You looked at installing a underground sprinkler system on your property. And then stopped short whe...

1. Build Your Own Eco-friendly Water Soaker Garden Irrigation
System
You looked at installing a underground sprinkler system on your property. And then stopped short
when you realized the thousands of dollars it would cost! How could plastic pipe and sprinkler heads
cost so much? Here is a lasting inexpensive water irrigation system that is near maintenance free
and will have your neighbors wondering why they never see you watering your garden and plants.
You can claim yours to be an environmentally friendly garden soaker system (or water drip system),
using the minimum amount of water to sustain your plants and shrubs.Get the water as close to the
plant roots as possible. Using less water is important to our global environment.Communities now
encourage water soaker systems instead of sprinkler systems. Water applied near the ground will
mostly be absorbed into the earth where it is needed by the plant and grass roots. Water sprayed
above the plants and grass lands on the leaves and flowers before dripping to the ground. This
longer exposure to the air will cause much of the sprayed or sprinkled water to evaporate into the
hot summer air.More than ever now communities control the watering of lawns and gardens during
the summer months. Sometimes you are restricted to garden watering only - not lawns. An
automatic water timer system combined with a soaker hose system makes plenty of sense in
reducing the amount of water dispensed to water your garden plants and shrubs. So how can I make
an effective soaker system for my garden for under $500?With some off-the-shelf components, you
can have a simple but elegant soaker system that with be automatic and near maintenance free.
With a simple water timer system, Y-connectors, faucet multipliers, some 1 1/2" abs pipe, quality
1/2" garden hose and your choice of soaker hoses or irrigation hoses for potted or hanging plants,
border gardens, row gardens or (dare I say) even lawn sprinklers. You now have the elements for a
simple soaker irrigation system for your garden. This do-it-yourself automatic water irrigation
system will ensure you water plants at the best time every day; specifically, early morning and late
afternoon. As an added home security feature, when you are away from home your garden will
sustain its beauty and make it look like someone is at home.Here is the material list required for
your automatic garden soaker system. (Note: there is a complete Picasa image gallery of all the
required components of this inexpensive soaker system at
http://picasaweb.google.com/carl.chesal/GardenIrrigationSystem ):1) Select your water timer - I
selected Orbit from Home Depot. Make sure it has a battery timer so power outages won't alter your
scheduled watering times. It should allow for at least 3 watering zones.2) Select your main faucet
multiplier (or Valve splitter) that will attach to your outside water faucet and can accommodate the
3-4 water zones plus a spare to allow for regular garden hose watering. You can secure these special
faucet multipliers from garden centers or at Lee Valley Tools. 3) Enough 1 1/2" ABS pipe (and glue)
and 22.5 degree elbows to run underground (6" - 10" depth). Use the 22.5 degree elbows only to
allow for easy insertion of the garden hose into the ABS pipe. You can cut further costs by burying
the garden hoses directly underground. The ABS piping does provide added protection from
accidental puncture from aerators, pitch forks and other garden tools. This ABS pipe can also serve
double duty to run low voltage wire or speaker wire to the remote areas of your garden.4) Enough
quality garden hoses to run through the ABS pipe and connect to the soaker hoses in all your garden
beds.5) Soaker hoses for all your garden beds.6) Enough Faucet multipliers (Valve splitters) to
extend each watering zone with soaker hose as required.Creating your automatic garden soaker
system involves more of a landscaping effort than anything else. Here are 3 steps to completing your
eco-friendly automatic garden soaker system (Note: refer to the Picasa image gallery for details of
component assembly):1) Bury the ABS pipe feeding the garden hose through it as you connect and
glue the pipe sections. Bury the pipe 6"-10" under your lawn or sidewalk. Have both ends extend out

2. of the ground using the 22.5 degrees elbows so that the stiff hose can still be easily pulled through
the pipe.2) Connect the soaker hoses to the ends of the garden hoses and weave the soaker hoses
through your garden under plants and around shrubs. Follow the installation instructions of the
soaker hose manufacturer.3) Install the water timer and water zone valves on the faucet multiplier.
Connect the hoses for each zone. Follow the installation instructions of the water timer
manufacturer. Do not set the water time for each zone more than 20 minutes each. Set two water
times - early morning (around 6 am) and late afternoon (around 7 pm).Maintenance of your
Irrigation System and Preparation for Freezing Winter Temperatures:1) Disconnect the [zone] hoses
at the main faucet where the Water Timer is located. 2) Using a Shop Wet Vac, suck the excess
water from each zone hose. Use electrical tape to secure the vacuum pipe against the end of the
hose. Turn on the wet vac and let it run for 10-15 minutes. Empty the water extracted before
repeating this for each hose at the main faucet. You will extract enough water from the hoses so as
not to incur any winter damage to your hoses from freezing water.3) Tape a plastic bag over the
ends of each of the [zone] hoses. This will prevent little critters from getting in the hoses and
clogging them when you reconnect the system in the spring.4) Remove the water timer and faucet
multiplier. Store them in a warm place where they will not freeze.5) Note: you DO NOT need to
disconnect and remove the soaker hoses. They should last 4-6 years before you need to replace
them. Check the soaker hoses each spring for holes. You can patch these holes with high-friction
Silicone tape. You may also leave outdoors all-year-round any valve splitters that were used to
increase the soaker hoses in a particular water zone.You now have an inexpensive water soaker
system that won't break the bank. You have saved thousands of dollars and can boast of being a
friend to our environment. You clearly are doing your part for water conservation and the ecology.
Nice going!
By: DIY Views
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Carl Chesal is a business and channel development
consultant, trainer, internet marketer and professional
photographer. His hobbies include Gardening and
Woodworking. He operates BizFare Enterprise Inc,
providing business, marketing, and internet marketing
consulting services. Bizfare Enterprise also operates a
number of secure on-line shopping sites, like Home And
Body How To.