How to: Installing a drip irrigation system

Drip irrigation systems are used to reduce water usage and target specific water needs for plants. Want to install your own? Local experts offer some helpful tips.


Level of difficulty

The level of difficulty to install a backyard drip irrigation system is about medium, said Frank Saldaña, owner of Arbor Tech Tree Services.
Basically, you install a valve (or valves), connect black poly irrigation line to the valve, connect spaghetti lines to the irrigation line and attach the emitter heads (the actual drips) to the spaghetti lines.

You could also install a timer, which would regulate which plants get watered when, he said.


Plan it out

The most important thing is to plan which plants will be watered by the drip system, he said.

That's because different plants have different water needs. "It's very important to put the same type of water-need plants on the same valves."

Watering cacti through the same valve that produces enough water for high-water-need plants like succulents will eventually kill the cacti, he said.

Likewise, trees would require more water than most other plants, so you would want to set them up on separate valves, said Darrell Higmight, commercial estimator at Company Landscaping, LLC. He agreed that it's important to plan wisely before installing a drip irrigation system. "Take your time to plan it out. Don't try to rush anything."

Once you've got your system planned out, you'll need tools and materials (see box).

You can find drip system materials at local nurseries and garden centers, Higmight said.

Keep in mind that drip system starter kits, many of which are expandable to suit your needs, are available at some garden centers and hardware stores.


Leaks, plugs

After laying out your drip system, it's best to check for leaks before you bury it, Higmight said. "Turn it on. If it's going to leak, it will leak right away. Make corrections as needed, then bury it."


Cost comparison

It's cheaper to install a drip system yourself because the labor is what gets expensive, Saldaña said. There are a lot of variables, but materials for an average front yard may run between $50 and $100, depending on the number of valves, he said.

If the same job is done by a contractor, however, it could easily run anywhere between $300 and $450 because there's a lot of labor involved, he said.


Contact info

Arbor Tech Tree Services can be reached at 782-2367 and the address is 1251 S. Atlantic Ave.

Company Landscaping, LLC is located at 1204 S. 1st Ave. and the number is 343-1245.


Permit

If you live within Yuma city limits, you do not need a permit to install a drip irrigation system, according to Dave Nash, city spokesman. Nor do you need one if you live in Yuma County, said Pat Headington, plans examiner at Yuma County Planning and Zoning.

Materials and tools typically
needed for drip system installation

Source: Frank Saldaña, owner of Arbor Tech

- Pressure regulator - Reduces amount of pressure in line; prevents drip system from popping out of main line.

- Irrigation valves - Regulates water going into irrigation lines.

- Poly irrigation line - Usually 1/4-to 1/2-inch thick, it runs from the main line.**

- Poly spaghetti lines - Very thin tubing that you attach through punched holes in poly irrigation line.

- Emitter heads - The "actual drips" that you attach to the ends of the spaghetti lines.

- Shovel - For digging a six- to eight-inch deep trench.

- PVC pipe cutter - Cuts PVC and poly irrigation line.

- Poly line punch - For punching holes in poly line.

- Irrigation timer - Regulates which plants get watered when, and for how long.


** Instead of poly irrigation line, you can opt for sturdier PVC lines, said Darrell Higmight, commercial estimator at Company Landscaping, LLC. But you'll also need PVC primer, which primes PVC for optimum glue bondage. And you'll need PVC glue, which essentially "welds" the PVC pipe together, he said.