How to Use Drip Irrigation on Perennial Flowers

Sketch your design on paper. Draw out how the drip lines will be placed to deliver water to the base of each perennial flowering plant.

Note the size of your perennial flower plants. Larger plants will need more water and may do better with more than one emitter on the root system. Smaller plants may get better coverage by using the sprinklers specially designed for drip systems. Design your drip irrigation with the plants' mature size in mind, not the size of the plant when it is first set into the ground.

Run a main line of 3/8- or 3/4-inch plastic pipe from the water source into your flower bed. The main line will have no holes in it and should be capped at the end so water pressure will build up in the line when water is turned on.

Punch a small hole in the plastic water line where you can insert an emitter directly to drip water or where you will plug in a smaller extension line. To create branches off the main line, use a plastic "straight" connector. Slot one end of the plastic connector into the hole in the larger tubing and slip 1/4-inch water tubing onto the other end. You can use laser drip line with precut holes or solid tubing with drip emitters on your branches.

Thread your flexible tubing through your flower garden so you get the most efficient coverage. Use plastic tees, elbows and straight connectors to bend and branch your tubing system. Curve your lines rather than using sharp angles wherever possible.

Put your drip irrigation system on a timer so your perennial flowers will get regular water. Adjust the timer to water less during cold weather or rainy periods.