How to Install Drip Irrigation

By: Alexandra Bandon, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. 1/2-INCH DRIP TUBING
comes in 50-, 75- 100-, or 500-foot rolls, either with or without factory-installed emitters. Calculate the square footage of the area you want to irrigate, then figure on one foot of tubing per square foot of plant bed.

2. 1/4-INCH DRIP TUBING
use this smaller tubing to branch off from the main line and reach specific bushes, trees, or containers.

3. TUBING CONNECTORS
elbow, tee, and straight connectors allow you to turn the tubing without kinking it, or add on more lengths of tubing.

4. WATER SOURCE CONNECTION KIT
for attaching the tubing to an outdoor faucet. Kit should include a vacuum breaker, pressure regulator, a filter, and a connector for attaching the tubing.
5. SPRAY AND DRIP ACCESSORIES
including micro sprayers, small emitters, and foggers for reaching different plants around the garden.

6. BARK MULCH

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Tubing Cutter,
  bypass pruner or scissors would suffice, but the thick tubing can dull the blades, making them less effective in the garden
- Hole Punch,
  comes with tubing
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Photo: Shelly Strazis

1. Connect to an outdoor faucet

Screw the vacuum breaker to the pressure regulator, if your hose bib doesn't already have its own vacuum breaker. This part will prevent contaminated hose water from backwashing into the house's supply lines.

Attach the filter to the pressure regulator. Connect the hose swivel to the threaded opening jutting out from the side of the filter. This has a barbed end to accept the cut end of the tubing and hold it tight. Screw the entire assemblage to the hose bib.