Installing a drip irrigation system

[MG]

A drip irrigation system saves time and effort, saves water, and can save your plants/trees. An automated system with a timer will take care of your plants while you are away on holiday, no need to rope in relatives or friends to stand in for you.

Dispelling a likely misconception you may have - A drip irrigation system is not just for very large gardens or agriculture - It can also be used for just a dozen potted plants adorning a balcony. Naturally if such is the case at some scale-point you may consider getting away with alternative arrangements such as watering thoroughly and placing the plants in the shade prior to a week's break. But let's assume that this is not practical/you have more than a half dozen plants/you also don't care much or don't have much time for daily routines/you do actually have quite a number of plants and trees, and thus it is very obvious that such as system would come in very useful.

Another possible misconception is that setting up a system is expensive. This is not the case at all. Remember that the price point for this sort of apparatus takes into consideration the quantities used and therefore the pricing expectations of large scale users such as the farming community.

Thus the smaller scale user enjoys all these cost advantages, and also equipment that has been designed to be extremely easy and quick to install.

The basic necessities:

The main line, ie the pipe that goes from the water supply (tap) around your garden/pots, end-stops, and adaptors to fit the pipe to the tap.

The drippers/emitters, the small attachments that are stuck into the pipe next to each plant/tree, ie where the water will come out from. The drippers also control the flow, and come in various flow rates rated in litres per hour.

A hole gun which you use to puncture the main line so that the drippers can be inserted.

The above is all you need for a "manual" system, whereby the control of the watering timing is purely a matter of opening/closing a tap.

You will also likely want:

The narrow flexible pipe from the dripper to the exact spot where you want the water to get to. You may get away without if you are using the system to irrigate trees in your garden, but bear in mind that the main hose is stiff and the usage of the micro pipe allows a more flexible layout. Also, you may want to move the actual watering spot a little once in a while to encourage even root growth, the soft micro pipe allows for this.

Any t-pieces, elbows, and other fittings to make life simpler, and others to do the job better like stakes for the micro pipe, which will also make it much easier to visually check that each dripper is working correctly. We could also mention stopcocks to isolate certain sections as required, etc.

You should really aim to:

Get a controller to automate the watering schedule. Without a controller you risk opening the tap and forgetting it open; forgetting to open the tap in the first place; you still actually have to open the tap, so the system can not run unattended.

A controller is a self-contained unit which times the "open" and "closed" periods automatically as per your settings. For a simpler setup, get a battery operated controller, which you would simply fit between the tap and the main line.

Installing.

Plan the layout. Lay the pipe. Insert the drippers. Connect to tap/controller. Set the controller (if applicable). Finish!

Naturally you will be observing the system and making adjustments accordingly.

The above of course does not go into great detail, but to set up a simple system this is all you need. Other niceties can be viewed at your local supplier - speaking of which, you are not very likely to find this equipment at a corner petshop, but more likely at larger garden centres and agricultural supplies outlets.

Read more here:

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/Garden/04702.html

http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/install.htm

MG

[apples and pears]

I installed a drip irrigation system here are some tips.

Irrigation systems are very versatile and fitting are all reusable.

Make a plan/layout of where you want to irrigate be it garden/balcony. Note trees and planting beds, pots etc.

If you have a large well like me, you need a pump a SMALL pump for drip Irrigation. You need to know the well depth in order to select a pump.
Remember there are electrical timers 1day, 7day etc. Do not run the pump directly off the timer use a contactor to protect the timer (contactor electrically controlled switch, in this case it is switched by the timer),
 
For the garden I used a 32mm pipe along the wall and 16mm pipes running perpendicular to it off this I have spaghetti pipes I also have drippers on the 16mm pipe. My only regret is I didn’t get fitting with taps for joining the 16mm to the 32mm pipe.

Flow rates, drippers per tree and times to run the system per week are best answered by someone in the agriculture business.

For seed and seedlings don’t use drips use a watering can with a fine rose attachment.

Get familiar with the fittings by visiting agricultural suppliers and garden centres ask for advice using your plan. Agricultural suppliers may be cheaper.

Design the irrigation system on the plan you made and there should be an indication of the cost. You will also need to add the cost of the pipe support stakes I found these very useful, much better than the wire ones I made.

[MG]

My only regret is I didn’t get fitting with taps for joining the 16mm to the 32mm pipe.

Hardly an issue. Cut the 16mm pipe wherever you want, and fit a stopcock/angle valve.

Flow rates, drippers per tree and times to run the system per week are best answered by someone in the agriculture business.

When watering trees, you don't want to just soak the surface, else that is where the roots will remain. Less frequent but deeper waterings. Also, it is preferable to have 3 drippers per tree except for saplings so that root growth is more even, and occasionally move the spaghetti pipe around for the same reason.

Design the irrigation system on the plan you made and there should be an indication of the cost.

Shop around and get a quote for each individual component of the system, some outlets are cheap on some stuff, others on other bits, and the differences can be substantial, i.e. well worth the inconvenience for any but the smallest of setups. It's amazing how many metres of spaghetti hose one can go through!

MG