above ground plumbing

I am about to try to cobble together an irrigation system for a garden (currently 30x40, but ever increasing in size and will probably be double that very soon.)

I want to put something together that is
a) inexpensive - the whole point of the garden is to save money. If I put a bunch of money into the irrigation system, then I am moving backwards.
b) reconfigurable - there are a number of permanent plantings. But the vast majority of this changes season to season.
c) expandable - see the ever growing comment above.

I would like to have the trunk lines above ground. This is mostly to make it easy to reconfigure, but also so we don't go accidentally digging them up all the time. There are some pathways where I will bury them to avoid a trip hazard, but I want it mostly above ground.

and now the rambling gets to my question... What sort of plumbing do I use here? I have seen some PVC really deteriorate in the sunlight (and this will be full sun). Is there something better for the trunk lines that will stand up to time and sunlight?

I am not a plumber here, so the answer may be that I just need to buy the right type of PVC...

Well, my veggie garden is only about half that size (and still produces more than I can eat and give away in a season) but I just ganged four soaker hoses so that they attach to a single spigot. Cheap....doesn't use much water and the materials have lasted for three seasons so far.

Mort

PVC should not be left in the sun, but it will not just suddenly explode or anything, but it should not be too difficult to make shallow trenches and bury it. When the configuration needs to change, you can just pull it up and redo the layout using a few cuts, a few couplers, and other cheap fittings.

Gary Swart said:

PVC should not be left in the sun, but it will not just suddenly explode or anything, but it should not be too difficult to make shallow trenches and bury it. When the configuration needs to change, you can just pull it up and redo the layout using a few cuts, a few couplers, and other cheap fittings.

Click to expand...

I guess I just didnt want it out of sight (and out of mind). The idea of leaving it above ground was so no hoes or shovels would hit and so it was easier to locate. (And so my lovely wife didnt plant stuff on top of it that would have to be dug up.)

Netafim in a small 8 x 10 garden. Currently waters every 4 to 5 days off an ET based controller.

Lifts right out in spring to amend soil.

PVC pipe and fittings are cheap. Large farming and nursery operations consider it a disposable item. You can keep using it as long as it hold up. Outdoors, I wouldn't lose any sleep over the sun issue. Just keep chopping it us and moving it around as necessary. Add new pipe and fittings as required.

All the money is in the labor, and in things like timers and valves, which can last many years.

UVR PVC Fittings

Some great suggestions have been posted already but I did want to say that if you really want ultraviolet protection we sell PVC UVR Fittings that are made to go out in the sun. They are a bit more expense though. The other option with pvc is just to paint it, any exterior latex paint will give it uv protection. Good luck with the garden!

-Mike