DIY Drip Irrigation: Types, Diagrams, and Instructions

Nowadays, it's easy to build a drip irrigation system for your dacha yourself without the extra installation costs. You can purchase drip components from specialized online or chain stores, or use your own materials and ingenuity. The easiest option is to purchase a ready-made automated irrigation system that simply requires assembly.

What is drip irrigation?

The idea of ​​drip irrigation originated with farmers in the last century and was used to create irrigation systems for vegetables and melons in arid regions. The main goal of this type of irrigation is to deliver life-giving moisture precisely to the root zone of vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants), fruit trees, shrubs, or strawberry bushes.

The main element of the system is a water source, from which moisture is supplied to the desired area of ​​the garden (orchard) and drips into the soil in small amounts. Water can be supplied and shut off automatically, timed, or when the desired soil moisture level is reached, or manually.

Water supply lines (pipes, tape, hose) must reach each plant and deliver water directly to the roots. Pressure is created using a pump or by raising the source to a sufficient height.

Advantages of drip irrigation

Here's a list of the benefits of drip irrigation for those who still lug watering cans and hoses around the garden. First and foremost, it saves real water, time, and energy. This is a major plus, especially if the water isn't from a natural source, but from a paid water supply, and the flow is monitored by a meter.

Using the drops has a positive effect on plants:

• the soil is always moist, there is no excess or lack of moisture;
• optimal humidity in the root zone serves as a preventative measure against fungal infections and improves immunity;
• no sunburn;
• The system allows you to combine watering with root fertilization.

During hot weather, greenhouse owners are especially happy with drip irrigation. Drip irrigation, combined with mulch and good ventilation, provides comfortable conditions for plants and makes life much easier for gardeners.

How to make drip irrigation yourself without spending a lot of money

To save money and have minimal tools at their dachas, many people build their own drip irrigation systems using readily available materials. These homemade systems improve the quality of irrigation.

You'll need a water source with a minimum capacity of 100 liters. Plastic canisters and barrels are suitable for this purpose. The height of the container is crucial: it should be at least 1 m, and preferably 1.5-2 m.

It's practical to place the container under a drain. This location has two advantages: it reduces tap water consumption, and rainwater contains ammonium and iron, which are beneficial for garden crops. Water is supplied to bushes, trees, and the greenhouse beds using garden hoses.

Cut the hose and make holes in it after drawing a precise irrigation plan. Allowances should be made by cutting sections slightly longer than indicated on the plan. Lay out the resulting pieces according to the drawing, connect them, and install the faucets in the desired locations. Use a hot nail or a drill to make holes in the designated locations for the water supply.

Drip irrigation system options

For those who enjoy DIY, there are various ways to set up a drip irrigation system for your garden. One option is to purchase one from a gardening store:

• hose for supplying water to the greenhouse (to the garden bed);
• tapes of the required length;
• cranes;
• fittings.

There are ready-made kits available that include everything you need (tape, hoses, faucet, tee, zip ties) and assembly instructions, but you can quickly create a simple irrigation system using the advice of DIYers.

Traditional design

In country houses and summer cottages, a classic irrigation system is used, consisting of a barrel (water source) and a branched water supply system consisting of pipes (hoses), plugs, special hoses (tapes), starter connectors, tees and taps.

Pipes serve as a water main, delivering water to plants in garden beds or greenhouses. Water is delivered to the plants through special hoses with drippers installed. When selecting a dripper, consider the following characteristics:

• productivity (l/hour);
• the interval between drippers for hoses is 0.2-1.5 m, for tapes 0.15-0.3 m;
• tape (hose) wall thickness.

Thick-walled hoses (20 mm or more) are more expensive but have a longer service life than thin-walled hoses. Drip tapes are thinner (0.12-0.4 mm), oval-shaped, and come in two types: seamless and bonded. The permitted irrigation hose length is 250 m with a 16 mm diameter hose, and 450 m with a 22 mm diameter hose.

Polypropylene pipes are laid from the source to the irrigation hoses or tape, and fittings are used to connect the structures. To isolate the irrigation zone from the source, valves are installed in the system, placed after the tees to prevent debris from clogging the tape openings. A filter is installed on each source.

DIY drip irrigation system using plastic bottles

Over the winter, it's easy to accumulate a large number of plastic bottles, ranging from 1.5 to 2 liters. In the spring, they'll come in handy in the garden, where you can construct a simple structure to deliver water to the root system. Get your tools ready: a drill and a 2 mm drill bit.

Stages of making a bottle drop:

• holes are drilled in the tire;
• the bottom of the container is cut, but not all the way through;
• near the bush (tomato, pepper, strawberry) in the area of ​​the roots, a hole is dug (no more than 15 cm);
• the bottle is placed in the recess, tilted at 45° to the horizontal level;
• pour in water.

Instead of a perforated tire, you can use store-bought watering stakes. They fit over the neck of the bottle and are inserted into the desired location. The bottle design is suitable for root feeding. Instead of water, liquid fertilizer is added.

Watering using medical drippers

Inexpensive medical drippers are used to make a simple irrigation system for a summer house. You'll also need a 25mm diameter polyethylene pipe and tools: a drill with a 4mm drill bit and a thick sewing needle.

A needle is used to pry out the filter in the dripper flask, and a drill is used to drill the required number of holes in the pipe for the drippers. The pipes are laid out around the site, welded together, and the spring is equipped with a faucet and filter.

A water filter is installed after the faucet, and the main water supply pipe is attached to it. One end of the dripper is inserted into the holes drilled in the pipes, and the other end, with the dispenser, is attached to a stake and installed at the watering point. The water flow rate is adjusted using clamps.

Drip irrigation using polypropylene pipes

Polypropylene pipes last for many years, don't rust, and are easily welded together. In addition to the pipes, you'll need:

• a barrel of 100 liters or more;
• valve (ball);
• water filter;
• tees;
• taps.

First, a diagram is drawn indicating the exact dimensions and marking the watering points. The total length of the pipes and the number of branches are calculated. The storage tank is raised to a height of 1.5-2 meters, and a tap is installed in its lower part, with a 7-10 cm clearance from the bottom. A 100-liter tank is sufficient to provide moisture for a 50-square-meter garden.

One end of the central line is connected to a container (filter), a plug is attached to the other, and each branch pipe should also have a plug. Holes are drilled in the pipes (branches). Once all the parts are assembled, the container is filled, the faucet is opened, and water is checked to ensure it reaches the beds.

Subsurface drip irrigation

Subsurface irrigation reduces moisture evaporation, thus reducing the amount of water used. Weed control takes less time, and weeds don't grow without surface irrigation. A major advantage of subsurface irrigation is the lack of a crust; the soil on the surface is always loose, allowing good oxygen access to the roots.

An underground drip irrigation system is a good choice for a greenhouse: utilities don't take up valuable space, air and soil humidity are normal, and plants don't suffer from oxygen starvation.

Necessary tools

First, you'll need a shovel. You'll have to dig trenches since all the utilities will be underground. Tools needed include a drill and scissors. The drill is used to drill holes in the pipes, and the scissors are used to cut the polyethylene film. The pipes used for underground irrigation are made of polypropylene, so connecting them requires a basic set of tools:

• soldering iron;
• steel knife;
• hacksaw;
• pencil and tape measure.

Simple soldering irons for propylene are inexpensive, but they do not necessarily have to be purchased; they can be rented for short periods.

Manufacturing and installation process

First, draw a diagram and take measurements to determine the required pipe length. Polyethylene pipes with a diameter of 20 to 40 mm are suitable for underground irrigation. Holes with a diameter of 2-3 mm are drilled at the required spacing of 20-40 cm using a drill.

Trenches are dug to the depth of the roots according to the developed plan, the distance between trenches is maintained at 40-90 cm and installation begins:

• strips of polyethylene are placed on the bottom and walls;
• a layer of crushed stone is poured on top of the polyethylene, its thickness is at least 4 cm;
• pipes are laid on the drainage layer;
• The pipes are soldered, covered with geotextile, and filled with gravel and soil.

The water tank is raised above the ground so that the elevation difference creates pressure in the system. The main line is connected to the source via a flexible hose through a filter.

If you don't want to work with your hands

Busy people don't have time to build homemade structures or select irrigation components themselves; they prefer to buy ready-made systems. Industrial irrigation systems are popular among gardeners:

• AquaDusya, AquaDusya Water Tap, AquaDusya automatic;
• Water strider;
• irrigation systems from Gardena;
• Dewdrop;
• Bug;
• Harvest;
• PDA 24K.

Choosing a drip irrigation system

For those who rarely visit their dacha, the Vodomerka, AquaDusya automatic, and KPK 24K systems are suitable. These systems are equipped with automatic controls, a preset watering schedule, and can water greenhouses and garden beds when the owner is away or busy with other tasks.

There are Rosinka, KPK 24, Urozhai, and Gardena kits without automatic controls, which manually regulate the water flow and turn them on and off. Most industrial drip irrigation systems are designed to be fed from a barrel. AquaDusya Water Tap and Gardena kits can be used with a water supply or a pump station.

When purchasing, evaluate the system's performance and your needs:

• irrigated area;
• number of beds;
• type of vegetable crops.

Each vegetable or garden crop requires a certain volume of water for one irrigation.

Installation of the system in a greenhouse or vegetable garden

Installation begins with the installation and fitting of a water tank. A tap is inserted to connect to the water supply and a tap is inserted to connect to the main pipe leading to the irrigation site. The tank is mounted on a support.

First, connect the filter, then the automation (timer, controller). To extend their service life, it is recommended to place them in plastic utility boxes that protect the automation from rain and dust.

Let's start installing the irrigation system:

• a main line is laid between the beds (in the greenhouse);
• using fittings (corners, tees), branches are made in the necessary places;
• holes are drilled in the main pipe;
• drippers or irrigation tapes are inserted into the holes;
• the tapes are laid in the irrigation zone, the drippers are distributed in places for planting;
• fill the container with water;
• They are doing a test run.

The automatic system is configured after assessing the irrigation quality. The timer (controller) sets the irrigation frequency and duration.

How to automate the process, "smart drip irrigation" with your own hands

Smart automation (timers, controllers, sensors) makes life easier for gardeners. Installing a timer (electromechanical or electric) on the water source allows for automatic water supply and shutdown at set intervals.

In order for the timer to work, the pressure in the system is maintained using a pump. When choosing, the following characteristics are evaluated:

• power;
• noise produced during operation;
• resistance to chemical compounds.

This means the motor must be sufficiently powerful, quiet, and unaffected by fertilizer solutions. If the pressure is unstable, a pressure reducer is installed.

The controller sets a program that controls watering over several days. The automation uses sensors to analyze the following parameters:

• water pressure;
• soil moisture level;
• air temperature.

Controllers come in single-channel and multi-channel versions. Multiple single-channel timers can be installed in a branched drip irrigation system.

Conclusion

Assembling an irrigation system doesn't take much time. There's no particularly complex work involved, so anyone with a knack for a drill can assemble it. Your family's budget will dictate whether a homemade drip system from scrap materials is better or a ready-made system, domestically or imported. To avoid wasting time troubleshooting and repairs, take precise measurements, draw a diagram, and install it correctly.