How to Install a Drip Irrigation Zone

Drip irrigation systems are a great way to conserve water and also contribute to healthy plants and a maintenance-free irrigation system. They are also cost-effective and fairly simple to install.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1/2" Netafim polypipe drip piping
• Poly pipe cutter
• Netafim connector tees, els, and unions
• Transition fitting from your current system
• Hose clamps for transition fittings

1. 
   Irrigation Supplies

   Begin by collecting all of your drip irrigation supplies so you have everything you need when you start. See above for a list of things you'll need.

2. The drip system has to be on its own zone that is separate from overhead sprayers, so make sure you have a spare zone with no overhead sprayers attached.

3. If you are using the drip system in a planting bed, strip down the bed by about 4 to 6" below the finished grade.

4. Lay out your plants in the bed and make any final design changes. Plant all plants.

5. Now run your black poly pipe from the zone valve to the edge of the planting bed.

6. 
   Run your Netafim

   Install a transition fitting from the back poly pipe to the netafim piping. Run parallel lines spaced 12 to 18" apart, using netafim clips to hold the pipe in place. Be sure to run on top of the bed grade.

7. Watch closely to make sure that you don't allow the netafim to kink by turning too tight a radius. Use an el fitting or a tee if you are making sharp turns with your netafim.

8. To supply water through your drip irrigation system to a large plant, install a tee in the line, fabricate a circle of netafim to go around the entire large plant or tree, and then connect the two with a straight piece of netafim.

9. Test the system to make sure that all emitters are working properly and there are no leaks.

10. 
    Add Mulch

    Fill the bed with shredded bark or other mulch.

11. 
    Set Controller & Check

    Set the zone controller for about 30 minutes every other day to start. Dig down around the plants several hours after the zone has finished watering to check. If it is moist but not soggy, that is a good indication that your watering level is acceptable. Check several locations and different times up until your next irrigation cycle. The area around your plants should stay moist until shortly before a new irrigation cycle is scheduled to start. Adjust your zone watering schedule as needed to achieve this.