how do i install drip irrigation in my garden

1. Run water supply lines to each raised garden bed. The main water supply lines may be PVC, other hard piping, or ½” black drip tubing itself. ...
2. Convert from the main water supply lines to drip. Next, use an appropriate adapter for your system to connect the main water supply lines to ½” drip irrigation tubing.
3. Assemble the header and drip tape lines. If you’re installing drip irrigation in multiple raised garden beds of the same size, I recommend making one header in/near the garden ...
4. Install the drip system – and enjoy! Finally, install your new drip irrigation in the raised garden beds. Pin everything in place with landscape staples.

Full Answer

How much does it cost to install drip irrigation?

The average cost of a drip irrigation system is around $80-$100 for 100 feet of watering, when you purchase and install the system yourself. Expect to pay about $320 for the same no-frills 100-foot drip system professionally installed. Average DIY (100′) $80.

How to create your own drip irrigation system?

• Plan out where the hoses will go.
• Mark all plants that will need to be watered.
• Each plant should have its own emitter or drip. Note how far apart the plants are. ...
• Each hose will be attached to the water source through a network of drip irrigation lines. These lines will run from the main hose to your plants.

How do you make a homemade drip irrigation system?

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Attach 2-Way Garden Hose Connector to Outdoor Water Faucet. Attach the two-way garden hose connecter to the outside faucet. ...
2. Attach Poly Main Line Tubing to Hose Fitting. Push the tubing onto the hose fitting. ...
3. Design Tubing Layout. Lay out the tubing and pots to determine the design. ...
4. Install the Irrigation Tubing. ...
5. Install Irrigation Drippers. ...

How do you install a drip system?

Part 3 Part 3 of 3: Attaching the Drip Irrigation Download Article

1. Assemble the the drip lines. Use a tubing cutter to cut the drip tubing to desired lengths. ...
2. Stake the drip lines in place. Secure the drip lines using ordinary garden stakes.
3. Attach the emitters. If you are using drip emitters or micro-sprinklers, attach these along your drip lines.
4. Cap the end of each drip tube. ...
5. Test the system. ...

Should drip irrigation tubing be buried?

Drip Irrigation tubing can be buried underground and/or covered by mulch. Keep in mind that burrowing rodents, like gophers, can chew through the tubing seeking water, and with it being underground, it is harder to locate the leak.

How deep should drip irrigation lines be buried?

Trench digging PVC pipe needs to be at least 12 inches deep, while the poly tubing used for drip irrigation only needs to be six inches deep. Digging trenches is hard work, so make the most of them by using the same trench for different landscaping needs. Irrigation and lighting wires can be run in the same trench.

How do you layout a drip irrigation system?

Step 1: Do Your Homework. ... Step 2: Connect to an Outdoor Faucet. ... Step 3: Lay Out the Tubing. ... Step 4: Install Ground Stakes. ... Step 5: Lay Tubing Around Shrubs and Trees. ... Step 6: Position Sprayers for Ground Cover. ... Step 7: Close Off the Tubing's End. ... Step 8: Cover the Tubing With Mulch.More items...

How do you connect a drip irrigation to a garden hose?

0:052:39How to Install a DIY Drip Irrigation System to your Hose Faucet: RaindripYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSystem you just connect the white connector. Then twist on the timer. Make sure that the arrow onMoreSystem you just connect the white connector. Then twist on the timer. Make sure that the arrow on the timer is pointed out because that's the direction of the water flow. Next connect your supplied.

What is better drip tape or drip line?

Drip line does have one advantage over drip tape in regards to flexibility. ¼” drip line is reasonably flexible, in fact it is often used to make rings around trees in order to water the entire root system of a tree evenly. ½” drip line isn't quite as flexible as ¼” drip line.

What size drip irrigation tubing should I use?

½ inchPIPE OR TUBING: The pipe commonly used for drip systems is polyethylene, often called 'poly tubing' . Standard mainline tubing is usually ½ inch (0.600” ID x 0.700 OD). Stick with commercial grade products from irrigation supply stores.

How can I make a cheap drip irrigation system?

1:3010:37How to Install a Cheap Drip Irrigation System || Black Gumbo - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd each wire connector connector has a cap. And a valve and the cap contains two little connectorsMoreAnd each wire connector connector has a cap. And a valve and the cap contains two little connectors to which you can put this quarter inch tubing and you just slide it over the end of the connector.

How long should drip lines run?

When a drip system is installed, it should be designed so it has the flexibility to change the amount of emitters and the location of the emitters in the landscape. Each emitter should give you at least a 30-minute run time without runoff.

How deep do you bury poly tubing?

Trench Depth, Pipe Materials All plastic mainline pipe should be at least 18″ deep as measured from the top of the pipe to the soil surface. Because a mainline always has pressurized water in it you do not want it to be shallow where it is easily damaged.

Can you bury drip emitter tubing?

Raindrip supply tubing and feeder lines can be buried. However, drip tubing should not be buried. If buried, you risk clogging the emitters. If you do not want your drip tubing exposed, you can cover it with mulch.

Does drip irrigation go under mulch?

You can hide most of the drip irrigation parts under a layer of mulch, as long as you keep any parts that emit water on top of the mulch to prevent clogging. The system can also run on top of the soil or mulch, allowing the plants to conceal it as they grow and spread.

How long does it take to install drip irrigation?

Installing a drip irrigation isn't nearly as convoluted as it seems. Follow these instructions and you can have it done in hours.

How to put drip tape on plants?

If you’re working in a garden with plants already, just lay the rock on one end of your drip tape then gently pull the plants up and lay the tape underneath. Then pull the drip line tight and straight.

How to attach drip line to supply line?

Here’s how to attach the drip lines to the supply line. Before you put the end caps on your drip line you have to purge the system so any dirt that got into the lines gets flushed out. Close the valves at the end of your supply line, make sure all the drip line valves are open and turn the water on.

What are the benefits of drip irrigation?

Benefits of Drip Irrigation 1 No waste of water. It goes directly in the ground where you want it, not onto paths, not onto the dense layer of plant leaves and not into the air. 2 You can water and work in your garden at the same time. Try doing that while dodging a sprinkler. 3 Every single inch of your garden is watered. There are no dry or missed corners. 4 Because the water is dripped so slowly it’s fully absorbed deeply into the soil with no run off. 5 You can set it to a timer and forget about it. 6 It works especially well with raised beds which dry out more quickly than other types of beds.

What is drip tubing?

There are 2 types of tubing with drip irrigation: the drip tube ( or tape), which has holes in it for dripping water in the beds and the irrigation tubing which is the hose that feeds the drip hose.

How does a drip system work?

The drip system delivers water slowly through holes in the top of the drip tape. The water will spread out and down. Here’s a cross section of the soil after 1/2 an hour of the drip system running. You can see how far down and wide the water has travelled.

How long does a drip system run?

How long do you run the system? Drip systems run for anywhere from 1/2 hour – 2 hours at a time depending on your soil. Different soils need different amounts of water depending on how much they drain.

How does micro irrigation work?

Most of micro irrigation is drip tubing, ¼-inch or ½-inch hose fitted with tiny plastic nubs , called emitters, that allow water to drip out at a regulated pace without clogging. The tubing snakes around and among plants and trees to get water into the soil at the roots. You can buy that tubing either prepunched, with emitters factory-installed under the surface every 18 inches, or unperforated, which requires you to punch the holes and attach the emitters to the outside of the tubing yourself. Unperforated tubing can be used to customize a system to an unusual layout or to connect sections of tubing where you don't need water. Some companies also sell soaker hose, laser-perforated rubber that weeps water into the soil without emitters.#N#MORE: Water-Saving Hose Nozzles#N#All manufacturers have accessories that are specialized for different types of plants—sprays for ground cover, foggers for hanging containers, and single emitters for reaching plants off the grid. But few offer a kit with everything included. You will need to draw a plan of your garden — because micro irrigation requires so much tubing, it is not appropriate for lawns—and map out a configuration of the tubing and accessories, then buy some parts separately. Or contact the drip kit's manufacturer; many will take your garden plans and provide you with an efficient design and materials list free of charge.#N#MORE: 10 Uses for Garden Hoses#N#Fan TOH on Facebook

How to attach a micro sprayer to a stake?

Pierce the ½-inch tubing with a hole punch, then insert a small straight connector. Attach a length of unperforated ¼-inch tubing long enough to reach the location of the micro sprayer. Connect the other end of the ¼-inch tubing to the micro sprayer. Clip the sprayer to a stake and position it in the ground cover.

How long does it take to install drip irrigation in a raised garden?

In the end, it took less than a full day to install drip irrigation in our entire raised bed kitchen garden . Yes, it was a lot of work. But the trade off was so worth it!

Why do you need drip irrigation?

Installing drip irrigation will save you so much time throughout the growing season. Your plants will thrive thanks to consistent watering. What’s more, it will make it that much easier for a friend to water your garden while you’re away. In addition to saving you tons of time, drip irrigation can help to prevent fungus and disease in your plants. ...

Why do you need to drip water?

In addition to saving you tons of time, drip irrigation can help to prevent fungus and disease in your plants. Watering from above, especially in the evening, can lead to problems. Watering the soil via drip irrigation instead of watering the entire plant from above helps to keep the water where it belongs. Save.

What to use to hold drip line in place?

I recommend using landscaping stakes to hold your drip line in place.

Can I install drip irrigation in raised garden beds?

Wondering if it’s possible to install drip irrigation in your raised garden beds without the help of a professional? It is ! If I can do it, I promise you can too.

Is it a tedious process to install drip irrigation?

And that’s it! Yes, it can be a tedious process. And the larger your garden, the more tedious it will be to install drip irrigation.

Does a gravity fed system take special drippers?

Great article. Only thing I would add is that if you are using a low pressure gravity fed system, it takes special drippers.

What is a DIY drip irrigation system?

A DIY drip irrigation system is a set of hoses and connectors that have been cut and sized to fit your unique garden layout. The materials are generally available at the local hardware store, and do not need to be purchased from a specific irrigation kit. Most DIY drip irrigation systems use 1/2″ or 3/4″ diameter black plastic irrigation piping with “emitter” holes at 12″ intervals to let water seep out slowly. DIY drip irrigation systems are also much more user-friendly with an automatic watering timer.

How efficient is drip irrigation?

Drip irrigation puts the water right at the base of the plant rather than watering the leaves. This minimizes moisture-related problems on plant leaves.

How to keep plants alive and thriving?

The best way to keep things alive and thriving is by automating some of your watering with drip irrigation.

How to get coiled line to settle?

Uncoil the tubing lines along a smooth, dry surface such as your lawn to allow the coiled line to settle and relax into straighter line. Set up the watering timers for your desired time. Check your bylaws for the hours in which watering is allowed. Early morning, such as 3-5 AM, is generally a good pick.

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How to draw a garden?

Sketch out the area using the paper and pencil. Draw a rough perimeter of the garden, the water spigot, and any other important features (fences, walkways).

Where to install hose connector?

Install the hose connector on the end of the solid line that will go into the water outlet.

Lay Out Irrigation Grid

Drip irrigation prevents overwatering. The system consists of interconnected drip irrigation tools such as emitters, hoses and valves. An emitter will consistently provide water to a plant’s roots. Laying these tools out correctly will give the best results.

Assemble the Hoses

Drip irrigation tubing are 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch plastic hoses. They make up the bulk of a drip irrigation system. Assembling the hoses properly is key to a properly running system. Here’s how to assemble them:

Install Tees for Branch Lines

Your hoses have been assembled. Now it’s time to install tees. Tees connect your hoses and direct how lines branch off. They help make your drip irrigation system work across landscapes, up hills and around corners. Here are the two easy steps to install these parts:

Install Emitters and Feeder Lines

Knowing how to install a drip irrigation system is the most efficient way to water your garden. The last step in drip irrigation installation is putting in emitter and feeder lines. Once you do this, your drip irrigation system will be ready. Here’s the step-by-step process:

How far apart should drip irrigation be?

Emitters should be a foot apart (30 cm.) in sandy soil, 18 inches (46 cm.) apart in loamy, and 24 inches (61 cm.) in clay soils.

What is drip irrigation?

Drip or micro-irrigation is an irrigation method that applies water slowly to individual plants. Drip systems are fairly easy to set up yourself and require four easy steps: laying out the irrigation grid, assembling the hoses, installing tees, and then installing emitters and feed lines.

How to plot irrigation system?

Using your map, plot the course of the irrigation system using as few turns as possible. Extra turns reduce the water pressure. For large areas, use multiple loops instead of a single stretch. Mark the placement of the sprinkler heads on your map making sure to allow a bit of overlap to ensure the radius of each head covers the full area. Using spray paint or flags, mark the location of the system in your yard or garden.

Why is it important to have an irrigation system?

Printer Friendly Version. Image by PaulMaguire. An irrigation system helps to conserve water which, in turn, saves you money. Installing an irrigation system also results in healthier plants by allowing the gardener to water deeply and less often, which encourages plant growth.

How to make a landscape water faucet?

Include trees and other obstacles. Check your water pressure by attaching a pressure gauge to the outdoor faucet. Then remove the gauge and fill an empty 5-gallon bucket using the faucet.

How to keep groundwater from backing up into tap water?

To keep groundwater from backing up into your tap water, install a backflow preventer valve. Also, attach a hose adapter to fit the diameter of the hose. Connect the main line to the backflow preventer and run it to the garden. Punch holes according to the above lengths in the line and place the emitters in position.