Drip Irrigation

Simple Drip Irrigation
Cynthia Sandberg
Love Apple Farms
www.LoveAppleFarms.com
My Evolution of Drip Irrigation
● Hand watering became too onerous
● Overhead sprinkler water inefficient and bad for veggies
● Soaker hoses clogged
● Fortunate to go straight to commercial grade instead of homeowner
grade (more on this later)
● Started with 1/2" - switched to 3/4" later
● Started with single emitters, didn't do the job
● Moved to double emitters - still didn't do the job
● Moved to emitter line, 12" spacing - nope
● Moved to emitter lne, 9" spacing - nope
● Finally hit on the 6" spacing - aha!
● Didn't have shut off valve in each bed - D'OH!
● Moved to being able to shut down sections of garden with an inline shut off valve
Commercial Suppliers
● Scotts Valley Sprinkler
○ 5010 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley
○ Svsprinklerandpipe.com
○ 10% discount for LAF students
● Drip Works USA
○ www.DripWorksUSA.com
We don't like Single Emitter Heads
Don't Make it Too Complicated!
Calculating Water Pressure -- Oh boy!
We solve Water Pressure Conundrum
by:
● Only installing 3/4" Mainline Tubing
● Shut-Off Valve at Each Bed
● Using Higher Pressure Regulator (30 psi)
Know your Plumbing Terminology:
Female vs. Male Fittings
Hose Thread vs. Pipe Thread
We will use all hose thread fittings, but it's important to know the
difference.
Teflon Tape on All Male Pipe Thread Fittings
Washer on all Female Hose Ends
Begin Installation at the Spigot
The following list of parts is in order of
installation from spigot onward
●
●
●
●
First part attached to spigot: Brass Hose Splitter
Second part: Filter
Third part: Pressure Regulator
Fourth part (if desired): Timer (either programmable or
“Egg” timer)
● Fifth part: Female Hose Beginning w/ Swivel
● Sixth part: Mainline Tubing
● Remaining parts: ¾” compression fittings to ¼” microtubing as your plan requires.
Brass Hose Splitter - High Flow
Dripworks P/N HYVHI
Do not use cheapo plastic on this part! We like the “High Flow”
because it gives you MORE water, which you will need!
Filter
Dripworks P/N FYHL200
Pressure Regulator
(aka Pressure Reducer)
Dripworks P/N PRSG30
Programmable Timer (if desired)
Orbit Dial Timer (Battery powered)
Dripworks P/N TOLDIAL
"Egg-Timer"
Dripworks P/N TORWU
Manually turn them on each time and walk away.
Saves water because you don't forget to turn off irrigation.
Not programmable.
Female Hose Beginning w/ Swivel
to 3/4" Compression Fitting
Dripworks P/N CHS34
Assembly on Normal Height Hose Bib
Yes
No
Assembly on Short Hose Bib
Note filter canister turned upward
Mainline Tubing (aka Drip Tube)
3/4"
Dripworks P/N 3450 (50') or 34100 (100') or 34250 (for 250')
Hot Water Needed to Soften Ends
Dip just first inch of
mainline tubing into hot
water. Good tip for
compression fittings.
Tee
3/4" compression
Dripworks P/N CT34
(Compression)
Elbow
3/4" compression
Dripworks P/N CL34
Coupler
Shut-off Valve
3/4" compression
Dripworks P/N CC34
3/4" compression
Dripworks P/N CSO34
1/4" Soaker Dripline
In-Line Drip Emitter Tubing
Dripworks P/N DSD6 (100') or DSD6500 (500')
Install one more than width
of bed. Example: 5 lines for
a 4 foot wide bed.
Maximum length: 18 feet
For beds longer than 18 feet,
install at each end of bed .
X
Position for Beds Longer than 18 feet
x
Example: Bed is 25 feet long
Put a shut-off valve at each end and run 12.5'
dripline from each end halfway into middle of bed.
is Shut Off Valve
Dripline Connector
1/4" Micro-Fitting
Dripworks P/N 14LTB
Dripline Tee
1/4" Micro-Fitting
Dripworks P/N 14T
Dripline Elbow
1/4" Micro-Fitting
Dripworks P/N 1490
Goof Plugs
(Also used to cap end of
1/4" lines)
1/4" Micro-Fitting
Dripworks P/N 14GP2
for two-way plugs
Non-Dripline 1/4" Micro-Tubing
Dripworks P/N 1450 (50') to P/N 141000 (1000')
Use to run lines that you don't want to drip.
Example of using Non-Dripline
Micro-Tubing
<< Use cable clips to hold down microtubing along decking, fencing, or wood walls
Landscape Staples
Dripworks P/N SUHD
Use to hold down
mainline tubing and
soaker dripline in beds
End Cap for Mainline
3/4" Compression Fitting
Figure 8 End
Dripworks P/N CF834
Plastic Punches
Several Options - you will need a punch to push holes for your ¼”
micro-tubing and emitter lines into your ¾” mainline tubing
Miracle Punch
Dripworks P/N PUM
Yellow Handle Punch
Dripworks P/N PUY
Installation Tips
● Order more parts than you think you need. You may miscalculate,
they may break during installation, you may need to replace in
future. Don't stall your project for want of a $2 part.
● Make all cuts perpendicular - not diagonal.
● Don't cut all of your soaker dripline at once - do one bed at a time.
● Don't cap off any lines until you have a chance to flush them out
thoroughly with water.
● Don't worry about the whole garden now if it's too daunting - you
can always add on later.
● Don't worry about making a mistake. You can regroup and fix it.
Questions?
You CAN do it!