How to Install an Automatic Irrigation System

Ron's Washington journey begins in the Northwestern corner of the state where Carolann and Tom Hiatt's garden sits right on the edge of Loomy Bay which borders the Loomy Indian Reservation in Ferndale, Washington. This magnificent garden is a joy to behold…and a nightmare to water! They asked Ron to help them install a garden sprinkler system so they can spend less time working in the garden and more time enjoying it.

Click Here For a list of what you will need in order to complete this project.

NOTE: The installation of the controls was not dealt with in this HouseCalls segment. It is a relatively complex and challenging procedure so Ron began the project from the point where the water supply was hooked up and the basic control system had already been installed. What he really wanted to show the Hiatts, was how they could adjust, expand and modify their system in any way they choose to.

• Ron began by showing them where they were going to get the water for their irrigation system.
• Ron had tapped off an existing "T" in the water line by taking the plug out and attaching some PVC to it. The attached PVC plastic pipe ran underground to a device called the manifold that would eventually distribute the water to the different sections of the garden. The manifold consists of several different valves, each one controlling a different area or zone.

2. Control system:

• Next, Ron took Carolann and Tom into the garage to show them the brains of the system, the irrigation system timer. The timer had a number of controls that tell each one of the zones when to come on, how long to stay on and when to shut off.

3. Install irrigation system - sprinkler heads:

• After Ron brought Tom and Carolann up to speed on the initial installation, it was time for them to go to work. They began by digging the 4 -5 in trenches for the plastic pipes that would serve as the main water lines for the sprinklers that they needed the putting green.

• Earlier they had placed small red flags around the edge of the putting green to indicate the location of the new sprinkler heads. To supply each of these sprinkler heads with water, they would have to tap into the main supply line, which meant cutting the pipe and installing branch lines or off shoots.

• Using and inexpensive plastic pipe cutter that uses a blade and racheting action to easily slice through the pipe, Carolann, makes the first cut. They rejoin the pipes with a "T" shaped connector, but first, they screw in an "L" shaped fitting called an "L" or elbow.

• To weld the "T" to the pipe Carolann applied pipe cement to the inside of the "T" and the outside of the pipe then Ron pushed them together and held them firmly for a few seconds while the glue set.

• Next, they we're ready to attach the flexible hose, which would carry water from the main supply line to the sprinkler head. After determining the proper distance, they cut the hose to length.

• They put one end of the flexible hose on the sprinkler head and gently wiggled it into position. Carolann then connected the other end to the "L" shaped tube and pushed it in. They made sure that the top of the sprinkler head was flush with the soil and then they filled the trench in with just enough dirt to keep the new head in position before moving on to the next sprinkler head.

• One of the benefits of this watering system was its adaptability. Pop up sprinklers can cover broad areas like the putting green but the Hiatts also had a variety of garden plants with a wide range of watering needs. The next part of their system was designed with this in mind.

• Tom dug another trench for a second run of plastic pipe to bring water to the next location. Using the same cementing technique described above, he assembled a short "L" shaped section called a riser. In to the end of the riser he screwed a plastic "T". Ron explained that the general rule was to glue as many pieces together outside of the trench as possible before making the final connection. The entire assembly was then attached to the supply line.

4. Install irrigation system - drip system:

• For this next section of the garden they used drip tubing. Tom plugged one end of it into the "T", and gently rotated and rocked it in place. They ran the drip tubing in a big circle around this section of the garden, attaching small stakes over the hose to hold it in place. Once they laid out enough tubing to encircle this section of the garden, they cut off the excess and inserted the end of the tube into the open end of the "T". Carolann helped camouflage the tubing by tucking it under the existing foliage.

• Using a punch, they punctured holes in the flexible tubing and attached smaller soaker hoses, which would carry water directly to the individual plants.

• On the end of each soaker hose they attached a water emitter. The type of emitter used determines how much water a plant will receive and how it will be delivered.
• Some emitters drip water at the base of the plant while others spray a fine mist onto the foliage.
• Some spray emitters even have interchangeable heads each producing a different spray pattern.

RESULTS:

It didn't take long before Tom and Carolann could begin to see all of the possibilities they had with this new watering system. They would no longer need their old garden hose and Tom was quite pleased to present it to Ron as a thank you gift.