KEY COMPONENTS TO A DRIP SYSTEM
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For starters, you will need a standard outdoor spigot, like you would use for a conventional hose. Drip irrigation is not recommended for use indoors with sinks and other faucets.
Timer
The first component of your drip system is a timer. While timers are not required, they allow you to set the system to deliver water at fixed intervals. There are many types of timers available, from simple manual models to more sophisticated automated versions that only require you to set it up, test it, and walk away.
Anti-Syphon
Next comes an anti-syphon. This component is highly recommended, as it ensures that water from your drip system cannot be pulled backwards into your home. Some gardeners may not mind brushing their teeth with water that has been sitting outside in their drip tubing, but to avoid this, attach your anti-syphon to the beginning of your drip system.
Pressure Regulator
The pressure regulator is a critical component for ensuring safe, consistent water pressure within your drip system. Pressure regulators come in different PSI (pounds per square inch), though 15 PSI and 25-30 PSI are the most common. The average PSI for a spigot in our region falls between 50-70 PSI, which is too high for drip system components. The pressure regulator connects to the anti-syphon and forms the starting point for your system, protecting your drip tubing and emitters from leaking or breaking.
Drip Tubing & Fittings
Once you have your timer, anti-syphon, and pressure regulator connected, it is time to build your system. Drip tubing forms the skeleton of your system, getting the water where it needs to go through ½” or ¼” tubing. They can be cut to measure to fit specific spaces.
Compression adaptors are a type of fitting that converts the standard ¾” spigot or hose thread into ½” drip tubing or ¼” drip tubing. Connectors, tees, and elbows are additional types of fittings that attach to ½” drip tubing or ¼” drip tubing, which allow you to customize the shape of your overall system. You will need snug seals to keep your system from leaking, so getting your drip tubing into a fitting can be tricky. Soaking the end of the tubing in hot water to soften the plastic will help you work it into the fitting. When it cools, it will form a solid seal.
End clamps
Finally, it is time to close your system! End clamps are the simplest way to close your system by bending a drip tubing back on itself. End plugs are a more efficient component, as they also function as a water release valve at the end of your system. You can also create a looped circuit by using a tee-shaped fitting at the beginning of your circuit.
SETTING UP A DRIP SYSTEM
First, have a plan before purchasing your components and starting your setup. Measuring your space and sketching out a circuit is a great place to start to ensure you have the right length of tubing and the correct fittings to get water where you need it to go.
Thinking about the water needs of different plants will help you choose your emitters. For example, a container of annuals in the shade will likely need less water than a container of annuals in full sun; a raised bed can be irrigated by building a grid of pre-punched ¼” drip tubing; a single pot of strawberries might only need a single emitter while one water-loving hydrangea might need a loop with two or three emitters to ensure its entire root ball is getting sufficient water. If you aren’t sure, ask a Swansons employee about the water needs of different plants!
Water will always follow the path of least resistance. Your system can become less efficient if your circuit:
● is too long
● has too many emitters
● uses emitters that drip at different rates
● runs uphill, or against gravity (e.g. up a structure to hanging baskets)
These issues can be counteracted by creating a loop, using a tee-shaped fitting at the beginning of your circuit. A closed loop allows for relatively even pressure throughout the system. However, while a looped circuit will help even out the drip rate of your emitters, having too many emitters or emitters that drip at differing rates may still require you to run water through your system for a longer period of time to ensure all your plants are getting the correct amount of water. You may also consider installing a second, separate circuit that runs at a different time from your first circuit.
Once you have installed your components, it is time to test your system. There are countless factors that will impact your water output, including wind, temperature, soil composition, gravity, and water pressure, so monitoring your system is critical to ensure correct watering. After running your drip system for a set period of time, check to see how much water each of your emitters has released. You can do this by digging into the soil around your plants to see how far the water has percolated down through the soil, or by placing a small reservoir (such as a cat food or tuna can) under your emitters to get a more precise measurement. Once you have tested your system, you can bury your drip tubing and fittings under mulch to protect them from foot traffic and UV radiation. However, keep your emitters (including drippers) unburied to minimize the risk of blockages.
While the spring and autumn seasons in the maritime Northwest are typically cool and rainy, you may need to continue using your drip system to ensure your plants are getting enough water–especially those that are still becoming established in your landscape.
You can leave your drip system outside year-round, but be sure to disconnect it from your water source and allow the water to drip or drain out to avoid damage from freezing temperatures. Storing components like anti-syphons, pressure regulators, and emitters in a cool, dry place during the winter can prolong the lives of these products. In spring, test your system again to make sure all components are working properly, replacing or repairing any damaged pieces as needed.
As of this writing, Swansons carries drip irrigation components from Raindrip and Tempo, which are compatible with one another. These brands are ideal for watering containers, raised beds, and smaller garden areas. Mixing components from other drip systems is not recommended, as component sizing between brands varies slightly (even when marked as the same size), leading to fitting problems.
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Drip irrigation is a fantastic watering method that is precise and efficient. Once you have set up and tested your system, it also will save you time and energy in keeping your plants watered when your garden is not receiving sufficient rainfall or while you are away from home. While this post is meant to demystify the dozens of drip irrigation components and address the most common issues with setup, every garden is unique.
If you have questions about components, need assistance sketching out your circuit, or are unsure about the watering needs of different plants, us or visit the store. Our team is here to support you!
Tagged: drip irrigation, watering tools, watering, watering plants, watering guides
Drip irrigation is a labor-saving, money-saving and environmentally friendly way to water plants in your garden. This article looks at the pros and cons of a drip irrigation system to help you decide what’s best for your landscape.
Drip irrigation is a system of tubes, drip lines, and emitters that delivers water slowly to the root zones of plants so that it can penetrate the soil deeply. The root zone is where plants need water most rather than having it sprinkled overhead.
Plants can be watered with above ground drips, below ground drips, above ground misters and bubblers, and by seeping hoses.
Water conservation and efficiency are probably the two greatest advantages of a drip irrigation system in the landscape. Drip irrigation systems reduce water loss through evaporation, also. Let’s take a closer look at a drip irrigation system’s advantages.
A drip irrigation system takes the guesswork out of watering your plants because it is programmed to do the job efficiently. The homeowner does not have to turn the system on and off. Timers and sensors will be set by the installer or homeowner. These devices control when the system comes on, how long it runs, then shuts it off.
Drip systems prevent the wasting of water, a valuable resource. The drip system delivers water at or near the plant’s root zone, where it does the most good. On the other hand, water is lost through evaporation when sprayed from a sprinkler or garden hose.
Drip irrigation systems also use less water, distributing 1 to 4 gallons of water per hour (gph). A sprinkler system delivers 12 to 30 gallons of water per minute.
Since a drip irrigation system delivers water under low pressure, there’s less chance of soil erosion, root exposure, and water runoff. The slow distribution allows the soil to absorb the water. Water that gushes from a garden hose can easily loosen and dislodge soil.
Because a drip irrigation system targets the root area of a plant, the leaves do not get wet. Wet leaves can contribute to diseases, including fungus.
Advantages of a drip irrigation system are that it can be configured in many shapes and sizes. It can be modified to serve specific plants, such as shrubs, which have different water requirements than perennials or lawns. The system can also be extended or reduced, as the landscape matures, or water requirements change.
Regular watering of plants increases their ability to bloom and form fruit and vegetables. Adequate soil moisture also aids in seed germination. Because the system works automatically, water is delivered directly to plants to support their growth and productivity. Despite good intentions, watering with the hose can be a hit or miss activity.
When you opt for a drip irrigation system, less energy is spent pumping the water at a low pressure. As a result, your energy bills have the potential to lower.
Because the water flows directly to the root zones of desirable plants, weeds will be left out of the stream. The lack of water should help reduce and eliminate weeds.
Just like most things in life, drip irrigation systems are not perfect. Let’s explore some of the disadvantages of drip irrigation in the landscape.
Drip irrigation systems can be expensive to install, especially when compared with common lawn sprinkler irrigation. That’s because of the intricacies, including size of tubing, regulators, water quality, water pressure, timers, sensors, distance from pump, and spacing of emitters.
The quality of your water is important to know. If you have hard water, salinity, or water with a lot of calcium, using a drip irrigation system is probably not feasible, even with filters. Hard water clogs the drip emitters. Be sure to discuss this with the company performing the installation.
Fertilizers, weed killers, and other lawn and garden chemicals can damage the tubing, causing it to break down. The sun can cause the tubing to crack. Covering the tubing with mulch can help prevent these issues.
Rodents, including squirrels and field mice, are not picky when it comes to chewing a plant’s roots, tree bark, or drip irrigation tubing. Dogs or other animals also may take bites out of the tubing while getting a drink. Either way, leaks may occur with a drip irrigation system.
Lawn mowers, weed whackers, shovels and other landscape equipment can crack tubing or break emitters, causing leaks in the landscape.
A drip irrigation system that runs along the soil surface can cause people and pets to trip. Tripping might crack the tubing or break emitters, causing leaks.
If emitters are placed too close together, they may crowd root development or distribute too much water to the area.
Keeping the drip irrigation system running efficiently will require your attention. In part, that means making sure the filters, emitters and tubes are not clogged and are operating at the appropriate flow rate.
For most people, it’s best to work with a local landscaping expert. That person can have the whole landscape’s needs in mind, especially when designing the plan in sections or zones for your garden. Understanding the size and scope of the project aids in specifying the correct dimensions of tubing, pump power, and other aspects of the system. The pro also will be able to measure water pressure to ensure there’s adequate water supply for a drip irrigation system.
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