I'm trying to figure out how many drip lines I need for my 4' x 8' garden bed. I've come across different opinions on this, and I'm wondering if five evenly spaced lines would be enough to cover the area effectively.
3 Answers
Thanks for your insights! I'm thinking of using drip lines with 6" spaced emitters, typically at 0.5 gph. I'm worried about whether three lines will cover the edges of my bed well enough. I hear they can spread about 16 inches wide, so maybe that’ll work? I’ve mixed different soils, so I’m curious how that will affect watering.
The number of lines you need also depends on the spacing of the emitters on your drip tape and the plants in your garden. I usually start with three lines—one in the center and one on each side spaced evenly. After running the system for 15-30 minutes, check for dry spots and adjust as needed. Also, consider how well your soil holds water; it might take some trial and error to find the right setup for deep watering once a week.
It really depends on what you're growing. If you have bigger plants, I recommend putting one drip line at the base of each plant to ensure they get enough water.