Self Watering Hedge and Flower Bed With Rain Barrels

I have a nice garden with a long hedge but behind our house there was no water tap.

I hated to pull my garden hose over nearly100 feed every evening, and also hated to use the watering can more then 30 times a day, so I decided to get a solution for this problem.

Luckly I had a downpipe for my rainwater which fills my 310 litre water barrels.

So my plan was, to connect my two barrels and use a soaker hose for my hedge and flower bed.

The idea, to publish my work step by step came unfortunately to late, so I only have the chance to share my already done project.

15 + 25 meter (about 130 foot) soaker hose (importend: pressureless) from a company called CS and some connectors. https://cs-wss.com

1 Watering Computer (importend: pressureless)

1 Faucet for water barrels

1 Reduction 3/4" outside, 1" inside

1 Barrel connector with drill 3/4"

1 Waterangle 3/4” for water barrels

1 transparent 3/4" water tube about 5 feet to see the water-level from outside

1 Normal garden hose 3/4" to get under my grass to my hedge

1 Corrugated pipe 1 1/4"

2 Rainbarrels stand

2 Granit plate, round (size depends on your rain barrel stand)

some bags of splitted grit, grain 2/5

Because a possible swap over of a full rain barrel, which will after time erode your stand, you have to dig a hole about 8 inches deep with a little bit higher diameter of your granit plate.

Fill this hole with about 4 inch of your splitted grit and squeeze it by jumping on it or ramming some big hammer onto it. (I jumped, but unfortunately I got no funny picture of doing this ;-)

Now you see, why I ordered splitted grid with grain 2/5. - It's the optimal size to squeeze it into the hole and get leveled well.

Repeat the step above until you are on the surface.

Level the surface.

On the surface you can put your granit plate on it and level ist again.

If you want to connect later another barrel, it's an good idea, to use the distance of the barrel-connector pipe before you dig your second hole. (See step four)

I digged it about 6 inch deep and wide enough to put the corrugated pipe inside.

Hint: Use a spade for this, so you can use your outcuted grass pieces again later.

After this came the hardest part for me, because I ordered the wrong size of corrugated pipe. - Believe me, if you try to get a 3/4" water hose in a 1" corrugated pipe, you will not have a fun time working.

So I had to learn it at the hard way to better use a 1 1/4" corrugated pipe for a 3/4" garden hose.

In about 4 inch high, I drilled a 1" hole into my barrel.

Best way to do this by using a special drill with 1" Diameter.

I used mounting grease for the seal of the faucet, before i inserted and fixed it in the barrel.

After this you have to connect your water computer (pressureless) with your faucet and garden hose.

It is an good idea, to test and program the water computer before it's assembled.

I programmed mine to water from 19 to 20 o clock.

In about 4 inch high, you can drill a hole in both barrels.

It is a good idea, to use a water spirit level to center level and mark the holes.

After using mounting grease for the seals, you have to assemble the barrel connector.

I wanted, to see the water level, so I made an water indicator.

Unfortunately I bought a 1" Waterangel, so the connection to the transparent pipe was not easy. - If you buy a 3/4" Waterangel, you will avoid this "special" connection (see picture two).

You have to drill 3/4" hole in about 3 inch high in the barrel of your choice.

After this, use mounting grease for this seals again and assemble the Waterangle to the barrel.

With a heatgun you should easily fit the pipe into the Waterangle.

Its an good idea, to cut it before with the right length.

If you have a 3D-Printer, you can use my attached selfmade stl to fix the indicator pipe.

If not you can also use silicone to fix it on the top of the barrel.

Connect your end of the garden hose with your soaker hose and place it on the wanted places.

For this step you dont need a heatgun, because the soaker hose will easy fit together.

Short after reaching the time you programmed your watering computer, you can check the results.

And now it's time to enjoy your autonomous self watering garden :-)