Ok, I've watched a million drip videos and have been installing drip in my yard for years and had NO idea that the fat end of the goof plug goes into the main line. I've always used the skinny end for the 1/4 tube and the main line. This completely explains why I have two goof plug leaks in my garden!! Thanks so much!!
Thank you! My husband is at work and I accidentally cut the tubing while working in the garden. I watched your video, got the pliers, and fixed it myself. Great video 👏🏽.
I inherited a large supply of drip system parts and I had no idea what to do with them. I learned so much from this one video and I can't wait to go watch more and learn how to use it all. Thank you so much!
The spaghetti tubing is a game changer for me, and makes so much sense. I did my first drip system in a new garden bed this summer, and ran the half inch poly tubing directly next to the base of each plant, with emiters right next to each root ball. This video makes me want to rip it all up before the plants fill in, so I can route the poly in a more accessible way and use the spaghetti tubing to take the water where I need it. That'll be a nice winter project if I get bothered enough about my setup, now that I know what the spaghetti tubing is for. Also the valves!
I so agree with comments. The information is concise and easy to understand with no fluff--thank you. I love the idea of attaching a tube to the end of the emitter to avoid plugging!! Do one of your video's cover what is best emitter (and GPH) for plants/shrubs/trees?
I don't go into detail here about that, but typically for trees you would use emitters that put out a lot of water per hour, usually 5-10gph emitters and for shrubs you are probably ok with the standard 2gph emitters you see in this video. What's most important is how many emitters you place at each plant and how you space them. You can visit my website and where I have links to several publications on how to properly water trees and shrubs. www.southwestvictorygardens.com/documents. Good Luck!
Great info! I’m in SW New Mexico and am tired of dragging my hose around the yard to try and water! Thanks so much for your time making these videos! Greatly appreciated!!!
After watching a ton of videos on that subject, I Instantly subscribed because of well explained and very informative; little details you are giving are very important to beginners.Thank You for a job well done!👍
I teach mostly to brand new gardeners so I try and explain things easy to understand so folks can understand how the whole process works from start to finish. Thanks for subscribing!
What a great video. I have a drip system in my backyard that has too much water pressure through the line. I was connecting a 1/4 inch barb to the poly tube and then the spaghetti tube and then the emitter. The water pressure would continuously force the spaghetti tube off the barb and start shooting water directly out. By using your first method of installing the emitter directly into the poly line, I can control the water pressure at the poly line and I no longer have the problem of the spaghetti tube being forced off a barb. Wow, this was a game changer for me. Thank you.
Irrigation is definitely hard on the wrists and fingers, I won't lie! A few tips: you can use needle nose pliers to pull out or insert emitters, this works best when the tubing is very rigid and not as flexible. Another tip is to use some time of heat sourches, like a lighter or even a portable heat gun. Heating up the tubing makes it softer and easier to work with. Hope that helps, happy gardening!
SUPER HELPFUL. I'm 80 & not very strong so I went looking for a tool. The guy at Home Depot couldn't get a tool designed to force an emitter into my 1/4 in. tubing. And he was muscular........about 2 ft. taller than I and 20+ years younger. (said he'll never recommend that one). You recommend a simple needle-nosed pliers. Guess I'm off to the garden-farm-supply store.
Thanks so much for this information. I have a bunch of these emitters that someone left at the house and didn't know the proper way to use them. I am redoing a watering line for my raised beds and this is exactly what I need to see. I live in Mesa, AZ so the info for desert watering is so helpful.
Your video is exactly what I was looking for. We had a new irrigation system installed front and back yards last spring, but I didn't pay attention to the types of emitters going in (I was working at the time and couldn't get out to the yard while the system was being installed and relied on the landscaper for updates). The landscaper has retired so I'm taking on the job of checking all emitters. I can safely say that all of my emitters must be buried underground. The thing I needed to understand was the color-coding for gph.
Thank you! Great information I have not seen anyplace else for alternative ways to connect emitters the professionals in my area do it the way you say to avoid. I like your way.
The landlord has the green emmitter exposed for a tree in the yard and it keeps breaking every six months and shooting the water out like you said it would! I was trying to see if I could fix it myself since it keeps happening. This makes so much sense! Thank you!
I really enjoyed this! Very useful information. I learned several new things that I will use when I install my drip irrigation system next week. Thanks!
Seriously thanks for this.... my foreman had me redo several not so easy to get to emitters today because he said it was wrong and won't put out enough water with the red emitters going straight into the drip tube and running the noodle line out from that. I knew the was I did it was the better way but still had to redo it all anyways.
So incredibly helpful!!! Thanks a ton for sharing your expertise. Turns out I set up my raised bed garden completely wrong. I Spokane why my garden isn’t doing well.
Thanks for the video, appreciate the southwest specific channel content, I’m also located in Tucson working on your style soil building. However I disagree on it being the wrong way to put the emitter at the micro tube end. It’s much less disruptive to change the value of an emitter, troubleshoot an issue, flush a flag end emitter vs digging back to the trunk line to locate the plugged or defective emitter. If it’s an exposed trunk line, for sure putting the emitter is the way to go. If it’s buried line, your mileage may vary.
Those are some good points, I don't really use flag emitters so that may be good alternative set up for those. If you're gonna go that route you might want to keep an eye on your system because if any critters come by and chew the emitters off you can run into some issues with flooding :)
@@SouthwestVictoryGardens It has been my experience that if rabbits find wet soil, they will dig until they find the tubing anyway. I make it a point to walk my yard while the irrigation is going at least once a week to check for "fountains), i.e. chewed off tubing!
This was exactly what I needed. A couple of questions: We have many "water-wise" drought tolerant plants: Coneflowers, Asiatic Lilly, Daisy, Black-eyed Susan, Iris, English Lavender, and Ice plants. It seems I should use the 1/2 gal per hour emitters for these. Should I only have one spaghetti tube go to each plant? I know the Ice plants really spread out, so perhaps I need at least two spaghetti tubes going to each plant. Thanks for your help.
Great video! My 1/2" is buried, so the 2gph option 1 would be hard to go around checking all the spaghetti. However, I have option 3 (and clogging). I'm going to fix my system to option 2 based on your video...THANK YOU!!
Very helpful, thanks. 2 things I've learned. Never use a drill to make the holes on the poly tube. When you put the small watering ends on your flex line, they can clog up easy if you have any dirt in the main line. Also make sure you secure them on to your flex line, you can just push them on, but adding a clamp helps. I've had lots blow off never to be found again from the water pressure.
If you're having issues with lines blowing out you'll want to make sure to install a pressure regulator. These lines are made to operate at between 20-40psi and can blow out easily if the water pressure goes above that. Definitely recommend using a punch or pokey tool for making holes in the line. Thanks for checking out the video!
Idk if he said it in the video, but a little tip is to pop the holes in your distribution tubing while it’s cooler outside or if nothing else in the shade. Once that tubing is hot it can be a real bastard trying to pop the hole.
This is usually more of a problem on thinner tubing, thick tubing tends to stay more rigid even in our hot summers. When buying poly tube I always get the highest quality "virgin" tubing and I usually don't have this problem. Good luck!
Oh yeah, I do this all of the time. I'll take a 2 gallon emitter and split with with a "T" and run it to different parts of the root zone of a plant, this helps to spread the water around without increasing the overall amount of water. Good Luck!
Firstly, I wanted to say thanks for creating such an informative video series! My partner and I are in southern Colorado and are setting up drip irrigation for our vegetable garden. We're currently agonizing over how to do 2 rows of grow bags fed by 1 common 1/2" line. I'm looking at one of these two setups: A) 1/2" line -> Tee -> 2 spaghetti -> one valve on each spaghetti-> emitters and such B) 1/2" line -> 2 valves directly on the line -> emitters and such B would be easier and cheaper, but I'm afraid that the valve will start leaking at the connection to the 1/2" line after repeated adjustments without the strain relief added via the tee and the spaghetti in version A. Do you find that barbed fittings connected to 1/2" line eventually loosen and leak if they're messed with too much / when you put the valve directly on the 1/2" line? I sincerely appreciate your help. Thanks a bunch!
The goal would be to try to spread the water evenly across the surface of the soil while trying to poke as few holes in the main 1/2" poly line as possible. The more holes you poke in the line to add emitters or barbs, the more possibility for leaks. Rather than poking two holes in the line you can use one emitter and come off of it with a 1/4" "T" barb and run two lines off of the "T" to opposite sides of your containers. This of course is a lot of work but it's the way that I water a lot of native shrubs in native soil. This method uses fewer emitters and also spreads the water around the root zone more evenly
@@SouthwestVictoryGardens Thanks for your help! Glad to know I wasn't just being OCD with worrying about the 1/2" line punctures. We'll go with the Tee method.
You have been very helpful to a novice gardener learning about drip irrigation. Thank you! I hope you can clarify something for me. In your demonstration you added the on/off valve directly into the 1/2 inch tubing then added the 1/4 inch tubing to it. Are there any negatives to adding the on/off valve to a section of the 1/4 inch tubing? I am looking for a way to reduce the flow of water to a selection of planters than need much less water. Thank you!
Thank Betty, you are so nice for saying that! Yes you can put the 1/4" valve anywhere along the line and use it to adjust the flow to whatever you like. I often do this when I don't have the right size emitter. Good luck!
Great video. Rain Bird recommends that you install the emitter in the 1/2" distribution tubing unless the 1/4" tubing is longer than 5 feet, in which case they recommend that you install it in the 1/4" tubing closer to the plant being watered. Your methods one and two in the video. They don't recommend method three.
Great info. The ability to change emitters easily is a great reason to use a leader from the poly trunk line rather than attaching them directly. I do wonder why you would put a manual valve in line to roughly vary the amount of water being dispensed when you are already controlling it quite specifically with an emitter? I /can/ see the value of the valve if you need to occasionally shut down that 1/4 line while keeping the rest operating. Otherwise, if the emitter flow is too high, either install a slower emitter or just use a valve, but not both.
It's kind of like how a doctor will prescribe a medication for an off label purpose, it's not what it's designed to do, but it works. It's true you can change emitters, but usually when you have to change out an emitter you also will need to move the line cause most likely the drip line of whatever you are watering has moved quite a bit. I don't think I've ever had an instance where I needed to switch out an emitter while not having to also move the lines in an established irrigation layout. Valves are all about flexibility, a valve let's you turn a 2 gallon emitter into a 1 or 1/2 gallon emitter without having to change them out or buy more than one type of emitter. I always opt for more flexibility when designing irrigation systems cause you never know what might change in the future. Good luck!
I get these at our local irrigation supply store called "Sprinkler World." They always have different types every time I get new ones, they just order whatever they can get. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful!
Your favorite way is BEST... and you don't get water feature/super leaks from chopping end of line and emmiter option...emitter is at the main line still works as Drip to emitter to spaghettismall line and maybe and end spaghetti line holder ...
it's possible to gently remove an emitter and replace it, but more often than not you'll end up stretching the hole so much it will leak after you replace it. I find it's better to plug up the old hole and make a new one right next to it. Good luck!
Great video! How do you remove a broken 1/4” straight fitting from poly tubing? It broke off and the barbed part of the fitting is still inside the 1/2” tubing.
You just gotta pry it out with needle nose pliers. Once it's out, use the fat end of a goof plug to plug up the hole. You can use the same needle nose pliers to insert the goof plug if you are having trouble. Good luck!
Quick question, let's say i install a 1 gallon emitter directly to the 1/2 inch mainline. What's the maximum length you would recommend running the 1/4 inch line from the emitter to the plant.
Ok, I've watched a million drip videos and have been installing drip in my yard for years and had NO idea that the fat end of the goof plug goes into the main line. I've always used the skinny end for the 1/4 tube and the main line. This completely explains why I have two goof plug leaks in my garden!! Thanks so much!!
Heather you big goof! That's ok, I learn new stuff all the time. Glad you found the video helpful!
Me too. I have a leak. This is why I was looking for a good video today. Wow!
Thank you! My husband is at work and I accidentally cut the tubing while working in the garden. I watched your video, got the pliers, and fixed it myself. Great video 👏🏽.
lol
I inherited a large supply of drip system parts and I had no idea what to do with them. I learned so much from this one video and I can't wait to go watch more and learn how to use it all. Thank you so much!
Clear, concise video, a rarity on RUclips sometimes. Thank you!
Thanks!
After dozen searches about drip irrigation, your video is the most concise and have the best explanation!
Thanks, hope they were helpful for you!
The spaghetti tubing is a game changer for me, and makes so much sense. I did my first drip system in a new garden bed this summer, and ran the half inch poly tubing directly next to the base of each plant, with emiters right next to each root ball. This video makes me want to rip it all up before the plants fill in, so I can route the poly in a more accessible way and use the spaghetti tubing to take the water where I need it. That'll be a nice winter project if I get bothered enough about my setup, now that I know what the spaghetti tubing is for. Also the valves!
This is so helpful and that sound it makes as it pops the hole is so satisfying. You could do ASMR with that!!
I so agree with comments. The information is concise and easy to understand with no fluff--thank you. I love the idea of attaching a tube to the end of the emitter to avoid plugging!! Do one of your video's cover what is best emitter (and GPH) for plants/shrubs/trees?
I don't go into detail here about that, but typically for trees you would use emitters that put out a lot of water per hour, usually 5-10gph emitters and for shrubs you are probably ok with the standard 2gph emitters you see in this video. What's most important is how many emitters you place at each plant and how you space them. You can visit my website and where I have links to several publications on how to properly water trees and shrubs. www.southwestvictorygardens.com/documents. Good Luck!
I love your instructions much better than many professional channels.
Wow, thank you!
Great info! I’m in SW New Mexico and am tired of dragging my hose around the yard to try and water! Thanks so much for your time making these videos! Greatly appreciated!!!
Glad you found them helpful Dan, as a fellow hose dragger I feel your pain! Happy Gardening :)
After watching a ton of videos on that subject, I Instantly subscribed because of well explained and very informative; little details you are giving are very important to beginners.Thank You for a job well done!👍
I teach mostly to brand new gardeners so I try and explain things easy to understand so folks can understand how the whole process works from start to finish. Thanks for subscribing!
Thank you for being very specific. I am a first timer and your step-by-step instruction makes it so much easier.
Thanks T.S., I wish you good luck with your irrigation endeavors!
Did he stop talking? I need this video with a verbal explanations
Wow! Great video! No fluff, all info, I'm ready to go forth and drip line with full confidence! Thank you!
Awesome, You got this!
What a great video. I have a drip system in my backyard that has too much water pressure through the line. I was connecting a 1/4 inch barb to the poly tube and then the spaghetti tube and then the emitter. The water pressure would continuously force the spaghetti tube off the barb and start shooting water directly out. By using your first method of installing the emitter directly into the poly line, I can control the water pressure at the poly line and I no longer have the problem of the spaghetti tube being forced off a barb. Wow, this was a game changer for me. Thank you.
If you're blowing lines off their fittings, did you use a pressure reducing valve? Many drip systems run at reduced pressures. Mine runs at 15 psi.
@@paulmaxwell8851 No. That would have been a very expensive option for me. This way cost me nothing.
@@1953thekid $5-7 for pressure reducer at Menards or Home Depot.
!!!! Best video ever put on You Tube !!!!!!
Thank you!
You went over exactly what I wanted, and a bonus of being a desert gardening channel! Subscribed
Great video . Thanks . Even though my arthritic thumbs were screaming while watching you easily pushing the fittings in , I’m doing it tomorrow !
Irrigation is definitely hard on the wrists and fingers, I won't lie! A few tips: you can use needle nose pliers to pull out or insert emitters, this works best when the tubing is very rigid and not as flexible. Another tip is to use some time of heat sourches, like a lighter or even a portable heat gun. Heating up the tubing makes it softer and easier to work with. Hope that helps, happy gardening!
SUPER HELPFUL. I'm 80 & not very strong so I went looking for a tool. The guy at Home Depot couldn't get a tool designed to force an emitter into my 1/4 in. tubing. And he was muscular........about 2 ft. taller than I and 20+ years younger. (said he'll never recommend that one). You recommend a simple needle-nosed pliers. Guess I'm off to the garden-farm-supply store.
Ann, you are the reason we make these videos, so glad we could help!
Oh boy, I knew something was up with my emitters. I've been doing it no 3, the bad way. Going to go step 1 going fwd. I appreciate this video!
Hope it works out, good luck!
Thanks Brendan, Super helpful!
Happy to help!
Thanks so much for this information. I have a bunch of these emitters that someone left at the house and didn't know the proper way to use them. I am redoing a watering line for my raised beds and this is exactly what I need to see. I live in Mesa, AZ so the info for desert watering is so helpful.
Good Luck Linda!
Wow !! You saved me from a lot of problems. Thanks 😊
Such a helpful breakdown-concise and just what I needed! Thank you.
You are so welcome!
Your video is exactly what I was looking for. We had a new irrigation system installed front and back yards last spring, but I didn't pay attention to the types of emitters going in (I was working at the time and couldn't get out to the yard while the system was being installed and relied on the landscaper for updates). The landscaper has retired so I'm taking on the job of checking all emitters. I can safely say that all of my emitters must be buried underground. The thing I needed to understand was the color-coding for gph.
Glad we could be of some help!
This video was awesome! I wish I saw it before we did our front yard irrigation.
Very helpful video! I never knew there were so many different ways to set this up. Thank you!
Great info! Currently installing drippers and I needed a video just like this.
Very comprehensive tutorial on emitter placement. Thank you!
Thank you! Great information I have not seen anyplace else for alternative ways to connect emitters the professionals in my area do it the way you say to avoid. I like your way.
Glad it was helpful! Hopefully as drip irrigation becomes more common, more folks will learn how to do it properly. Happy Gardening!
The landlord has the green emmitter exposed for a tree in the yard and it keeps breaking every six months and shooting the water out like you said it would! I was trying to see if I could fix it myself since it keeps happening. This makes so much sense! Thank you!
After reading the comments, this was the first video that popped up for me....lucky me! I subscribed!
The magic of youtube! Glad you were able to get the water under control, happy gardeing!
Great breakdown, I couldnt find anything and then I find your video and tell me everything i wanted to know, great video!
thank you so much!
I really enjoyed this! Very useful information. I learned several new things that I will use when I install my drip irrigation system next week. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Best drip illustration on YT...Great video
Thanks for the kind words!
@@SouthwestVictoryGardens Not being kind, Im being honest, best drip illustration I've seen on RUclips not kidding.
This is a great video. Very well structured.
Thanks for explaining with good detail. Very helpful.
Wow. A little late to the party, but this video was amazing. Very informative for a rookie like myself. Thank you.
Duuuuuuuuude thaaaaaaaaank you! One of my main hustles is landscape and yes I was doing the Unpreferred method
Glad the video helped, good luck out there!
Excellent video..! Easy, and to the point.
Thank you!
Seriously thanks for this.... my foreman had me redo several not so easy to get to emitters today because he said it was wrong and won't put out enough water with the red emitters going straight into the drip tube and running the noodle line out from that. I knew the was I did it was the better way but still had to redo it all anyways.
Most helpful video I’ve found. Much appreciated!
Wow. Awesome video. So clear and easy to follow. Thank you!
You're the man Frank!
Thank you for this! Really wish I watched this before my trip to the hardware store, haha.
Thank you for your useful, informative teaching.
So incredibly helpful!!! Thanks a ton for sharing your expertise. Turns out I set up my raised bed garden completely wrong. I Spokane why my garden isn’t doing well.
Glad it was helpful, sorry you had to learn the hard way but sometimes that's the best way to learn. Good luck!
The Best video on youtube
Thanks!
Fantastic tutorial for a newbie like me. Subbed!
Thanks for the video, appreciate the southwest specific channel content, I’m also located in Tucson working on your style soil building. However I disagree on it being the wrong way to put the emitter at the micro tube end. It’s much less disruptive to change the value of an emitter, troubleshoot an issue, flush a flag end emitter vs digging back to the trunk line to locate the plugged or defective emitter. If it’s an exposed trunk line, for sure putting the emitter is the way to go. If it’s buried line, your mileage may vary.
Those are some good points, I don't really use flag emitters so that may be good alternative set up for those. If you're gonna go that route you might want to keep an eye on your system because if any critters come by and chew the emitters off you can run into some issues with flooding :)
@@SouthwestVictoryGardens It has been my experience that if rabbits find wet soil, they will dig until they find the tubing anyway. I make it a point to walk my yard while the irrigation is going at least once a week to check for "fountains), i.e. chewed off tubing!
@@jeffross9620 Depending on where you are this can definitely be an issue. It might be worth investing in PVC if critters are a continued problem.
Completely agree with you John
Thank you very much for your time and instruction. Great videos.
Thanks!
This was exactly what I needed. A couple of questions: We have many "water-wise" drought tolerant plants: Coneflowers, Asiatic Lilly, Daisy, Black-eyed Susan, Iris, English Lavender, and Ice plants. It seems I should use the 1/2 gal per hour emitters for these. Should I only have one spaghetti tube go to each plant? I know the Ice plants really spread out, so perhaps I need at least two spaghetti tubes going to each plant. Thanks for your help.
THANK YOU! Just what I needed.
So glad I found this video! Great info!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great instructional video, thanks!
Excellent video. Very well explained.
Informative and concise, thank you.
Great video! My 1/2" is buried, so the 2gph option 1 would be hard to go around checking all the spaghetti. However, I have option 3 (and clogging). I'm going to fix my system to option 2 based on your video...THANK YOU!!
This video is great! I'd like to repair my drip irrigation system myself and save costs to have gardener do it.
Very helpful, thanks. 2 things I've learned. Never use a drill to make the holes on the poly tube. When you put the small watering ends on your flex line, they can clog up easy if you have any dirt in the main line. Also make sure you secure them on to your flex line, you can just push them on, but adding a clamp helps. I've had lots blow off never to be found again from the water pressure.
If you're having issues with lines blowing out you'll want to make sure to install a pressure regulator. These lines are made to operate at between 20-40psi and can blow out easily if the water pressure goes above that.
Definitely recommend using a punch or pokey tool for making holes in the line. Thanks for checking out the video!
Very easy to learn and do!!!
Glad you think so! Good luck out there!
Thank you! simple, straight forward, and easily understood. Great job
Thank you, hope it was helpful for you!
Best video! Just what i needed
Thanks!
This is super helpful for me, thank you!
Really great video. Awesome thanks
Thanks, hope it was useful for you!
this is the video i needed. thank you!
You're so welcome!
Very good information here. Thanks for content.
Thanks for checking out the video!
Great instruction. Thanks!!!
You're welcome!
Very informative and well done. Thanks for the help.
As Grandpa Dale would say, You're entirely welcome!
Idk if he said it in the video, but a little tip is to pop the holes in your distribution tubing while it’s cooler outside or if nothing else in the shade. Once that tubing is hot it can be a real bastard trying to pop the hole.
This is usually more of a problem on thinner tubing, thick tubing tends to stay more rigid even in our hot summers. When buying poly tube I always get the highest quality "virgin" tubing and I usually don't have this problem. Good luck!
Very informative. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Perfect! Thank you so much!
You're welcome!
Very helpful tutorial!
Informative video. Thank you👍🏽
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video. Thanks
Very helpful. Thanks!
Great video. Thank you!!!
You are so welcome!
Very helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you very much, from México
Thanks for video. I learned a lot from your video. Stay blessed :-). Love from India...
My pleasure 😊, much love from the USA!
Excellent....hot damn, I now know what to do! Lol
Great video. Any advice on winterizing those products?
Very helpful!
You're the man Peter!
Great video
Thanks for the visit!
Thank you for your excellent video on emitters.
What happened to all of the comments?
I'm still getting comments, not sure if they are visible to everyone else but I'll still reply when I can!
Great video!
Thanks for the visit, happy gardening!
Great video. Helped a ton. Could I use a T after a 1/2 gallon emitter so that I can have water go to both sides of a plant?
Oh yeah, I do this all of the time. I'll take a 2 gallon emitter and split with with a "T" and run it to different parts of the root zone of a plant, this helps to spread the water around without increasing the overall amount of water. Good Luck!
Firstly, I wanted to say thanks for creating such an informative video series! My partner and I are in southern Colorado and are setting up drip irrigation for our vegetable garden. We're currently agonizing over how to do 2 rows of grow bags fed by 1 common 1/2" line. I'm looking at one of these two setups:
A) 1/2" line -> Tee -> 2 spaghetti -> one valve on each spaghetti-> emitters and such
B) 1/2" line -> 2 valves directly on the line -> emitters and such
B would be easier and cheaper, but I'm afraid that the valve will start leaking at the connection to the 1/2" line after repeated adjustments without the strain relief added via the tee and the spaghetti in version A.
Do you find that barbed fittings connected to 1/2" line eventually loosen and leak if they're messed with too much / when you put the valve directly on the 1/2" line?
I sincerely appreciate your help. Thanks a bunch!
The goal would be to try to spread the water evenly across the surface of the soil while trying to poke as few holes in the main 1/2" poly line as possible. The more holes you poke in the line to add emitters or barbs, the more possibility for leaks. Rather than poking two holes in the line you can use one emitter and come off of it with a 1/4" "T" barb and run two lines off of the "T" to opposite sides of your containers. This of course is a lot of work but it's the way that I water a lot of native shrubs in native soil. This method uses fewer emitters and also spreads the water around the root zone more evenly
@@SouthwestVictoryGardens Thanks for your help! Glad to know I wasn't just being OCD with worrying about the 1/2" line punctures. We'll go with the Tee method.
You have been very helpful to a novice gardener learning about drip irrigation. Thank you! I hope you can clarify something for me. In your demonstration you added the on/off valve directly into the 1/2 inch tubing then added the 1/4 inch tubing to it. Are there any negatives to adding the on/off valve to a section of the 1/4 inch tubing? I am looking for a way to reduce the flow of water to a selection of planters than need much less water.
Thank you!
Thank Betty, you are so nice for saying that! Yes you can put the 1/4" valve anywhere along the line and use it to adjust the flow to whatever you like. I often do this when I don't have the right size emitter. Good luck!
@@SouthwestVictoryGardens Thank you! So glad I came across your channel!
HI. Great tutorial. Where did you get the valve shown? I can only find them with the same size fitting. Thanks!
Great video. Rain Bird recommends that you install the emitter in the 1/2" distribution tubing unless the 1/4" tubing is longer than 5 feet, in which case they recommend that you install it in the 1/4" tubing closer to the plant being watered. Your methods one and two in the video. They don't recommend method three.
Really great. Thanks.
Great stuff
Thank you!
Great info. The ability to change emitters easily is a great reason to use a leader from the poly trunk line rather than attaching them directly.
I do wonder why you would put a manual valve in line to roughly vary the amount of water being dispensed when you are already controlling it quite specifically with an emitter? I /can/ see the value of the valve if you need to occasionally shut down that 1/4 line while keeping the rest operating. Otherwise, if the emitter flow is too high, either install a slower emitter or just use a valve, but not both.
It's kind of like how a doctor will prescribe a medication for an off label purpose, it's not what it's designed to do, but it works. It's true you can change emitters, but usually when you have to change out an emitter you also will need to move the line cause most likely the drip line of whatever you are watering has moved quite a bit. I don't think I've ever had an instance where I needed to switch out an emitter while not having to also move the lines in an established irrigation layout. Valves are all about flexibility, a valve let's you turn a 2 gallon emitter into a 1 or 1/2 gallon emitter without having to change them out or buy more than one type of emitter. I always opt for more flexibility when designing irrigation systems cause you never know what might change in the future. Good luck!
Subscribed!!!! Thank you!
Awesome! Thank you!
I like your black barb hole punch tools, where do I get those specific ones
I get these at our local irrigation supply store called "Sprinkler World." They always have different types every time I get new ones, they just order whatever they can get. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful!
Your favorite way is BEST... and you don't get water feature/super leaks from chopping end of line and emmiter option...emitter is at the main line still works as Drip to emitter to spaghettismall line and maybe and end spaghetti line holder ...
Thanks for the comment Barry! Exactly, all of these methods can work, it's just some are less likely to cause problems down the road. Happy gardening!
Thanks for your video, very informative. How do I replace clogged emitters? Is it possible to remove them with a plier and reuse the same hole?
it's possible to gently remove an emitter and replace it, but more often than not you'll end up stretching the hole so much it will leak after you replace it. I find it's better to plug up the old hole and make a new one right next to it. Good luck!
I was curious what you use to plug up the old emitter hole? Thank you.
@@davidmarshall8265 In the video he showed that you should use a plug . It's on around the 10th minute in the video.
Great video! How do you remove a broken 1/4” straight fitting from poly tubing? It broke off and the barbed part of the fitting is still inside the 1/2” tubing.
You just gotta pry it out with needle nose pliers. Once it's out, use the fat end of a goof plug to plug up the hole. You can use the same needle nose pliers to insert the goof plug if you are having trouble. Good luck!
so helpful! thank you!!!
You're so welcome!
Quick question, let's say i install a 1 gallon emitter directly to the 1/2 inch mainline. What's the maximum length you would recommend running the 1/4 inch line from the emitter to the plant.
You probably wouldn't want to go much more than 8-10 feet with spaghetti line
Thank you soo much for this video
My pleasure 😊
Excellent video thx