How To Install Drip Line For Garden

Overview

Sprayers and drippers are a water wise and water efficient above ground option for watering your garden. In this video we show you how to install sprinklers, flexi tube drippers and drip lines in your garden.

Tools and materials

Steps

1 Lay poly pipe to attach sprayers

Measure and cut the poly pipe and pin it to the ground. Sprayers are good in hot houses and vegetable patches. They're not so good in shrubbery. There are many different types of sprayers. Some will have flexi tube and a riser already attached. For other types you will have to attach these yourself.

Person holding a range of sprayer and dripper parts

2 Attach a sprinkler with flexi tube and adapter

First we demonstrate how to attach a sprinkler with a flexi tube and a 4mm adapter already attached. Use a hole punch to punch a hole in the poly pipe and push the 4ml adapter into the pipe. Put the stake of the sprinkler into the ground where you would like the sprayer to spray.

3 Attach a sprinkler without a stake

To install a sprinkler that's not on a stake, you will need to attach it to a metal riser to install it. In this demonstration the sprinkler is attached to a 4mm adapter. Connect the adapter to the pipe in the same way as in Step 2. Place the metal riser in the correct position for the sprayer

Person attaching a sprinkler to a metal riser

4 Attach the flexi tube and adapters to the sprinkler

Installing your own flexi tube gives you more flexibility on how far you want your sprayer to be from your plants. First snap the 4mm adapter off the sprinkler. Cut the flexi tube to length. Attach one end to the sprinkler and the other end into the 4mm adapter. Pre-punch a hole into your pipe and attach adapter to the pipeline. Put sprayer in place.

A sprayer on a riser attached to poly pipe

5 Roll out poly pipe for drip system

Use a drip line system when installing individual dippers. First roll out poly pipe and measure and cut. It is easier to roll the pipe out on the lawn where easier to work with. Lay the pipe in the garden and pin it in place.

A person pushing down a pin with their boot to secure poly pipe

6 Punch holes

Use your hole puncher to individually punch a hole behind each plant. Make sure the hole is on the side of the tube facing toward the plant.

A person punching a hole in poly pipe laid out in a garden bed

7 Cut flexi tube to size

Cut the flexi tube to size. Measure each piece to the right length by holding one end to the pipe and the other to the plant. Cut a piece of flexi tube for each hole that you've made in the pipe.

A person cutting flexi tube with a special cutting tool

8 Attach adapters and drippers to the flexi tube

Attach double end adapters by placing one end into the flex tube and other into the pipe. Then attach the dippers on the other end of the flexi tube. Make sure the holes in the pipe are on the correct side. Place the dripper next to the base of the plant.

A person attaching flexi tube to a dripper

9 Install a drip line

Drip lines are perfect along hedges. They are easy to install because they already have perforated holes along the piping. There is nothing to attach. Measure lengths and cut to size. Pin down the pipe of drip line in your garden.

A person using pins to secure drip line in a garden bed

10 Join drip lines

To attach drip lines to each other, you'll need a 13mm elbow and 13mm locking clamps. Dip the ends of the drip line pipe in hot water to make them more flexible and pliable so you can get the fittings in easily. Run the remaining drip line around hedges. At the end of your drip line put in an end cap. Push it into the line and use a hammer to push it in securely.

Person joining two drip lines with an elbow locking clamp.

11 Join the drip line to the dripper system

In this example we attach the drip line system to the dripper system laid earlier. You'll need a 19–13mm reducer, and 19mm and 13mm clamps. Attach the 13mm pipe to the smaller end of the reducer and the 19mm pipe to the bigger end.

Person joining drip line to dripper system.

12 Attach the whole system to a garden tap

Attach the whole irrigation system to the garden tap. You will need a 19mm snap on connector. Test the system and make sure everything is in good working order.