If you’re reading this post you likely have a drip irrigation system, which means I am grateful that you’ve chosen to install a very smart and efficient way to water your garden.
Photography by Mimi Giboin for Gardenista.
With a few inexpensive supplies (see the list below) and new skills gleaned from reading this post, you will be able to troubleshoot most drip irrigation issues.
This drip irrigation kit’s components include three different flow emitters, 1/4″ connectors, metal staples, an orange poker for creating holes for new emitters, end caps, a knife for cutting tubing, and tubing.
Drip Irrigation Kit
Tubing
A 100-foot roll of 1/4-Inch Distribution Tubing is $10.81 and a 100-foot roll of Drip Line with 6-inch spacing is $13, both from Amazon. I use a drip line with 6-inch spacing when I need to irrigate a tree or large shrub.
A pack of 20 10-inch Metal Loop Stakes is $33.99 from Amazon.
Metal Loop Stakes
Cutting Tools
Two different styles of knives. I prefer to use my hand pruners because they are readily available, resting in my side leather holster, but some gardeners worry that cutting plastic tubing with garden clippers they will eventually dull the blade.
Hole Punch Tool
My favorite poker, called a key punch. A poker is a key punch tool that makes an accurate hole in 1/2-inch tubing.
A bag of 50 1/4-inch Barbed Elbows is $11.97 on Amazon. Connectors come in straights, elbows, and T-shapes, so plan on having a bag of each. . T-shaped connectors are good for—as the name implies—teeing off the irrigation to a nearby plant.
Connectors
A bag of 50 1/4- inch Barbed Connectors is $5.73 from Amazon. After you connect a 1/4-inch line to a 1/2-inch line, run the line up the back of the pot, add a 1/4-inch connector, and then run a 1/4-inch drip line with 6-inch spacing around the middle of the container.
Emitters
Emitters bring water from the main line tubing to plants. Bottom line: Do your homework on what each plant requires regarding water needs and choose an emitter with appropriate rate of flow.
Risers
Irrigation risers come in various heights, depending on a plant’s needs. Although many emitters connect directly to drip irrigation tubing, there may be instances when you will attach an emitter to an above-ground riser.