Tools and Materials
Tools
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Benefits of Installing Drip Irrigation
In a home drip irrigation system:
- Digging isn’t typically necessary.
- Emitters target plant root zones directly.
- Targeted irrigation reduces water waste.
- An optional timer automates irrigation.
Our guide to drip irrigation gives you details on drip irrigation and the benefits of these low-water-volume systems.
Components for Your Drip Irrigation Installation
Start your drip irrigation installation with an all-in-one kit or customize the system to your garden.
Choosing Emitters for Your Drip Irrigation System
Choose emitters based on the flow rate, plant type and soil type. For example, you could:
Water moves differently through sandy and clay soil, so check the drip system instructions for tips on flow rates and emitter spacing for different soil types.
Many types of emitters have an adjustable flow rate.
Installing a Drip Irrigation System Step by Step
The steps below give you general instructions on how to install a drip irrigation system, but keep in mind, this is a basic setup for one type of system. Instructions and measurements vary by manufacturer and layout. Always follow the steps for your system.
Drip irrigation tubing is stiff but setting it in direct sunlight for a few minutes makes it more pliable and easier to place.
Step 1: Plan the System Layout
Typically, a system runs along plant rows, through the middle of a garden or along the bed edges.
- Group plants with similar water needs.
- Sketch out plant locations in your garden and a nearby hose faucet.
- Plan the location and length of the main irrigation line, adding extra length for adjustments.
- Check the system specifications to see the maximum main line length for even pressure at the emitters.
- Make sure the system supports the combined emitter flow rate with additional capacity for future expansion.
Step 2: Set Up the Hose Faucet for Drip Irrigation
You typically connect a drip irrigation system to an outdoor hose faucet, but there are several components you must first attach to the faucet in a specific order. For example:
- Install an optional timer to automate irrigation and help prevent overwatering.
- If your faucet doesn’t have built-in anti-siphoning, connect a backflow preventer or anti-siphon device to keep contaminants out of the water supply.
- Install a pressure regulator to reduce the water pressure to a suitable level for the system.
- Add a filter to keep dirt and debris from clogging the emitters.
- Connect the irrigation hose adapter.
- Connect the main line to the adapter.
Consider adding a two-way water shutoff ahead of the timer. This Y-fitting allows you to connect both the drip system and a garden hose and switch between them as necessary.
Manufacturers might specify a different component order or combine the pressure regulator and filter. Follow the instructions for your system.
Apply pipe thread tape to components only if specified by the component manufacturers.
Step 3: Lay Out the Main Distribution Tubing
Connect the main distribution line — typically 1/2-inch or 5/8-inch diameter, depending on your system — to the faucet assembly and run it through the garden.
- If you need to make turns, avoid kinks in the tubing that restrict water flow.
- Tees and elbow fittings can be helpful when you need to change the direction of the tubing.
- Use landscaping pins every three or four feet to hold the water line in place.
- Cut the tubing at the end of the run and leave it accessible for flushing the line or expanding the system.
Wear work gloves or garden gloves to protect your hands while cutting the tubing.
Step 4: Attach Emitter Tubing, if Necessary
Depending on the layout, you might need to install 1/4-inch feeder tubing that branches from the main supply line.
- Determine the locations of your emitters.
- Use a drip irrigation punch tool to create a hole in the top of the main line at each emitter location.
- Insert barbed couplers into the holes on the main line.
- Connect the feeder lines to the couplers and cut the lines to length, leaving extra length for adjustments.
Fix unwanted holes with repair plugs. They come in many kits, but you can also purchase them separately in multi-packs.
Drip irrigation connections are designed to be tight, so you might need to twist the components back and forth a bit and use some pressure to secure them.
Step 5: Install the Emitters
Place emitters near the base of each plant, but don’t let them touch the plant stems.
- If you’re installing emitters on the main line, use a drip irrigation punch tool to create holes on top of the tubing and insert the emitters.
- If you’re installing emitters on feeder lines, connect them to the open ends of the tubing, adding tubing support stakes and pinning the lines in place as necessary.
Step 6: Flush and Plug the Irrigation Line
Before operating the system, flush the lines to remove dirt and debris.
- Make sure the supply lines and branch lines are uncapped.
- Turn the water on and flush the system for a minute or two.
- Turn the water off, then cap the open ends of the tubing.
Step 7: Test Your Drip Irrigation System
Test the irrigation system for leaks and good water distribution.
- Make sure the tubing is capped.
- Turn on your water source slowly, opening the valve fully.
- Check connections and lines for leaks or clogs and make sure the emitters are working.
- Adjust the tubing and emitters if necessary to direct the water correctly.
- If the emitters have variable flow rates or spray patterns, adjust them as necessary.
- If you installed a timer, program it according to your watering plan.
For automated timer watering, you typically need to leave the hose faucet valve open, so periodically check the faucet assembly for leaks.
Step 8: Cover the System With Mulch (Optional)
A layer of mulch protects the tubing from ultra-violet rays that can degrade the plastic and hides the water lines. If you don’t have mulch in your garden already, spreading mulch is an effective way to reduce evaporation and weed growth.
- Apply 1 to 2 inches of fine mulch or 3 to 4 inches of coarse mulch evenly over the bed and supply lines.
- Clear the mulch away from the system emitters.
- Pull the mulch back a few inches from plant stems as well as shrubs and tree trunks.
Our mulch guide and mulching tips help you choose and use mulch effectively. Estimate how much you need with our mulch calculator.
Tips for Using Drip Irrigation
- Run the system early in the morning so the soil absorbs moisture before it evaporates.
- Use the water requirements of your plants as starting points for the water flow rate, frequency and duration.
- Check the soil moisture regularly and adjust the system as necessary.
- Clean the filter and check emitters for clogs every few weeks or when you suspect a problem.
How to Winterize a Drip Irrigation System
Follow your system instructions for winterization. In general:
- Remove the faucet components and store them indoors or in a garage.
- Remove the batteries from the timer.
- Protect the hose faucet with an insulated cover.
- Remove the line caps and lift the lines to drain the tubing and emitters.
- Replace the caps.
Plan a Drip Irrigation System Installation With Help From Lowe’s
Give your plants the water they need with an easy-to-install drip irrigation system. Shop Lowes.com for drip irrigation system kits or individual components to create a custom system. If you need help choosing a system for your landscape, talk to a Red Vest associate at your local Lowe’s. They’ll help you find the best drip irrigation system and components to keep your plants green and growing.