A watering system is one of the most underrated topics people think about when they plan for a backyard-raised-bed garden. Believe me, it is one of the most important aspects that you should plan way before setting up the raised bed. Because It will cost more money and effort if you want to install a watering system for raised bed garden after the elevated beds are built.
So if you want to save the extra money and rework and then you must decide the type of watering system you are going to install now. In this article, I will explain the best watering system for raised bed gardens that are easily available.
Go through all the types of watering systems below to choose the best-suited options for your backyard raised bed garden.
Why Do You Need An Automated Watering System?
Multiple research says that “vegetable plants use around ¼ inch of water per day during the summer”.
That means you have to give 1 inch of water every 4 days. So, it will be very useful for you to have a watering system. Because it will apply a specific amount of water to each raised bed in your kitchen garden.
If you mix any amount of nutrients and water and apply that to the plants then that may cause more harm than good.
The correct ratio and the total amount are important. Otherwise, you are wasting either water and nutrients or both. Your plants will not get the correct amount of nutrients and water. It will increase the chances of diseases.
Types Of Watering Systems For Raised Beds
Let’s discuss the available types of watering systems for raised bed gardens. It will help to choose one for your garden.
i) Furrow Watering System
One of the most popular surface irrigation systems is the Furrow watering system. Here, water is applied on the surface of the soil through gated pipes, siphons, etc.
It is most effective for flat land slopes.
Fine to medium soil texture allows the lateral spread of the water across the furrowed row.
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| i) Mostly effective for traditional row-style garden layouts. ii) It can distribute the water equally without expensive technology. Low-cost option. | i) The top layer of the soil is considered the most vital fertile part of the soil. The furrow watering system may cause erosion of this part of the soil. ii) The uncontrolled flow of water over the surface of the land may cause runoff. |
ii) Sprinkler Watering System
In this irrigation system, water is sprayed in the air and applied to the garden as raindrops.
The sprinkler may be permanently placed in the garden by mounting pipes or, temporarily movable through wheel roll, liner move, etc.
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| i) The most efficient watering system for a bigger garden. ii) Easy to measure the amount of water applied. iii) Easy to handle. iv) As it waters the entire surface of the soil, the rate of germination of weed seed is high. | i) This is not recommended to apply to vegetables prone to foliar disease such as Early Blight (tomato, pepper, potato, etc.). ii) Sprinkling water spreads diseased organisms to nearby plants. |
iii) Drip Irrigation System
In this system, water is applied to the soil surface through emitters. The flow of water is like a stream or drops. This is useful for all soil types.
There are three types of drip irrigation:
In-Line Drip Tubing
In this type, Emitters are placed every 6, 12, and 24 inches. Mostly 12 inches emitters are used.
Soaker Hose & Soaker Tubing
Here a special type of porous hose is used. Water soaks out through the wall along the entire length of the hose.
Bubblers & Drippers
This is another type of drip irrigation. Here Emitter and drippers are placed to water individual plants.
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| i) it can be useful for every soil type. ii) it is the most efficient system of irrigation because it saves time, money, and usage of water. iii) It removes the possibility of soil erosion. iv) Very low labor costs and low operation costs. | i) This system can become inoperative due to dirt, algae, and water sediments. It is workable only in clean water. ii) It is not suitable for every type of water because installing a filter system may not be possible for every circumstance. iii) It requires protection from sunlight.That is why the hose is placed on the soil surface under the mulch or buried a couple of inches under the soil. iv) it is designed to run the water on low pressure. High pressure of water is not suitable for this watering system. |
iv) Sub-Surface Irrigation
In this irrigation system, water is applied below the soil surface. Depending upon the water table. The irrigation method has been adopted and water is applied at a slow speed to the root zone of the plants.
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
| It is one of the most efficient irrigation systems for gardeners because it is the source of a steady supply of moisture and nutrients to the roots of the plants. | This irrigation system involves a high amount of investment cost. |
You can learn more on this topic from – United States Department of Agriculture.
Also, you can refer this PDF source to learn more.
Factors That You Must Consider To Install The Best Watering System In Your Garden
You must consider the following factors to choose the best watering system for the plants in your kitchen vegetable garden.
i) Depends upon the season
The requirement of water for the plants is not the same throughout the year. In the summer, plants require more water whereas, in the rainy season, rains fulfill the most requirement of water for the plants.
Too much watering to the plant may be harmful to the plants causing the roots of the plants rotten.
You must consider the season before deciding about the quantity of application of water to the plants.
ii) Water requirement for each plant is different
Water need also varies from plant to plant.
Vegetables like spinach, cabbage, asparagus, etc love water. These vegetables need more water than peas, beans, and corn which don’t like too much watering.
Further, some plants in your vegetable garden like pepper, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. don’t like splashing water. This may cause contamination of disease among them.
You have to arrange a separate watering system for the raised beds of those vegetables.
iii) Checking of soil moisture
Check the moisture of the soil before applying water to it. Apply water only when two/ four inches of soil from the top of the surface is dry.
For checking you may adopt the traditional “ stick method “.
You have to push a stick or screwdriver into the soil to check the moisture of the soil.
The disadvantage of this method is that it requires experience. It can be misleading due to a lack of proper experience.
Using a soil probe tool can assure you surefire results. These tools pull up the soil from 8 inches depth of the roots.
Using a houseplant watering meter can also be helpful to measure the moisture of the soil for the garden plants. However, this inexpensive tool sometimes may offer inaccurate results.
iv) Separate the vegetable garden from the lawn
The water requirement for the lawn and vegetable garden is different. You have to separate the lawn from your vegetable garden to protect your vegetable garden from too much watering.
v) Install an automatic system with a controller
Installing a multi-zone controller in the irrigation system will be helpful to control the irrigation system according to the need of your kitchen garden.
Some homely steps you may follow to keep your kitchen garden hydrated
When it comes to keeping your kitchen garden soil nice and hydrated, there are some easy-peasy steps you can follow. Check ’em out:
Covering The Surface Of Your Kitchen Garden:
Grab some organic materials, like mulch, and cover the surface of your garden with it. Mulch is the bomb—it’s the best cover material out there and super easy to get your hands on.
It works like a shield, stopping water from evaporating, keeping the soil temperature just right, and holding moisture for longer periods.
Adding Water-Absorbing Compounds To The Soil:
Toss in some organic goodies like coco-coir, peat moss, or organic compost into the soil. These materials soak up the water like a sponge and keep it hydrated for a good while.
Plus, they make your soil top-notch, improve air circulation, and boost its fertility.
Using A Timer For Your Irrigation System:
You know what’s important? Giving your plants a regular watering schedule for their growth. So, why not install a timer? It’s a total lifesaver! It makes sure you never forget to water your plants at the right time, and even if you’re not around, it’s got your back.
With these simple steps, you can keep your kitchen garden soil happy and hydrated, and your plants will thank you with their healthy, vibrant selves. So go ahead, enjoy taking care of your garden, and get ready to see some amazing results!
Takeaway
Keep your plants happy, and they’ll reward you with vibrant blooms and delicious veggies!
I hope I have cleared all the doubts on this topic – the best watering system for raised bed garden. If you are interested in other agricultural methods or types of vegetables and herbs suitable for your home garden then go through my other articles from the related post section(below) or recent post section(top-right).
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Misty S is the founder and lead writer at GrowOrganicGreens.com, a comprehensive gardening resource dedicated to helping people cultivate beautiful and sustainable gardens. She has a Master’s degree in Economics and specialized studies in agricultural economics, horticulture, and soil science. Drawing from her extensive knowledge and experience, Misty shares practical gardening tips on soil preparation, organic manure composting, fertilizers, plant care, and indoor gardening, making her advice accessible and helpful to gardeners of all levels.
Despite having an high-demanding 9-5 job, Misty dedicates her personal time to researching and exploring various gardening topics. Her keen interest in gardening has grown into a passion, driving her to help new gardeners and anyone interested in starting their gardening journey.
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