Low Pressure Garden Sprinklers

Drip Lines Explained

• Drip irrigation lines use small 1/4-inch plastic tubes to deliver water directly to the roots of plants. These systems require very little water pressure or volume to properly water plants. Drip lines can be retrofit onto existing sprinkler heads or installed as a standalone irrigation system. Drip lines require the use of a pressure regulator to ensure the lines are not overcharged with water. You can also attach micro sprinklers to the end of the lines, which require little water pressure to spray water over distances of up to 10 feet.

Regulating Flow

• Because drip lines run directly to the base of plants, water is not wasted spraying leaves or stems. Drip sprinklers also use less water per minute than standard sprinklers. While a standard sprinkler can eject up to 5 gallons of water per hour, drip lines can be specified to drip as little as 1/2 gallon per hour. The ability to set water volume limits means you can purchase specific drip lines to cater to specific plant types. Plants that require less water can have low-flow heads while water-loving plants can have sprinkler heads that pour up to 2 gallons per hour.

Installation

• Installing drip sprinklers onto an existing sprinkler head requires you to remove the old sprinkler and riser, install a taller riser and screw on an adapter that contains up to 12 drip lines. These lines are then run directly to the base of individual plants in your garden. Drip line costs about $10 per 50 feet, making running drip lines to every plant in your garden economical, and you don't have to worry about water pressure or flow volume.

Maintenance

• Drip sprinkler adapters sometimes include a small plastic filter inside the housing, which is designed to trap dirt and debris before it enters your sprinkler lines. Every season, the filter should be pulled out of the adapter and brushed with a nylon brush to remove dirt and allow water to flow uninterrupted into the individual drip lines. Drip sprinkler heads should also be brushed once a year to remove debris from inside the nozzles.