Drip Irrigation Buying Guide

Last updated September 7,

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While standard sprinklers and automated in-ground irrigation systems can both provide ample amounts of water to your yard, they are not as efficient and effective when it comes to watering gardens, plants and other hard-to-reach areas. Drip irrigation, with its flexible features and low-pressure emission, deposits water only where it's needed, preventing it from being wasted and saving you money in the process.

Rather than casting a wide spray or steady stream of water over a large area, drip irrigation dribbles out tiny quantities of water to provide steady soaking in specific places.

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Table of Contents

1. Types and Applications

2. Components

3. Kits & Features

Types and Applications

Drip irrigation types:

• Drip: Delivers water one drop at a time to keep roots moist. Recommended for container plants, flower gardens and vegetable gardens.
• Emitter line and drip tape: Provides saturation coverage along the entire line and has equally spaced emitters built in. Recommended for vegetable gardens, flower gardens and raised garden beds.
• In-line drip: Placed between sections of tubing to allow water to drip out as it flows through. Recommended for hedges, shrubs and landscaping.
• Punch-in: Inserted through a hole in the pipe and feature a ridge on the inlet barb that prevents them from popping out; allows for customized flow rates and water pressure. Recommended for soils ranging from clay to sandy container plants on decks, gardens and landscaping.

Installing drip irrigation is a snap for any motivated do-it-yourselfer. Consider which areas of your yard need it the most and take measurements to determine how much pipe or hose will be required.

Drip irrigation can be buried underground or laid on the ground and covered with mulch.

• Use drip irrigation to water oddly shaped sections of your lawn, hanging baskets or vines growing on a trellis that cannot be reached by normal sprinklers or manual watering cans.
• Laying strips along your landscaping will provide just the right amount of water for plants and shrubs without wasting any on a nearby sidewalk.
• Weaving drip irrigation through your garden or burying it just underneath the soil will ensure that crops get the proper amount of hydration.
• As with traditional automatic irrigation systems, you may need to winterize your drip system if you live in a cold climate that experiences freezing temperatures during the fall and winter.

Components

There are a number of components you need for your drip irrigation system. Preassembled kits make it easy to find all of the components you need for each specific watering purpose. Water can be dispersed through emitters, micro-sprinkler heads, foggers or sprayers.

• Pipe, also called tubing or hose, is the line through which water runs. It can be connected to any outside faucet.
• Add a filter to ensure that minerals and other debris are removed from the water before it reaches your plants, particularly if you're drawing from a nearby stream or river.
• If you don't already have one in place, install a backflow preventer, or vacuum breaker, to stop contaminated water from flowing back into your water supply.
• A Y-shaped connector can connect drip irrigation and a hose to a faucet simultaneously.
• Supply and header lines are usually 1/2-inch in diameter while lateral lines are 1/4-inch.
• A pressure regulator maintains steady water pressure for better operation.
• Elbowand T-shaped connectors provide multiple installation options.
• Foggers create a fine mist that is ideal for watering hanging plants and flowers.
• Micro-sprinkler heads function like regular sprinklers at lower pressure and volume.

Tip: If you're setting up a particularly long run or need to go up and down hills, look for pressure-compensating emitters, which maintain a steady flow rate despite changes in water pressure along the line.

Kits & Features

Drip irrigation kits are available for specialized needs. Because they're designed for specific purposes, kits are very effective when it comes to providing just the right amount of hydration to your landscape.

Kits:

• Garden drip watering kits precisely water shrubs, bushes, trees, vines and vegetables.
• Micro-sprinkler kits are ideal for flowerbeds, groundcover, hillsides, large trees and any other densely planted areas.
• Use retrofit kits to convert your existing irrigation system to a drip irrigation system.
• Patio kits efficiently water plants in pots and baskets whether on the ground or hanging.
• Drip soaker kitsare specially designed for irrigating row crops and vegetable gardens.

Features:

• Timers: If you're away on vacation or in the midst of a busy week, use an automatic timer to ensure that your plants, landscaping and garden receive the water they need.
• Stoppers: Sometimes called "goof plugs," stoppers allow you to plug an emitter hole if you need to temporarily pause watering, such as when you rearrange your landscaping or if you relocate the tube to another area.
• Fertilizer injector: If your garden isn't quite growing as well as you'd like, use a fertilizer injector to add nutrients to your drip irrigation line, which will then water and fertilize plants simultaneously to save you time and effort.

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Buy components from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility, or buy an entire drip irrigation kit and work your way up to a customized system.

Soaker hoses are the simplest way to create drip irrigation. These garden hoses have tiny holes along their length to allow water to drip out. While it's an initially cost-effective option, it uses more water than a drip system in the long run.

Kits combine the components you need for specific applications. You can find kits to create systems for vegetable gardens, flower beds, container plants and landscape plants like trees and shrubs. Some kits allow you to expand the system as your irrigation needs grow. Other kits provide repair parts or let you convert pop-up sprinklers for drip irrigation.

Backflow preventers or anti-siphon devices prevent the irrigation system's water from re-entering your water supply and contaminating your drinking water when the system is turned off, which is a requirement in most areas.

Pressure regulators or reducers make your home water pressure compatible with the drip line irrigation system. Without these devices, the typical home water supply has too much pressure for a drip irrigation system.

Filters prevent debris from clogging the tubing and emitters. Some pressure regulators have built-in filters.

Flexible tubing transports the water. Black or brown coloring allows the tubing to blend in with soil and mulch. Ultraviolet (UV) resistance protects the tubing from deterioration caused by the sun.

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Fittings connect system components.

Stakes secure tubing and support emitters to prevent them from being clogged by soil, debris or bugs. Some stakes have built-in emitters.

Risers elevate emitters above the tops of the plants.

Timers turn the water on and off at times you set. Timers can prevent overwatering, minimize wasted water and allow your system to function as an automatic watering system. Some can connect to home automation systems to control from a computer or smart device. Certain smart devices can even regulate watering schedules based on weather activity and provide reports on water usage, making them ideal smart home solutions.

Hole punches create insertion points in the tubing to connect emitters or smaller-diameter tubing.

Cutters make clean cuts in different sized tubing. Some cutters can also function as hole punches.

Plugs securely stop up any holes you punched by mistake. Plugs also allow you to move emitters without replacing the tubing.

Emitters insert into the tubing and discharge the water into the soil or onto plants. A gallons-per-hour (GPH) rating indicates the flow rate. The flow rate you need will vary depending on the type of plants you're watering and your soil type. Emitters have a rating for the maximum water pressure they can accept, noted in pounds per square inch (PSI). Pressure-compensating emitters deliver a constant flow rate even if the water pressure varies. Turbulent flow emitters feature a design that helps prevent clogging. Drip irrigation systems can include drippers, bubblers and misters.

You may want to have a professional install a drip irrigation system if you don't have the time to do it yourself. The information above gives you a good background for discussing the project, but what questions should you ask to make sure you get a system that's right for your landscape?

This isn't an exhaustive list and you may not need to ask all of the questions, but they'll give you a head start in coming up with a list that fits your project.

1: Can you tell me about your business?
Depending on the work they'll be doing, you'll want to know if the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured. It’s also a good idea to know how long the company has been in business and any certifications they have.

2: Can I get references from other clients?
References from previous installations can give you a comfort level that the contractor will do the job right and support you after installation.

3: What are the requirements for installing an irrigation system in this area?
Ensuring that the contractor is aware of local codes or requirements can indicate a level of professionalism and experience. It can also save you money for future work, since retrofitting a system to meet local codes may be costly.

4: Is drip irrigation right for me?
Be sure you've explained your irrigation needs in as much detail as possible. While drip irrigation offers a lot of benefits, there are some applications where a professional might recommend an alternative, such as an underground system.

5: What size system do I need?
If you have a clear plan of where you need irrigation, the plants you'll be watering, etc., your contractor can design a system that's sized perfectly and doesn't waste materials, labor or water.

If you think you'll want to expand the irrigation area in the future, let your contractor know so they can build expandability into their design.

6: What type of emitters are best for my soil?
How quickly water flows through the soil is a factor on the speed and volume of irrigation. Make sure the contractor has checked your soil type to plan accordingly.

7: What's your plan for the system?
It's good to know exactly how the contractor will design the system. Understanding the components of the system helps you ensure your plants get the water they need and can help you plan for repairs or upgrades in the future. It's a good idea to have a final plan of the system as it was installed, in case the contractor had to make changes to the original plan.

8: How much water can I expect the system to use each month?
You should understand the impact the system will have on your water bill so you can plan for the changes. Depending on your current method of watering your plants, you may even reduce water usage.

9: What's included in installation?
In addition to installation of the system, you'll need to know if the contractor has a plan to check for underground utilities. You'll want all the manufacturer's information (manuals, warranty information, part numbers, etc.), instructions for use and maintenance and a demonstration of how to use the system. You'll also want a list of everything purchased and installed.

Depending on the system, the irrigation area may need to be seeded or mulch may need to be reapplied. Find out if this work is included.

10: How do I winterize the drip irrigation system?
If winterization isn't covered in the instructions or demonstration, make sure you know the steps you'll need to take so you can plan ahead.

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