The Rain Bird drip system is one of the easiest to set up and they include some easy to follow videos to help you. It should only take you about an hour or two depending on the size of your garden. Below we will go through the steps you need to take to correctly install your drip irrigation System.
Step 1: Measure the size of your garden to determine how much tubing you will need to purchase. It’s always better to have a little extra tubing just in case. You need to measure the distance to your tap and then the distance around your plants. You can use a piece of string or rope and pretend that it’s the tubing.
Step 2: Before running your tubing you can put it into a bucket of hot water to make it more flexible. Once it begins to flex you can run it around your garden and it will harden at room temperature. Attach your pressure regulator that is included with most kits and connect it to your faucet.
Step 3: Try not to bend your tubes too much. This will restrict the water flow and could damage the tubing. Look out for sharp corners and angles and try to get most lines straight. You can use T-connectors to and other connectors to create a 90 degree angle.
Step 4: Once all of your tubing and connectors are in place you need to put the end stoppers in. This prevents water from flowing out the the end of the tubing. Simply attach the end stopper or fold off any remaining pieces of tubing.
Step 5: You can put additional holes in your tubing if you need to but most tubing comes with holes every 6″. The variety of connectors you can use makes this entirely up to you. If you want to use sprinkler connectors or drip connectors. It all depends on the type of plants you are growing. Some plants require more water and some plants require less water.
Step 6: If you are setting up your drip irrigation system on the ground then you can use stakes to secure them into the ground. If you are using them in planting pots, then simply secure them into the pots using small pieces of wire or the hooks that comes in the kit.
Step 7: Finally! Turn on the water and let it flow through your tubing and watch the action. You should inspect every piece of your drip irrigation system to make sure it’ functioning normally. If you find a broken emitter or one that’s not performing well you can replace it. If you find leaks in your tubing you can cut that part off and add a T-connector.
Summary
It’s much easier if you want a few instructional video which you can find on the Rain Bird Youtube Channel. They offer many tips and ideas for setting up your drip irrigation system the right way. Although, there isn’t really a “right way” to set it up. You can get creative and configure it in any design you want. This is what makes the drip irrigation Systems so much fun. You’re not just laying down a hose and turning on the water, you’re setting up everything from scratch!
