Designing Drip Irrigation Layout For Narrow Landscape

This article is an installation guide for narrow planting beds near a structure. It includes step-by-step instructions for sparse, dense, and combinations of foliage types. Diagrams have also been provided to help with the installation process.

Drip Irrigation In A Sparse Planting Application

In order to not overwater a sparsely planted bed, normally, only one line of drip should be installed. Drip tubing can be shaped to the contours of the rows of plants or landscaped areas, therefore in a narrow planting bed, drip will be very useful.

Sprinkler Warehouse is happy to assist you with your sparse planting bed application. The following are the essential components that you will need to install your drip irrigation.

Parts & Materials List

• Rain Bird XBD-80 Multi-Outlet Drip Irrigation Water Emitter
• Drip Irrigation Single Outlet Emitters
• Rain Bird PRS-05030 30 PSI Retro-Fit Pressure
  Regulator
• ML-106 1/4 in. Black Non-PC Micro Drip Line (100 ft.)
• Rain Bird TS025-W-CAP 1/4 in. Drip Tubing Stake with Cap
• PVC Laterals, Fittings, Glue

How to Install Drip Irrigation in a Narrow Planting Bed:

1. Determine the water source
2. Create a plant list
3. Know what type of soil you have
4. Trench, cut, and glue PVC laterals
5. Connect lines to a water source
6. Thread XBD-80 manifold onto PRS-050 then connect to PVC tee
7. Attach 1/4″ distribution tubing to outlet on XBD-80 manifold
8. Run 1/4″ lines to sparse plantings, stake in place with a bug cap on the end
9. Install the desired Drip Emitter inside XBD-80 manifold

Shop for drip irrigation supplies at the Sprinkler Warehouse

Advantages to Narrow Planting Bed Irrigation:

• Up to 60% water savings
• No overspray damage to structures, fences, or windows
• Targeted watering reduces weed growth
• The manifold design allows for an increase/decrease in future plant water demands

Don’t add too many drip emitters as this can reduce the overall delivery capabilities of your system.

Dense Application:

With dense applications, it is important to install drip irrigation. Delivering water directly to the root zone of a plant will limit the spread of any possible diseases and also keep the rows between plants dry, reducing weed growth. Sprinkler Warehouse can aide anyone with the installation of drip irrigation, no matter how dense your plant bed might be.

Step By Step:

1. Determine the water source
2. Design how you will layout the drip
3. Gather equipment
4. Cut lengths of Landscape Dripline to build grid in the planting area
5. Connect lengths of Landscape Dripline to Easy-Fit Fittings to create a grid, add Air Relief Valve Kit to the zone
6. Connect Easy-Fit Adapter to Easy Fit Tee for connection to Control Zone Kit
7. Staple Landscape Dripline grid in place and flush for 2 minutes
8. Install planting material

Advantages:

• Saves up to 70% of your water
• Eliminates over-spray
• Improves infiltration in the soil of low intake

Note: Don’t add too many drip emitters as this can reduce the overall delivery capabilities of your system.

Combination Application

With a combination of trees, shrubs, and flowers, it is important to not over or under do-it with drip lines. You may need more than one drip line running along with the building for your narrow planting bed, but more than likely no more than 2 or 3.

Connecting various distribution tubing to each hose will be needed for those hard-to-reach trees or shrubs. We can provide all of the essential tools for your planting bed.

How to Install:

1. Assemble Control Zone Kit and connect to a water source
2. Cut lengths of landscape drip line to build grid in the planting area
3. Connect lengths of landscape drip line to Easy-Fit fittings to create a grid
4. Connect Easy-Fit Adapter to Easy Fit Tee for connection to Control Zone Kit
5. Staple landscape drip line grid in place and flush for 2 minutes
6. Punch self-piercing barb inlet of XB Drip Emitters into landscape drip line, connect 1/4″ tubing to barb outlet and run 1/4″ tubing to the larger plant
7. Stake tubing in place and attach bug cap on the end
8. Flush system for approximately 2 minutes
9. Install planting material

Advantages:

• Fewer weeds
• Reduces maintenance requirements
• Saves up to 70% of your water

Note: Don’t add too many drip emitters as this can reduce the overall delivery capabilities of your system.