How to Add to a Drip System

When you have a beautiful garden, the best way to water it is with a drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation systems water your plants and vegetables at the roots, while avoiding soaking the leaves, which can often induce mold or diseases. you may wish to add more garden areas to the system. Additionally, the drip irrigation system makes it very simple to water a garden area, and eliminates the tedious task of holding a hose. Here's what you need to know to add a drip irrigation system to your garden.

1/2 inch tubing
1/4 inch tubing
1/4 inch adjustable sprinklers
1/4 inch stakes
1/2 inch Ts, Ls and straight connectors as needed
1/4 inch Ts, Ls and straight barbed connectors
Additional faucet outlets if needed
Additional water timers if needed
Goof plugs
Hole punch for 1/2 inch tubing
1/2 inch adapter for faucet
Pressure reducer

Instructions

Adding Additional Tubing to Existing Tubing
- 1
  Plan your garden area. You can set pots of plants where you want them to be or draw it up on paper. Determine the parts you will need to attach tubing and direct it where you need it. You can count the number of Ls, Ts, and straight connectors in each size, as well as the number of sprinklers you will need so that you have enough.
- 2
  Stretch out your 1/2 inch tubing to reach all the plants in your garden. Allow extra length for areas where you will bury the tubing.
- 3
  Use 1/2 inch tubing stakes to hold the tubing in place.
- 4
  If you already have a drip system and want to add to it, attach a straight connector to existing tubing, remove the crimp on the original 1/2 inch tubing. Use straight connector or L connector to attach old and new tubing. Cut the existing 1/2-inch tubing where you want to connect new tubing with a T connector.
- 5
  Apply end crimp to far end of 1/2 inch tubing.
- 6
  Stretch out 1/4 inch tubing from new half-inch tubing to plant area that needs water. Cut 1/4 inch tubing to length and add barb connector to one end, and the sprinkler to opposite end. If needed, add L or T connectors to quarter-inch tubing and additional tubing and sprinklers to reach all plants.
- 7
  Stake sprinkler in place and punch hole in half-inch tubing for barb end. Attach barb end of 1/4 inch tubing to 1/2 inch tubing. Attach all 1/4 inch tubing and sprinklers. Turn water on and adjust sprinklers.
Adding a Separate Half-Inch Loop From Faucet
- 8
  Low water pressure or different water requirements may necessitate a timer and water outlet for your garden area. You will need a multi-outlet faucet adapter if you do not already have an open spigot to attach 1/2 inch hose to.
- 9
  Attach 1/2 inch hose to hose adapter and pressure reducer. Connect hose adapter to sprinkler outlet. Add timer to multi-faucet adapter if desired.
- 10
  Stretch out 1/2 inch tubing and use 1/2 inch stakes to hold in place.
- 11
  Crimp far end of half-inch tubing and turn water on to check for leaks. Add plumber's tape and washers if needed to stop leaking.
- 12
  Stretch 1/4 inch tubing from planting area to half-inch tubing to determine length. Cut 1/4 inch tubing and attach barb connector and sprinkler to ends.
- 13
  Continue attaching 1/4 inch tubing until all areas of garden have water reaching them. You may need to turn water on and off to check.

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How to Add to a Drip System

Instructions

Adding Additional Tubing to Existing Tubing

Adding a Separate Half-Inch Loop From Faucet