The Best Way to Water Raised Bed Gardens
When I first started gardening, I quickly realized that finding the best way to water raised bed gardens was crucial for success. Initially, I relied on hand-watering. However, my plants struggled and didn’t grow well. Living in the low desert of Arizona, where rainfall is limited, I soon learned consistent and efficient watering is essential. Watering my garden got easier when I added drip irrigation, particularly the Garden Grid from Garden In Minutes. I‘m not exaggerating when I say that this system revolutionized my gardening, which led to healthier plants and larger harvests.
Article Index:
- Why Consistent Watering is the Best Way to Water Raised Beds
- The Importance of Automatic Watering Systems in Dry Climates
- Choosing the Best Type of Automatic Watering System
- My Journey to Finding the Best Watering Method
- Discovering the Garden Grid from Garden In Minutes
- Why the Garden Grid from Garden In Minutes is the Best Choice
- Implementing Best Watering Practices
- The Best Way to Water Raised Bed Gardens
Why Consistent Watering is the Best Way to Water Raised Beds
Consistency is key in gardening. Inconsistent watering causes seeds and seedlings to dry out and die, stresses established plants, and invites pests and diseases. Especially in arid regions like the low desert of Arizona, where rainfall is scarce, consistent watering becomes even more critical. Regular moisture ensures optimal soil conditions, promoting deep roots and overall plant health.
The Importance of Automatic Watering Systems in Dry Climates
An automatic watering system is the best way to water raised bed gardens in areas with limited rainfall. It ensures that plants receive the right amount of water at the right time without waiting for a busy gardener. Missing even one watering session in a dry climate can kill many plants in your garden. Automatic systems help maintain consistent soil moisture levels, promote growth, and reduce stress (mine and the plants!).
Save Water and Money
Watering can be a significant expense, especially in dry regions. Automatic watering systems, particularly drip irrigation, deliver water directly to the plant roots, minimizing evaporation and runoff. This targeted approach conserves water, reduces utility bills, and supports sustainable gardening practices. Get more water-saving tips in this guide.
Choosing the Best Type of Automatic Watering System
Several options are available, but not all are equally effective for raised bed gardens.
- Soaker Hoses: These often get clogged, crack over time, and don’t distribute water evenly across the bed.
- Sprinklers: While easy to use, sprinklers wet the foliage, which can encourage and spread diseases. They also lead to excess evaporation and inefficient watering.
- Drip Lines: Standard drip irrigation systems can be messy and prone to damage. They may not stay in place and often require complex installation.
My Journey to Finding the Best Watering Method
I experimented with various drip irrigation systems but struggled to achieve even watering in the entire raised bed. Even after watering for a long time, there would be dry spots, while other areas had too much water. The components were expensive, and I often accidentally cut the drip lines while digging. Spaghetti-type drip lines were messy and didn’t always stay in place. Frustrated with these ineffective solutions, I wished there was a better way.
Discovering the Garden Grid from Garden In Minutes
When I first saw the Garden Grid on Instagram in 2017, I realized it solved two significant problems: my messy, ineffective drip lines and the need for grids for square-foot gardening. Previously, I used wood slats to divide my beds, which made amending the soil difficult. The Garden Grid was revolutionary. It provided:
- Even Water Distribution: Pre-drilled holes ensure consistent watering in every part of the bed.
- Simplified Square-Foot Gardening: The grid layout makes planting and organization simple.
- Easy Installation and Maintenance: The system is durable, and it’s easy to lift off the bed when adding compost or other soil amendments.
I added the first grid to my garden in 2017 and slowly incorporated them into my older beds. Any new beds I add now always include the Garden Grid. They’ve even started making garden beds that come with the grids, which is now all I use when I add new beds. Read this post to see if metal beds heat up more than wooden beds.
Exclusive Discount: Use code Angela10 to save $10 off $100 or GITG5 to save 5% on any size order.
I also use the metal raised beds from Garden In Minutes®, which include the Garden Grid™.
Check Out the Metal Raised Beds Here
Why the Garden Grid from Garden In Minutes is the Best Choice
After experimenting with various drip line systems and trying to make my own watering grids (they wouldn’t lay flat and were crooked), the Garden Grid from Garden In Minutes stands out as the best way to water raised bed gardens. Here’s why:
1. Even and Efficient Water Distribution
Each grid has pre-drilled holes along the tubing, ensuring that every part of your raised bed receives water evenly. This eliminates dry spots and over-saturated areas. This is especially helpful for seed germination.
2. Easy Integration with Automatic Timers
Connecting the Garden Grids to an automatic timer is simple, allowing you to customize watering schedules based on your garden’s needs and weather conditions. You can see the video I did about adding the grids to my yard’s sprinkler system and Racchio timer here:
3. Quick and Tool-Free Installation
The grids come preassembled and can be installed in minutes without any tools. This simplicity makes it accessible for gardeners of all experience levels.
4. Ideal for Square-Foot Gardening
The Garden Grid divides your garden into evenly spaced square sections, perfect for practicing square-foot gardening. This method helps with plant organization and maximizes the use of space without the need for wood slats or other dividers. Learn more about square-foot gardening techniques in this guide.
5. Durable and Low Maintenance
Unlike traditional drip lines that can be easily damaged while digging or planting, the Garden Grid is sturdy and remains in place. It’s also easy to remove when you need to amend the soil.
6. Adjustable Water Flow
Adding a flow valve to each bed allows you to adjust the water flow into individual beds easily. This allows for customization based on water pressure and the specific water needs of different plants.
Implementing Best Watering Practices
To maximize the benefits of your automatic watering system:
- Monitor Soil Moisture: Even with an automatic system, regularly check soil moisture to ensure your plants get the right amount of water.
- Adjust for Weather Conditions: Modify your watering schedule based on rainfall and temperature changes to prevent overwatering or underwatering.
- Maintain Your System: Periodically inspect your drip lines or grids for clogs or damage to keep the system running efficiently. If a hole gets clogged, unclogging it with a push pin is easy.
The Best Way to Water Raised Bed Gardens
Investing in an automatic drip irrigation system like the Garden Grid is the best way to water raised bed gardens. It ensures consistent, efficient watering, leading to healthier plants and more bountiful harvests. Especially in arid regions like Arizona’s low desert, this approach saves water, reduces costs, and supports sustainable gardening.
Shop the Garden Grid™ at Garden In Minutes®
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Did you buy two 4×4’s and place them together, I have the same beds as you do.
I ordered 4×8 grids, if they aren’t listed on the website, I would email them and ask about ordering that size.
What raised 4×8 bed do you have or did you build it from scratch?
I use the deep root cedar bed from Gardeners https://www.gardeners.com/buy/deep-root-cedar-raised-beds-4ft/8609751.html
Is it made from 1/2 inch tubing or micro tubing? Hard to tell from pics. Also, how small are the holes? With all the holes spraying at once it would seem like you would lose water pressure. Thanks!
It is made from 1/2 tubing. The holes for water are very small. Losing water pressure hasn’t been a problem the way I have them set up in the garden, usually no more than 2-3 grids connected at one time.
Raised bed built land filled but now the soaker hose seems to provide too much water…runs out almost as soon as it’s turned on. Upset wire reinforced with narrow boards… cardboard before soil added. What to do.
You could try to reduce the water pressure so the water comes out more slowly and can penetrate the soil rather than running out.
I like the helpful info you supply for your articles. Thanks for sharing a smart thought.
Thanks so much for your post! How long have you had the Garden Grids? Have they had any issues? I have drip irrigation in my raised beds, and I’m thinking about using the garden grids in my new raised beds for improved water coverage. I’m not sure they will be worth the investment though if they don’t hold up to our desert sun. 🙂
I got my first grids about 4 years ago and have added them slowly since that time. I haven’t had any issues with them deteriorating.
Do the garden grids come completely apart? I want to retrofit around mature tomato plants. Will this work? TIA!
I retro fitted mine around trellises by cutting through the tubing and using connectors. You could try that. When they come in the mail they are not completely assembled, you may be able to put them around the plant before you push the ends together.
How do you handle different watering needs for different plants in the same bed/grid? Or do you only plant varieties with the same needs together? Sometimes companion planting may not be conducive to that though.
Good question. I typically water the beds deeply each time I water and the plants all get the same amount of water. There are areas in the beds that get less water (sometimes on the corners) if the grids don’t go all the way to the edge. I plant lower water use herbs (like sage) in those areas. I do have a valve on each bed that controls the amount of water each bed gets so I plant lower water use / or higher use plants together.
I’m using grow bags (16 and counting!) on a timed drip system, but it’s challenging to meet the watering different needs of every plant. I just started gardening in February and your website has been a God-send – thank you very much!!!
One more question: when you a liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion, how do you work that into your watering schedule? Do you do it manually and skip a programmed watering so you don’t overwater? Apply it first and then reduce the timed amount?
When you fertilize it’s best to water well before, so the plants get extra water when I fertilize.
Angela, Thank for your informative video on how to connect the grid to your own drip system. I am a visual learner and the video helped, At Garden in Minutes site the FAQ”s : “if you want to feed water to your Garden Grid from your sprinkler system or existing irrigation you can too. You will just need to ensure your system has a garden hose adaptor”
How did you connect from your original main line of your drip system before feeding to each raised bed with the grid? Did you use a garden hose connector? Also when finishing it looks like you leave their white connectors on. I feel like I should understand all, but I am really a novice of setting up drip.
I had help from a friend who helps me with sprinkler repairs and installations. You have to connect the PVC to the dripline. If you are trying to connect it to your main watering system (not a hose) you may want to get help from a professional.
I am ready to complete a large raised bed garden. It will use the square-foot system with 10 different crops in it. I doubt that I’ll have enough time for a drip or other system this year, so I was wondering how you feel about watering wands? They are not automatic, but cost less, take less time to set up, and I don’t need to re-configure them each season as we move the crops around (crop rotation).
I love watering wands. That’s my preferred way to hand water. It can take a while to do it by hand but they are effective.
Is this a system that’s easy to remove to till the beds soil?
I currently water by hand, there is an existing system hooked up to two beds but it doesn’t currently work. (new house, stuff was already here.) We added a couple beds but got carried away with tomatoes… So watering by hand takes a good hour or more. Cutting that down would be nice.
It’s simple to lift up and out (it’s still connected, but it is up on its side on the side of the bed). I don’t recommend tilling soil however, it’s better for the soil not to till.
Hi Angela,‘I live in Phoenix also and have put in a complete new garden with 8+ raised beds. I love your website and all your incredible information for us desert gardeners. There are so few sights that really apply to our unique climate. So thank you!
I took your advice and used the garden in minutes garden grids for all of the beds and so far I’m living them. My question is, how long do you typically run them and how often, in the hottest part of the summer and also in the winter? When I first put them in I was doing for way too long, I think, since the water was running right through. Oh, I also used your raised garden Az Worm Farm compost mix to fill them all so it was very loose soil. I’m currently running them twice a day, 7 min in the evening and another 3 min in the morning around 6 am. Is that too much?
Thank you!
Hi Linda. I would try to water no more than once a day. Your watering times may differ depending on your water pressure. When it was less humid and 115 I was running them every day, but now that it’s in the low 100’s with humidity I’m running it every other day in the morning for about 8 minutes on most of the grids. I do have it on a cycle/soak setting so that it’s not 8 minutes all at once. It runs for 4 waits a bit and runs for another 4 minutes so it can absorb better. I also mulch the beds very well to help preserve the moisture.
What is the most effective way to water wooden wine barrels? Unsuccessfully tried 1/4″ drip soaker & emitter tubing this summer, turned into an absolute failure. Have had to hand water all 10 barrels daily to keep plants alive. Looks like a 2′ x 2′ Garden Grid might work nicely. What is your experience with watering your wooden barrels, & recommendations? BTW…love the channel. Am learning so much! JK.
My favorite way to water containers is with oyas. I use the large ones in wine barrels and it’s perfect. https://growinginthegarden.com/the-best-way-to-water-outdoor-potted-plants/
I am going to install these garden irrigation grids but I have a question about your arched trellis….I want to have a butternut squash tunnel and need to install the trellis about 1 foot into each bed over the irrigation system. I see that your trellis is over the grids, too….are you having any trouble with the arch damaging the grids by being so heavy? Also, where did you get your trellis? Thanks!
Where the trellis went over the grids I snipped the tubing in half and added connector pieces after putting the trellis under the grids. I got the main arch trellises from twobrothersmetalworks.com and the trellises in this blogpost from Gardeners.com
Hi Angela,
I noticed in one of your videos, the Garden grid watering system on a metal raised bed with rounded corners. The corners of the Garden grid were raised due to the rounded corners. Does this cause problems with the watering at the corners? I’m asking because I just purchased 3 Vego Raised Beds and I was planning to use the 4’x8′ configuration. I was also planning to buy 3 Garden Grids in the 4’x8′ size. Will this be OK or should buy the smaller Garden Grid size. We are new to raised bed gardening, so your advise is very much appreciated.
Dennis T.
Hi Dennis, I went out and took another look to be sure and I’ve liked the grid in that metal bed. The corners do overlap a bit, but it hasn’t been a huge issue. You could also reach out to the customer service at Garden in Minutes and tell them the type of bed you have and see what they recommend. They are very helpful. Hope that helps! Angela
Just following up on my earlier question about the Garden Grids. I reached out to Garden in Minutes and they let me know that the Garden Grids can be ordered “cornerless” to fit into rounded planting beds. Problem solved. Can’t wait get get started.
Wonderful! Thank you for the update.
How do these do with minerals? Our water is a little harder than Colorado river water as it is well water. I use drip line with inline 1/2gph emitters and I pretty much replace them once a year because they get clogged up. I’ve had my eye on these for awhile but because of the price and unknown effect of the minerals (calcium?) I haven’t tried them. I’ve tried the calcium filters and they help a bit but not a great difference. It’s discouraging. Thank you!
Hi Jennifer, I haven’t had an issue so I reached out to Bryan at Garden in Minutes to answer your question. Here is his response: “Great question. Emitters are faster to clog with minerals and can’t really be cleared, it’s one of the main reasons we don’t use them. The holes for the water streams are closer to the size of a lawn sprinkler. While minerals can still build up, maintenance for the Garden Grid by minerals is very easy. You can rub up finger over any Garden Grid hole that has mineral build up to clean it off (similar to what you can do with a shower shower head), for faster maintenance you can run a brush over the tubing, and for very stubborn areas, inserting a safety pin will certainly clear the minerals. We have a quick video on Garden Grid care and maintenance here: https://gardeninminutes.com/easy-garden-grid-watering-system-care/
How do you protect zinnia leaves from rain if you shouldn’t get their leaves wet?
Of course, you can’t, but rainwater has less salt content than what we water our gardens with. If you get frequent rain, disease may be an issue for zinnias.
So far the best and most helpful site I have seen and been to! thank you!!!
Wow, thank you so much.
Mid August 2022 – I’m curious what your settings are for your raised beds this time of year. And what do you change it to in our valley Winters.
I’m North PHX w/ new 8’x2’ raised beds. Brand new inspired gardener here. Anyhow, I just installed drip tubing (1/4 .52 GPH). Using my Hydrawise timer, I have it set to 10 minutes every other day 5am. w/ cycle and soak. Is this a good starting point to experiment with. I’m looking for a safe ballpark.
Right now I’m watering every 2-3 days for about 10 minutes total (mine is “cycle and soak” as well) The grids I use water very quickly.
Hi Angela, just started gardening and have been told not to use municipal water due to the amount of chlorine the city adds. What water source do you use?
I use city of Mesa water.
I am watering my seeds at 6am and 6 pm for 3min with the garden grid to ensue they stay moist. After a week I now have seedlings. Since I have seedlings now should I start lengthening my water for longer so the water goes deeper? Also I intend to plant more seeds every two weeks what do you suggest I do to keep them moist and not overwater the other plants? I have a 4×8 raised bed.
Yes as the seedlings get larger you can stretch out the time between watering and water more deeply. If you plant more seedlings I would use a hose to handwater them until they sprout.
Have you tried self watering beds?
Yes. They were ok – I personally prefer traditional raised beds.
So im using a few IBC recycled totes to make raised beds with and im having a hard time figuring out how to connect 7 or 8 totes with walkways with an irrigation system without losing water pressure. How could I do that with this system?
Running PVC to each individual bed is what I had to do to maintain pressure with several grids: https://youtu.be/GXMsLnxkOEU
How is the best way to connect the gardening grids to your main irrigation/sprinkler system? Right now all I have is a 3/4 in pipe which is already attached to its own dedicated zone to the area of where our gardening beds will be.
This video explains the process of how we did it: https://youtu.be/GXMsLnxkOEU
I live in tucson, on property with a well. Have you had problems with your garden grids getting clogged with hard water deposits over time?
This year I started noticing some of my older ones (4 years old) were getting clogged. I went around with a push pin and re did the holes that were clogged, that seemed to help. That’s the first time I’ve had to do that since owning them. How often you do would depend on your water.
I live here in Phx also and am wondering how often you are watering your beds? I’m struggling with how long I should water.
Right now I’m watering every other day for about 10 minutes. My watering grids water very fast however.
Your videos have convinced me to buy the Garden Grids, now just a few questions. I have 3’ x 6’ x 18” raised beds with excellent soil, how long should I water to be efficient and resourceful? Also approximately how long to start seeds? Any input would be greatly appreciated
Hi Robert. I think you’ll like the grids. Once they are set up you’ll have to run them and see how long it takes to water to a depth of about 12 inches. I use the cycle/soak setting on my system to make sure the water absorbs well. It may take a few tries for you to figure out how long to water. You should only have to do this one time. For seeds I also have a hose with a sprinkler attachment so I can hand water the areas with newly planted seeds without having to run the system for everything. Hopefully this helps. Happy to clarify more if you need me too.
The straw mulch seems to be impeding the growing grids’ from watering evenly, any solutions?
Thank you for your great gardening guidance!
My question is about cleaning out the holes of the grid system. I’ve struggled with drip irrigation getting plugged up and planning to convert the garden watering system to the grid system. How do you prevent or clean out the holes of/when they get plugged up?
Thank you!
Usually I just rub the hard water deposits off. Using something like a magic eraser works well. For stubborn holes you can use a push pin. I’ve been amazed at how well these hold up. I still have the original one I began using in 2019 and it still works great!