Homemade Drip Irrigation System

One reader shares how to build a watering system that incorporates both soaker hoses and drip irrigation.

By Kurt Jacobson
Updated on May 1, 2025
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by Kurt Jacobson

Build a homemade drip irrigation system using PVC pipes and tubing to start efficiently watering your garden inside and outside.

Proper watering is one of the most important aspects of growing your own vegetables. On a recent trip to Virginia, I met Scott and Susan Hill of Hill Farm. Scott and Susan turned their retirement into a profitable farm venture. Susan is a master of the growing and accounting part of the operation, and Scott is the architect, maintenance man, and everything-else guy. Scott was a helicopter maintenance test pilot in the U.S. Army before retiring. His skills in fluid dynamics shine in his development of this unique dual watering system.

Scott and Susan use these dual watering systems in both their raised and in-ground garden beds at Hill Farm. One part of the system is comprised of a series of three soaker hoses, and the other part provides drip irrigation. Scott created this system to make the best use of Hill Farm’s well water and to help support the farm’s amazing harvests month after month, all year long.

homemade-drip-irrigation-system

With a little time and effort, you can build your own dual watering system with easy-to-find parts at a reasonable cost. You can expect to pay approximately $60 to $85 per unit, depending on the length of your garden beds and the quality of your materials. Scott suggests going with higher-quality materials because, in his own words, “The better the quality, the less repair required.”

Irrigation System Building Supplies

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