrigation today. I have new 1" inline Rainbird valves. Pressure before valves is 50psi. Pressure after valves is 40PSI. Really? That sucks. Sorry, Randy.

Sometimes I'll go with a 1/2" larger valve and use a reducer bushing on the inlet.

[Cajundaddy]

My last house had 8000' of lawn and I was not about to hand water it.

Sprinkler systems can indeed be fun to design and build. Lots of online design tools to lay out your yard and draw it up. I like Hunter heads for large ball field sized lawn areas, Toro or rain jet for smaller lawns, specific shrub heads to cover strips and parkways, and drip for all potted plants and decorative plants near the house.

I use 1" pipe for the pressure line and 3/4 for each zone. Everything is zoned on a timer by type of watering need and I added a rain sensor so when it rains the sprinklers don't run. I don't dig ditches any more but you can rent a ditch witch and have your trenches dug in about 2 hr.
Trencher | Rent Walk Behind Trenchers from Home Depot Tool Rental

Total cost typically less than $500 for up to a 1/2 ac property