#FOUR COLOR DRIPS IN A CIRCLE INSTALL#

You should know that you have two basic fitting designs to choose from: the insert fitting and the compression fitting. Because so many design layouts are possible, I cannot cover every type of fitting you might need. For a looped zone, you need the valve outlet fitting and a tee connector to form the loop.

#FOUR COLOR DRIPS IN A CIRCLE INSTALL#

In our simple example, you'll need a fitting to connect to the outlet of your valve, and you need a drain fitting to install at the end of your zone (if your zone is not a loop). Once you have your emitters, length of mainline, lengths of 1/4 inch tubing, and your filter and valve location, it's time to put it all together with pipe fittings. If this drip system is to be used mainly when you are away, the arrangement of the plants can be less aesthetic than if the system is going to be used whether or not you are away. In any event, I recommend that each of the zones in a multiple-zone installation be set up according to the most efficient arrangement of plants. Many configurations are possible, but the most common in my experience are the one-way linear or curvy zone and the 'out and back' or closed loop zone. You can loop your mainline pipe back to a common tee connector in the first case, making a closed circle, or use a tee connector in the last case to give your zone two 'arms', as in the arms of a tee. Of course, this may not be the case at all, as your plants can be around the patio in a sort of crude circular arrangement, or they may be arranged in two groups, one on each side of where your valve will be. In my example here, I'm thinking about a straight-line run of mainline, which assumes that your plants are spaced more or less in a linear group. Just be sure you don't punch through both sides of the mainline or you'll have a goof hole to plug! Straight around? To attach to the mainline, you'll need one of the handy little poly pipe hole punches that are available in the same shelf area as all your other drip irrigation supplies were. When I did my zones, I inserted the connector into one end of my length of 1/4 inch tubing and the shrubbler stake into the other end after first blowing through the length of tubing just to be sure nothing was stuck in there. This little connector is what you will remove and use to connect to your mainline. If each of your emitters is going to be about 3 feet away from your mainline, then you are going to need 75 feet of the 1/4 inch tubing for your zone.įinally, you need 25 of the emitters the shrubblers come complete with a barb connector attached to the stake. If most of your plants are in the same size pots, and they are all about the same distance from where the mainline pipe runs, you can measure how much of the 1/4 inch tubing you need for one plant, then multiply that by 25 to figure how much of the tubing you'll need. For example purposes, let's assume you have 25 potted plants that will be on this zone, so that means you need 25 drip emitters and 25 cut lengths of the 1/4 inch tubing. You'll need a good sharp pair of pruning shears to cut both the mainline pipe and the smaller tubing with. Your choice depends upon whether you want the tubing to be less conspicuous the plant won't care at all. If you have a lot of emitters to install, you will appreciate the flexibility of the vinyl, especially after you've installed more than 25 of the emitters! The vinyl tubing also comes in two colors - black and brown. The poly is somewhat cheaper but the vinyl is thicker and more flexible to work with. This smaller tubing comes in two types - poly (polyethylene) and vinyl. This 'spaghetti' tubing will enable you to place the drip emitter stakes right in the pots to water each plant on the zone. Next, you need the 1/4 inch tubing that will connect the drip emitter to the mainline pipe. For example purposes, let's assume we will have just one zone and that the mainline pipe will run for about 50 feet. Write down your measurement, then move to the next zone. Starting at your zone valve, and using a tape measure or pre-measured piece of string, lay out where your pipe will be running to complete the zone. This pipe is what will serve as the mainline for each of your zones. Your first task is to figure out how much of the 1/2 inch black poly pipe you will need. More than that and you have to open them fully up just to get a dribble, you then risk the loss of the little caps as they will be almost fully unscrewed, and the emitters then become more susceptible to clogging due to gradual deposition of solids from evaporating water. Now that you've reviewed your proposed installation and know how many zones you want, consider this: if you plan on using the 'shrubblers', I suggest you have no more than 40 of them in a zone.

Four color drips in a circle