Simple Drip Irrigation - Love Apple Farms · Simple Drip Irrigation Cynthia Sandberg Love Apple...
Transcript of Simple Drip Irrigation - Love Apple Farms · Simple Drip Irrigation Cynthia Sandberg Love Apple...
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