DO IT YOURSELF DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

WHY CONSIDER?

 No great skill needed to install  No trenching required  No electrical connections necessary  No precise pipe connections to make  Inexpensive to install

DRIP IRRIGATION ADVANTAGES

 Reduces loss through evaporation  Eliminates runoff  Does not spray leaves, petals, trunks thus reducing fungus potential  Does not waste water irrigating surrounding areas (discourages weeds)

ADVANTAGES

 Reduces overall time to water a given area  Ensures consistent moisture to individual plants  Works especially well on difficult hillsides  Can be used for small irrigation additions

MINOR PROBLEMS

 Occasional minor adjustments do to:  Dogs chewing  Children kicking  Spider web clogging

PLANNING Planning is essential

 Draw a design to include all your plantings under consideration  Determine the size and requirement of each circuit/zone  About 200’ max per circuit

Matches your needs to your purchases

PLANNING

Think “HYDROZONES”  Think drip and/or spray systems  Sprayer systems for closely spaced systems  Drip systems for widely spaced plantings  Regardless, the system selected should cover 50% of the root zone  Think about the soil type in your garden area

TOOLS & OTHER BASIC MATERIALS NEEDED  Tools…cutters and punch  Materials : Garden hose?

Staking device

OPTIONAL UPGRADES

 Filter  Timing device  Fertilizer injector …needs anti-siphon valve  All sorts of interesting toys

TUBING & FITTINGS

 ½” main tubing  2 wall thicknesses  .052 and .060 match fittings to wall thickness 3/8” main tubing

TUBING AND FITTINGS

FITTINGS (i.e. connectors)

Used to connect pieces of tubing  Fittings are color coded: Red fittings for 3/8” tubing Blue and green for 1/2” tubing  Three insert types  Compression  Barbed  locking

EMITTERS & SPRAYERS

Emitters let the water drip onto the plant roots Generally come in three sizes ½ gallon per hour 1 gallon per hour 2 gallons per hour Have barbed ends to fit into micro tubing Color coded…color end into tubing Also sprayers in ¼, 1/2, ¾ and full turn Also available as a pre-constructed line with emitters attached

SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS

 Punches  Goof Plugs  Stakes

Vegetables close spacing Vegetables -widely spaced Flower Beds Ground Covers Shrubs 2-3 ft tall Shrubs and Trees 3-5 ft tall Shrubs and Trees 5-10ft tall Shrubs and Trees 10-20 ft tall Trees Over 20 ft tall Output rate ½-1 GHP 1-2 GPH 1 GPH 1 GPH 1 GPH 1 GPH 2 GPH 2 GPH 2 GPH Number of emitters Placement 1 Every 12” 1 1 1 1-2 At base of plant At base of plant At base of each plant At plant base 12” opposite sides 2 2-3 2 feet from trunk 3 feet apart at drip line 3-4 6 or more 4 feet apart at drip line

INSTALLATION

 Each main line (1/2”…large diameters) diameter has a maximum length…200’  Each micro line (1/4”) has a maximum number of emitters  If possible try to connect emitters directly to the larger drip tubing lines.

MAXIMUM TUBING LENGHTS

DRIP TUBING Polyethylene Tubing Heavy weight vinyl Diameter ½” 3/8” ¼” ¼” Flow rate 320 GPH 100 GPH 15 GPH 10 GPH Maximum Length 200 ft 100 ft 25 ft 20 ft

HELPFUL TIPS

 Allow ½” poly to sit in the sun  Buy a good punch  Measure twice …cut once

Maximum Number of Emitters

To determine the maximum number of emitters on each line:  For each ½” line add up the water volume of the emitters…maximum volume of emitters is 320 GPH  For each ¼” micro line maximum volume is 15 GPH

FINDING A SUPPLY SOURCE

Local

 Lowe’s and Home Depot

Internet sources

 The Drip Store  www.dripirrigation.com

 Sprinkler Warehouse www.sprinklerwarehouse.com

 Drip Works USA www.dripworksusa.com

QUESTIONS ?

WATER INFORMATION

A typical area of 20’X40’ (800 sq. ft.) requires about 4000 gallons of water per month Garden hoses deliver: Dia. Hose Flow gal/hr Hrs of watering  1/2 “ 300 13hrs/mo  5/8” 500 8hrs/mo  3/4” 600 6.5hrs/mo