Irrigation

[TractorGuy]

Any suggestions for inexpensive, portable irrigation? My immediate needs are to get out 500-600 ft from the house and would like it to be movable and expandable.

What do you think about 10' sections of PVC with male/female threaded ends? Or would I be better off with a roll of plastic tube?

 

[oosik]

When I installed my irrigation system I used 1 1/2" main line roll plastic pipe. I came off the main line with 1/2" roll plastic pipe to each faucet. Because I'm in an area that freezes - it was a PITA to drain the system each fall. I ended up trenching with a single tooth on a tooth bar and blowing the water out of the system each fall with my air compressor. This has worked fairly well and over the years I've only lost a couple faucet risers due to freezing.

Around here if you are going that far afield - most farmers use 4" aluminum pipe in 40' chunks with compression fittings. Of course, they are coming off irrigation wells that will produce hundreds of gallons per minuet.

 

[jeff9366]

For portable, temporary irrigation use T-posts with sprinklers on top, supplied by garden hose. With ten foot tall T-posts you have really wide coverage. We use this irrigation hardware in our small Blueberry field.

Multiple venders sell identical LOW QUALITY T-post sprinklers. I bought mine at Tractor Supply Company. I would buy higher quality if it was out there, but, alas, not.

((Rainbird (brand) should sell high quality T-post bases.))

I recommend letting these LOW QUALITY sprinklers turn through 360 degrees, rather than oscillating. They operate trouble free fairly long turning through 360 degrees, only a short time oscillating.

LINK: Groundwork T-Post Sprinkler - For Life Out Here

 

[scdeerslayer]

I remember my grandfather using old harrow discs as a base for sprinklers, and then had a pipe that came up about 4 or 5 feet for the sprinkler. I would go with garden hose between the sprinklers as well, so that you have a swivel end and flexibility. If you choose to go with PVC use union joints on one end.

 

[TractorGuy]

Great suggestions. I probably won't be able to run more than 1 sprinkler at a time. HD has a 500ft of poly pipe for 50 bucks. I think I'll get a roll of that and fittings to cut it into 100 ft. sections.

 

[Sprinklerman]

The problem with poly is it doesnt roll up too good . Find someone with a vibratory plow that does irrigation . Have them plow the pipe in the ground near where you want to be , then run hoses to the final point . In sandy loam , I can install about 1200 feet by lunch time .

 

[MossRoad]

Back around 2002 I ran 100' of poly pipe underground from our house to our garden, then put in drip irrigation and spray heads, etc... out there. I took about an 18" plow share and mounted it to a plate on my tractor. Then I folded over the end of the polypipe, put a piece of rope on the fold-over, tied it to a hole in the bottom of the plow share. I dug a hole at the start and finish points, and just pulled it in about 8" underground. I was kind of shocked how easy it pulled in. For that matter, when I was done, I was curious, so I grabbed the pipe and pulled it. I could pull it by hand! And there were a few curves in it as well.

Our ground is slightly sloped, so at the low end I put in and automatic drain for underground sprinklers. The pipe drains itself after each use. Its been in several years and never frozen.

Here's a picture of the $10 slicer/trencher...

 

[TractorGuy]

I'm 80% of the way there. I purchased a 500 ft roll of Rainbird brand tube they list as 1/2in. HD doesn't stock 99% of the fittings to fit it and the only hose connection they show is for the female end. It's intended for drip installations so I am having to make do with other fittings. I haven't measured but it must be a little larger than 1/2". I tried some actual 1/2" barb fittings and they went in loosely. I was able to heat the end of the tube and push a 5/8-3/4 male hose repair end in in. My well pushes water all the way up the hill with plenty of pressure to operate a sprinkler and maybe two. I made a stand out of PVC that wouldn't hold it up so I may need to go to the tee post suggestion or just stick the sprinkler into the ground as it was designed to be used. Elevated would cover more area but tee post are a pain to remove and move.

This stuff is a pain in the butt to unroll and easy to kink.

 

[Sprinklerman]

Sounds like you bought what is called "funny pipe" Its used to make the final connection from the lateral sprinkler line to the head . It uses an irrigation specific barbed ell or barbed coupler to join together . No clamps

 

[TractorGuy]

I had a work light tripod setup I borrowed the tripod from. My well will only run 1 sprinkler and get any distance. Getting a 75 ft circle out of it and easy to move with the tripod.