In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner install a water-saving drip-irrigation system.

Project details

Skill

Cost

Estimated Time

Installing drip-irrigation

  • Use flat-blade shovels to remove the gravel from the yard and form shallow trenches. Don’t cut through the black plastic below.
  • Excavate trenches from the existing main water line across the yard and around every shrub and tree.
  • Connect an electric solenoid valve to each zone of the main water line.
  • Attach a pipe with backflow preventer to each solenoid.
  • Add another length of pipe and then install a pressure-reducing valve.
  • Open the valve to flush out dirt and debris from the main water line.
  • If necessary, dig below the sidewalk and push a length of 1½-inch-diameter PVC pipe underneath the sidewalk.
  • Feed the main feeder line from the valves through the PVC pipe and along the trenches.
  • Hold the tubing in place with metal staples spaced 24 inches apart. Use a small sledgehammer to tap in the long staples.
  • Use a utility knife to cut through the main feeder line.
  • Push a three-way barbed T-fitting into the cut end of the feeder line. Secure the line with a metal crimp clamp.
  • Attach the other end of the feeder line to the opposite side of the three-way fitting.
  • Onto the final barbed end of the three-way fitting, connect a feeder line that extends out to the nearest tree or shrub.
  • Trim the end of the feeder line to length, then push on a 90-degree elbow. Secure the elbow with a crimp clamp.
  • Onto the elbow connect a length of flexible drip-irrigation tubing.
  • Lay the tubing into the trench around each tree and shrub.
  • Secure the tubing with staples spaced 24 inches apart.
  • For larger trees, install two irrigation lines.
  • Run a feeder line alongside the sidewalk, then add drip-irrigation lines to water each nearby shrub.
  • Punch the emitter into the ½-inch-diameter feeder line, then attach one ¼-inch-diameter drip-irrigation line for each shrub.
  • Install an electronic smart controller in the garage and program it for optimum water usage.
  • On the house roof, install a sensor that detects air temperature and rainfall. The sensor will determine when to turn the sprinkler system on and off.
  • Backfill the trenches with gravel.
  • Blow out the sprinkler system with air, then turn on the water.

Tools

Tools & Materials

  • Flat-blade shovel
  • Small sledgehammer
  • Utility knife
  • End nippers