Drip Irrigation Watering Kit

Perfect for first time user, the DIG Drip Irrigation Kit is a complete kit for irrigating groundcovers, shrubs, trees, flowers, roses, vegetable gardens and vines. The kit has all the parts needed to start a system from a faucet or a garden hose, and covers up to 150 sq. ft. This kit easily expands with DIG’s complete line of drip products to cover a larger area of up to 400 sq. ft. as more plants are added using additional drip tubing and PC drip emitters with the same flow rate. The kit includes a 3/4" backflow preventer, 3/4" 25 PSI pressure regulator, 3/4" swivel adapter, 50' of our premium 1/2" drip tubing with .600 ID x .700 OD, 50' of 1/4" micro tubing, PC drip emitters with twenty 1-GPH, two 2-GPH and two 4-GPH PC drip emitters, and all the necessary parts needed to complete the installation. Features: Use to water roses, shrubs, groundcover, flowerbeds and trees; ideal for hillsides Complete kit; covers up to 150 sq ft (can be easily expanded up to 400 sq ft) Contains 24 1-GPH PC button drip emitters with 20 1-GPH, two 2-GPH and two 4-GPH drip emitters Applies water at a very low application rate leading to less surface evaporation from leaves and soil Offers flexibility in irrigation frequency and application rate, minimizing surface compacting and runoff Designed for new and existing landscapes including difficult terrain, such as slopes and oddly shaped areas No special tools or glue are needed Saves money by significantly lowering the cost of system components compared to conventional irrigation systems Product Specifications Maximum incoming operating pressure: 100 PSI Operating pressure: 10 to 45 PSI (25 PSI pressure regulator included) PC drip emitter flow rates: 1, 2 and 4 gallons per hour (GPH) Flow rates and color codes: 1 GPH (4 L/H) color code – black 2 GPH (8 L/H) color code – green 4 GPH (12 L/H) color code – red Drip emitters inlet size: 1/4" barb *Drip emitters outlet side: nipple Maximum recommended flow rate: 220 GPH (3.7 GPM) Poly tubing length & size: 50' x 1/2" with .600 ID x .700 OD Micro tubing length & size: 50' x 1/4" 3/4" FHT x MHT pressure regulator: downstream pressure preset to 25 PSI Total flow rate for this kit: 32 GPH (.53 GPM) Kit Includes: Quantity Description 1 3/4" FHT x MHT backflow preventer 1 3/4" FHT x MHT pressure regulator 1 3/4" FHT swivel adapter with 60-mesh screen x compression with .700 OD (black) 1 50' of 1/2" poly tubing with .700 OD 1 50' of 1/4" micro tubing 20 1 GPH PC drip emitters (black) 2 2 GPH PC drip emitters (green) 2 4 GPH PC drip emitters (red) 1 1/2" compression tee with .700 OD (black) 1 1/2" compression coupling with .700 OD (black) 2 1/4” barbs 2 1/4” barbed tees 1 1/4” barbed ball valves 3 1/2” tubing holder stakes 2 GPH PC drip emitters (green) 5 1/4” micro tubing holder stakes 1 hole punch 2 figure “8” hose ends) 2 goof plugs How to UseThe Drip Kit can be used in a wide range of layouts and accommodate most garden watering requirements. The kit uses our pressure compensating drip emitters for even uniformity along the drip tubing. The drip emitters can be used to cover individual plants or closely planted groups of plants within the layout. This kit contains all the parts required to install a complete system for up to 150 SF. It can be connected into a 3/4" faucet/spigot or a garden hose. If a faucet is not adjacent to the garden or to the location of your drip irrigation installation, you may extend from the faucet using a garden hose or use additional length of ½” drip tubing (model B35 for 50‘or B36 for 100’). To start the installation, the backflow device can be mounted directly to the faucet or to the end of a garden hose. Please make sure to add the 25 PSI pressure regulator (included) after the backflow preventer. The pressure regulator is used to lower the incoming pressure from the faucet to the recommended operating pressure of 25 PSI, which is within the range of operating pressures for drip irrigation or micro-sprinkler systems. First review the area to be irrigated and then make a drawing of the garden or site with your preferred layout. To automate the drip system, install one of DIG's hose end timers (not included) before the backflow device. In the installation stage, to the faucet, first connect the backflow device, then the pressure regulator and then the 3/4" swivel adapter with the 60 mesh screen. If water quality is a concern, we highly recommend using a fine mesh 3/4" filter with 155 mesh (model D57A), not included with this kit. Layout the drip tubing per your drawing and secure the drip tubing to the ground using the stakes provided. Add fittings such as elbows and tees per your drawing layout, leaving the end of the drip tubing open. To install the 1/2" compression fittings, cut the drip tubing with a hand pruner, being careful to keep dirt from entering the line. Hold the compression fitting in one hand and the drip tubing in the other and force the drip tubing into the fitting by wiggling it from side to side. Make sure that the drip tubing is pushed into the compression fitting for about 1/2" to 5/8" for a very tight fit. No glue or clamps are required. The drip emitters are installed using one of two methods, either directly into the drip tubing or at the end of the micro tubing with the drip emitters placed under the plant canopy, at the center between the plant trunk and the plant canopy edge. One of the most common installation errors is using too few, and poorly spaced, emitters. Often only a single emitter is placed at the base of a newly planted tree or shrub. In clay soils, a single drip emitter can wet three to four feet in diameter; on sandy soils, however, the same layout using the same drip emitter will only wet an area less than one foot in diameter. Because plant roots can grow a few feet a year depending on the plant and locations, after one year the diameter of the root system might exceed the diameter of the watered area. A single emitter per tree or shrub could therefore restrict root development as early as the first year after planting. For this reason, it is especially important to place additional drip emitters around each plant, early in the plant's life. See soil type section for drip emitter placement. Turn the faucet on and flush the line for a few minutes to clean all debris that may be trapped inside the drip tubing. Then shut off the faucet and close the end of the 1/2" drip tubing using the 1/2" hose end included with the kit. Pressurize the system again, and make sure that the system is working correctly and no leak appears. Note: To expand the kit we highly recommend continuing with the same model drip emitters. Review the instruction manual included with the kit for complete details. Using drip irrigation, water first thing in the morning before the temperatures begin to rise. This will allow excess moisture on the leaves and top soil to dry before fungal and other diseases can develop. The most common cause of early plant death is over watering. Using drip irrigation can help sustain healthy plants by applying water directly to the plant root zone when and where it is needed. For established plantings, deep, infrequent watering is recommended. In most cases applying deep watering will encourage deeper rooting, which leads to stronger, healthier plants. About the soil and suggested drip emitters spacing: Sandy soil or light textured soil: Water percolates straight through before it can spread far enough horizontally, so use the drip emitters in close spacing of 10" to 12" apart. Apply water at close intervals such as every other day for 20 to 90 minutes depending on plant size and type, daylight conditions (full sun, partial sun or shaded) and weather pattern (cold to hot) with the plants under full sun in hot conditions getting the longer period. Loamy soil or medium textured soil: This is the ideal soil condition with water moving slowly and spreading evenly, so use the drip emitters spaced 16" to 18" apart. Apply water at wider intervals such as every two to four days for 15 to 90 minutes depending on plant size, type, daylight conditions (full sun, partial sun or shaded) and weather pattern (cold to hot) with the plants under full sun in hot conditions getting the longer period. Clay soil or heavy textured soil: Water is absorbed very slowly, so install the drip emitters at a spacing of 18" to 24" apart. Apply water at longer intervals such as every three to five days for 30 minutes to 60 minutes depending on flow rate, plant size and type, daylight conditions (full sun, partial sun or shaded) and weather pattern (cold to hot) with the plants under full sun in hot condition getting the longer period. Additional Information DIG Drip Irrigation Kit Manual (PDF)