Drip irrigation installation help

[Samuel1988]

Morning all,

I decided to finally install a drip irrigation system on my plot which is comprised of 3 old garden hoses attached to a waterbutt.

I have a problem that my plot is not flat (as to say it is comprised of raised beds of which the paths are quite low compared to the growing area) and so I decided to see if it would have enough force to push the water against gravity which unfortunately it didn't.

I was wondering if I can simply raise the waterbutt much higher than the surrounding area and will this produce enough force to push the water against gravity where the hose dips?

Or maybe would having something that props the hose up above the paths help and if so how could I achieve this?

I will attach some pictures which may help.

Samuel

[Samuel1988]

The waterbutt is in the background, it is raised but I am not sure if this is enough.

[Samuel1988]

Also do I need to use drip tape?

[Alison]

Is your water butt full? The top water level will define how much head you have to drive the water along your pipe and the rate of flow will decrease as the level drops. What you are trying to do is in the form of an inverse syphon ie fill the pipe with water and then it doesn't matter if the low point is below the final discharge point so long as the outlet is below the top level (minus a bit for friction and fittings losses). Propping it up won't really help much so don't even try. What I expect is that you have an air lock along your pipe and there is insufficient pressure to clear it. Assuming water comes out the water butt OK then you need to gradually ease the water along by ensuring there are no kinks or restrictions to stop flow. Looking at your picture there is no real reason why it doesn't flow but certainly don't expect a jet.

[Alison]

Also do I need to use drip tape?

What do you want to do with the water, if you want it to drip into the beds then yes but if you want to generally water then no.

[Potstubsdustbins]

As stated above it sound like an air lock. Lay out your hose pipe with the water turned on, then starting closest to the butt raise the hose pipe until there is a gradual rise back to the butt, do this all the way along the hose and it should run.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just a thought it may be simpler to lay out the hose on a level surface or a slight down hill slope from the butt. When the water appears put our thumb over the end of the hose to trap the water and then lift it on to the beds.

[Samuel1988]

Thanks for the replies

Will test it out.

What can use to prop up the hose to get it into the raised beds?

[veggiechicken]

A forked stick?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Once the hose is full of water i.e. no air pockets you will not need to keep it propped up.

[Alison]

Thanks for the replies

Will test it out.

What can use to prop up the hose to get it into the raised beds?

Your raised beds don't look very high on the photos, more edged the same as I have. When your hose is primed you can just drape it over the sides, no props needed.