Home Irrigation (Sprinkler System DIY)

[JD3020]

I'd like to do drip in turf sometime, we are split about 50/50 between drip and heads for bed irrigation. Most systems we install have both in the beds.

And just for shits and giggles heres a few pics from the past couple years. For anybody wanting to DIY a system, depending on soil conditions rent the biggest piece of equipment you can. Had a job where our machine went down for a fuel leak and closest thing we could rent was a 3 wheel walk behind trencher. That was a rough couple days trying to fight that thing to do what i wanted it to. We can pull in up to 2" pipe and bore a 4" hole 60ft long if soil conditions allow it.

https://scontent-ort2-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/22046569_1887140494836944_6496933893190279072_n.jpg?oh=12cf228fbaaf371156ba3163608ecb15&oe=5B45DC36

https://scontent-ort2-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19275142_1850326161851711_1603237747822429262_n.jpg?oh=a8c2adb98992a09eebd88407f8c75f8c&oe=5B103C13

https://scontent-ort2-1.**.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11836782_1611958882355108_3902251291259076858_n.jpg?oh=1a41bd155868a3f6b0d3f7925ccce744&oe=5B4D4AC9

 

[Mongo68]

Irrigation is amazingly location dependent. Both in terms of need and design, as well as construction norms.

Where I live, it doesnt rain from generally April/May through to Sept/Oct. If you dont irrigate, you dont have landscaping (or you have natural/xeriscape)

I am 100% drip irrigated, except for the lawns. 3 of them have pop-up sprinklers, and two have sub-surface drip (!). Netafim. (Im redoing two more as we speak.) With the subsurface system, you save a ton of water, plus you can irrigate any time and you dont get water on concrete decks, paths, etc.

For example:

Here in CA, the irrigation goes in when the house is built.

I only use sched 40 PVC for piping, nothing less. Sized for flow rate and pressure drop. No poly, no clamps- glue joints. In a very dry climate roots will penetrate clamps over the years....

How has that under turf drip worked for you? I want to do that in the back yard- Im done replacing sprinkler heads the mower gets or the dog goes after. LOL

 

[ard]

rent the biggest piece of equipment you can.

+1000


Biggest that you can either tow or fit onto the project.

Ive rented the little walk behind, and bounced around for 8 hours. Of a 4x4 articulated with a 48" bar that is done in 3 hrs, including drive time. Its a false economy to save on the machine.

 

[ard]

How has that under turf drip worked for you? I want to do that in the back yard- Im done replacing sprinkler heads the mower gets or the dog goes after. LOL

Fantastic. However, installing this requires a new lawn, Id say. Slicing strips every 12" across the lawn to bury pipe would seem to be a non-starter.


Ive got the lawns areas prepped now. I will place these pipes, then spread 2-3" of topsoil/mulch, then re-rake and smooth. Roll. Lightly rake, then sod.

 

[Mongo68]

Fantastic. However, installing this requires a new lawn, Id say. Slicing strips every 12" across the lawn to bury pipe would seem to be a non-starter.


Ive got the lawns areas prepped now. I will place these pipes, then spread 2-3" of topsoil/mulch, then re-rake and smooth. Roll. Lightly rake, then sod.

Thanks! New lawn is a given. I stopped watering it long ago... LOL

 

[Git]

I had to redo a lawn with it recently. Drippers were in decent shape, the lawn had failed due to trees and shrubs nearby- took about 18 years. As you can imagine, digging up an entire lawn area isnt fun- chopping roots with a matting hoe going down 6-8 inches....

A couple of years ago when the drought hit really hard, the water company was paying $2 per sq feet to replace turf with something else. I ended up taking out about 1,200 sq ft and was actually surprised how easy it was with a sod cutter rental from Home Depot. The machine cuts it into strips, and all you have to do is roll them up in a manageable size and haul it to the dump. It really wasn't that bad. I turned most of it into a play/swing set area for the grandkids. You may have thought I made out in this deal, but the rubber mulch I put down was not cheap

 

[ard]

That recycled rubber 'mulch' isnt cheap! I joked it would have been cheaper just to go buy new tires and cut em up....

anything for the babies tho.