Garden situation | Material | Diameter | Length | Why |
---|---|---|---|---|
Small balcony or raised beds | PVC or expandable | 1 2 in | 7–15 m | Light easy storage enough flow for hand watering. |
Standard potager mixed beds | Reinforced hybrid | 5 8 in | 15–30 m | Balance of flow durability and weight. |
Long runs sprinklers | Rubber heavy duty | 1 2 in or 3 4 in | 30–50 m | Less friction loss maintains pressure. |
Row crops under mulch | Soaker hose | Porous | 7–30 m per bed | Even soil level watering fewer diseases. |
Container clusters | Main hose plus drip kit | 5 8 in main | As needed | Emitters deliver precise liters per hour. |
Bed type | Line spacing | Emitter rate | Run time guide |
---|---|---|---|
Leafy greens raised bed | 20–25 cm soaker or drip grid | 1–2 L h | 20–30 min light soils 2–3x week |
Tomato pepper rows | Single line per row | 2–4 L h | 45–60 min 1–3x week adjust by weather |
Root crops carrots beets | 25–30 cm grid | 1–2 L h | 30–45 min keep top 10 cm moist |
Containers cluster | 1 dripper per pot 2 for big tubs | 2 L h | 15–30 min daily in heat |
Symptom | Likely cause | Action |
---|---|---|
Weak spray everywhere | Partially closed valve or clogged filter | Open fully clean filter screen replace washer. |
Strong at start weak at end | Friction loss long small diameter hose | Up size to 5 8 in shorten runs or add mid feed. |
Pulsing flow | Timer or regulator restricting too much | Use correct regulator for system or move regulator upstream. |
Sudden bursts leaks | Over pressure heat expansion | Install regulator and avoid leaving pressurized in sun. |
Season | Method | Run time | Frequency |
---|---|---|---|
Spring mild | Soaker under mulch | 25–35 min | 1–2x week adjust by rain |
Summer hot | Drip 2–4 L h | 45–60 min | 2–3x week early morning |
Containers | Drippers per pot | 15–30 min | Daily in heat skip after rain |