DIY Guides
WaterUps Library
The DIY Guides should be read in conjunction with the main WaterUps Installation Guide and the Soil Considerations Guide
Constructing a WaterUps timber wicking bed
Raised timber beds are very popular. WaterUps cells can be easily installed in a timber bed to create a great wicking system.
This guide will help you build a WaterUps wicking bed made from timber sleepers. It will show you how to calculate the appropriate dimensions for your timber and how to insert the WaterUps cells.
Installing WaterUps in a corrugated steel raised bed
Corrugated steel raised beds are probably the cheapest commercially available raised garden bed kits. They also come in a range of sizes. Unfortunately, one feature of the beds is that they usually come with rounded corners, which makes installing WaterUps wicking cells in them just a little more involved.
However, this guide will help make retrofitting old corrugated steel raised beds with WaterUps wicking cells much easier.
Installing WaterUp in Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs)
WaterUps wicking cells can easily be added to Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) to create an efficient wicking system.
By purchasing a 1,000 litre IBC, you will be able to build two 1200mm x 1000mm wicking beds that will be great for growing your vegetables or small fruit trees such as lemons.
As IBCs are used as a storage/transport device for a range of liquids, you should check what the IBC has been used for and if possible secure a food grade IBC.
Installing WaterUps in large concrete planter tubs
Planters tubs are very much part of our urban landscape. They can be found on balconies and terraces, on decks and around swimming pools. They are also common in retail and commercial areas. They are, however, often neglected and not watered regularly.
This guide will show you how to install WaterUps cells into planter tubs to create a great wicking system.
Installing WaterUps in large round pots
Large round concrete pots can be a stylish feature for ornamental plants on any terrace or balcony and WaterUps wicking cells can be retrofitted to them fairly easily.
This guide will help you choose the best pot to use, and will show you how to cut and insert the WaterUps cells.
Building WaterUps in-ground wicking beds
An in-ground wicking bed is one where the majority of the water reservoir is below ground level. They can provide some additional challenges over and above installing WaterUps in a purpose-built raised bed. However, this DIY guide shows you how to overcome these potential problems, and build a WaterUps in-ground wicking bed quickly and efficiently. The easiest solution is to build a simple frame for the WaterUps cells to sit in.
The other challenge is to ensure that you can locate your overflow pipe so that water can flow out of your wicking bed when the reservoir is full.