See what I do when I have a little time on my hands? I start cementing PVC into funny shapes to move water around!

Here’s the video:

I’ll completely understand if you conclude this to be an eccentricity related to off-season idleness (actually, pretty busy winterizing roses right now, but whatever). The need for this kind of a portable stand actually arose with my employer, where we grow acres of perennials, and sometimes I just need to have one crop watered rather than scheduling a whole bed or house. Before we fashioned these portable sprinklers – which I think are rather stylish, by the way, like an Ikea chair or something – we had to lug around some rather heavy stands.

Why heavy? Well, it comes down to the water pressure coming from the impact sprinkler head. Once you install the sprinkler head onto a riser (at say 36″ high, for consistent coverage and tall crops) the pressure of the spray makes the riser sway back, and can even topple a riser with too little support. This all PVC design is great because it has a wide base, and the pipes fill with water for stability. When the job is done, unhook the hose, and when the water drains, the sprinkler is quite light and manageable.

We still have some of the old, hideous contraptions hanging around the nursery – but they never get used!

Now, I may have to do something about the color. Any suggestions?