How to: Install Your Own Drip Irrigation System

How does drip irrigation work?

Drip irrigation works by delivering water slowly and directly to the roots of your plants via drip emitters. Drip irrigation can use up to 60% less water by soaking into the soil before it evaporates or runs off and water is only applied where it is needed rather than sprayed everywhere. We recommend covering your dripline with mulch to lessen the evaporation process.

If it is difficult to install the system in a grid pattern due to the garden being heavily planted and established, Drip line can be snaked though the garden in order to supply an adequate amount of water to the area. It is important to note that it is not necessary to have a dripper at the base of each plant. As plant roots spread throughout the soil, it is important to water the garden evenly rather than just directly under the plant.

Follow these guides:

Large gardens

These areas are best watered in a grid pattern with a collector pipe at each end. This will ensure an even flow of water to all the drippers and help prevent a blocked dripper in the event of a break in the line.

Formal hedges or straight plantings

In these situations a single run of the appropriate product installed on each side of the hedge will do the job. If the area is more or less level and the runs are short Scapeline or Mini-Scapeline can be used.

Boundary trees or shrubs

Where certain trees or shrubs need more water than the surrounding area a lateral line can be installed with a ring of the appropriate dripline product installed around each individual plant.

What are the required components?

• Backflow Prevention Kit
• Tap timer (optional)
• Arkal Disc Filter
• Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV)
• Air Release Valve
• Low Density Poly Pipe
• Dripline
• Wire Pegs
• Adaptors and fittings
• Line Automatic Flushing Valve

For more information on each of these components, please click here.

Below is a typical set up including all elements of drip and where they are to be installed.

How do I install it?

While drip systems are simple to design and install, there are some basic guidelines to follow that will assist your drip system to work efficiently.

The soil type dictates how far apart each run of Drip line should be installed and therefore how much Drip line is necessary for each site. If the spacing of the Drip line is wrong the system will not work efficiently.

Once the correct spacing has been decided the meterage can either be paced out on site or if a scale drawing is available the meterage can be worked out very quickly from the square meterage of the gardens. It is crucial that you determine what type of soil you have before you decide which product is best for you.

As an example the standard spacing for installation of Techline, Scapeline and Miniscape is 300mm, but:

1. If the your garden beds are sandy the water will drain straight down and this will mean that you need to install the runs length of drip line closer together at around 150mm.
2. If your gardens have high clay content the water will remain closer to the surface and the runs could be spaced out at 500mm.

Dripline is best installed in a grid pattern that includes a header and collector pipe in 19mm poly pipe. This will provide the most efficient system as well as providing the best locations to install air release and flush valves.