Simple Drip Irrigation

Cynthia SandbergLove Apple Farms

www.LoveAppleFarms.com

Welcome to Love Apple Farms

Please keep talking to a minimum. Hold your questions until I ask for them. Have faith in my agenda. A lot of questions tend to slow down class and get us off topic. What this class doesn't cover:● Growing tomatoes or vegetables● Every possible method of drip

irrigation ● Very low pressure systems, such as

rainwater catchment systems

Class Guidelines

My Evolution of Drip Irrigation● Handwatering became too onerous● Fortunate to go straight to commercial grade instead of homeowner

grade (more on this later)● Started with 1/2" - switched to 3/4" later● Started with single emitters, didn't do the job● Moved to double emitters - still didn't do the job● Moved to emitter line, 12" spacing - nope● Moved to emitter line, 9" spacing - nope● Finally hit on the 6" spacing - aha!● Didn't have shut off valve in each bed - D'OH!● Moved to being able to shut down sections of garden with an in-

line shut off valve

We don't like Soaker Hoses

We don't like Single Emitter Heads

Home-Owner Grade vs. Commercial Grade

Commercial Suppliers

● Scotts Valley Sprinkler○ 5010 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley○ Svsprinklerandpipe.com○ 10% discount for LAF students

● Drip Works USA

○ www.DripWorksUSA.com

Don't Make it Too Complicated!

A trip to the hardware store can be even more confusing...

These are not the helpful hardware men. They are smiling because they are about to have some fun confusing the hell out

of you.

Calculating Water Pressure -- Oh boy!

We solve Water Pressure Conundrum by:

●Only installing 3/4" Mainline Tubing●Shut-Off Valve at Each Bed●Using Higher Pressure Regulator (30 psi)

Let's Take a Look at the Dripworks Catalog

● Thumb through it.● Don't be intimidated.● Have faith in my system - don't yet get lured by other sexier

products.● Good tips in catalog, like page 35.● Once you've got this system down, then you can experiment with

other products.

Essential for the Job: Knee Pads

We recommend soft ones, suchas Kneelons. Available at AceHardware and online.

Start With a Plan

Figure out main-line tubing's path

There are Many Options

This option uses more tubing, but doesn't cross entrance to garden

Determine how many fittings you will need

Female vs. Male Fittings

Hose Thread vs. Pipe Thread

We will use all hose thread fittings, but it's important to know the difference.

Teflon Tape on All Male Pipe Thread Fittings

Washer on all Female Hose Ends

Begin Installation at the Spigot

Brass Hose Splitter - High FlowDripworks P/N HYVHI Page 36- upper right

Do not use cheapo plastic on this part!

Filter

Dripworks P/N FYHL200Page 39 - upper left

Pressure Regulator(aka Pressure Reducer)

Dripworks P/N PRSG30Page 42 - upper left

Programmable Timer (if desired)Orbit Dial Timer (Battery powered)

Dripworks P/N TORSDPage 6 - left bottom of page

"Egg-Timer"Dripworks P/N TWU1Page 7 - upper right

Manually turn them on each time and walk away. Saves water because you don't forget to turn off irrigation.

Not programmable.

Female Hose Beginning w/ Swivelto 3/4" Compression Fitting

Dripworks P/N CHS34Page 33 (upper left on page)(Note new style in catalog)

Assembly on Normal Height Hose Bib

Yes No

Assembly on Short Hose Bib

Note filter canister turned upward

Mainline Tubing (aka Drip Tube)3/4"

Dripworks P/N 3450 (50') or 34100 (100') or 34250 (for 250')Page 35 - upper right

Hot Water Needed to Soften Ends

Dip just first inch of mainline tubing into hot water. Good tip for compression fittings.

Tee3/4" compression

Dripworks P/N CT34 (Compression)(Note new style in catalog)Page 33 - third one down on the left

Elbow3/4" compression

Dripworks P/N CL34 (Note new style in catalog)Page 33 - fourth one down on the left

Coupler3/4" compression

Dripworks P/N CC34 (Note new style in catalog)Page 33 - second one down on the left

Shut-off Valve3/4" compression

Dripworks P/N CSO34 Page 33 -ninth down on the left

1/4" Soaker DriplineIn-Line Drip Emitter Tubing

Install one more than width of bed. Example: 5 lines for a 4 foot wide bed.

Maximum length: 15 feet For beds longer than 15 feet, install at each end of bed .

Dripworks P/N DSD6 (100') or DSD6500 (500')Page 11 - upper left on page

Position for Beds Longer than 15 feet

x

Example: Bed is 20 feet longPut a shut-off valve at each end and run 10' dripline from each end halfway into middle of bed.

X

is Shut Off Valve

Dripline/Tubing Connector1/4" Micro-Fitting

Dripworks P/N 14LTBPage 28 - second down on left

Dripline/Tubing Tee1/4" Micro-Fitting

Dripworks P/N 14TPage 28 - fourth down on the left

Dripline/Tubing Elbow1/4" Micro-Fitting

Dripworks P/N 1490Page 28 - third down on the left

Goof Plugs(Also used to cap end of 1/4" lines)

1/4" Micro-FittingDripworks P/N 14GP2 for two-way plugsPage 28 - fourth from bottom on left

Non-Dripline 1/4" Micro-TubingDripworks P/N 1450 (50') to P/N 141000 (1000')

Page 28 - first one on right

Use to run lines that you don't want to drip.

Example of using Non-Dripline Micro-Tubing

Landscape StaplesDripworks P/N SUHD

Page 35 - first one down on left

Use to hold down mainline tubing and soaker dripline in beds

End Cap for Mainline3/4" Compression Fitting

Figure 8 EndDripworks P/N CF834

Page 33 - fifth down on left

Plastic PunchesSeveral Options

Miracle Punch Dripworks P/N PUM

Page 36

Pocket PunchDripworks P/N PUPKT

Page 36

Installation Tips● Order more parts than you think you need. You may miscalculate,

they may break during installation, you may need to replace in future. Don't stall your project for want of a $2 part.

● Make all cuts perpendicular - not diagonal.● Don't cut all of your soaker dripline at once - do one bed at a time.● Don't cap off any lines until you have a chance to flush them out

thoroughly with water.● Don't worry about the whole garden now if it's too daunting - you

can always add on later.● Don't worry about making a mistake. You can regroup and fix it.

Questions? You CAN do it!

Upcoming Classes at Love Apple Farms

Compost, Vermiculture, & Soil Fertility - July 27

Pasta from Scratch - July 28

Beginning Cheese Making - August 1

HOW-Day Garden Skills - August 3

HOW-Day Kitchen Skills - August 10

Pizza from Scratch - August 24

Sushi - August 31

PLEASE RETURN YOUR

CLIPBOARDS