Step One: Check your water flow rate
This is so you are able to tell what type and how many sprays can be serviced at any one time. First turn off all taps, then turn on one garden tap on full without your hose into a 9 litre bucket.

Then with your watch ready, time how long it takes to fill up the bucket.

Then divide the bucket size by the time to fill in seconds, then multiply by 60. This will give you the water flow rate in liters per minute. For example;

9 litre bucket ÷ 20 seconds x 60 = 27 litres per minute

The types and number of sprays you can use at one time varies according to brand. So use your flow rate and check the manufactures brochure in planning your system

Step Two: Pick your system
There are three different types of systems to choose from including the Microspray System, Pop Up Spray System and the Drip System . The Garden Gurus are going to explain to you how to use the drip system. If you want to use any other system please refer to the Mitre 10 ‘MitrePlan - Project Garden Guide’.

Drip Systems; are available as fixed or variable types. They deliver the right amount of water to pots plants, vegetables, trees and shrubs. As a rule of thumb allow 50cm of space between every dripper for foliage diameter. For sandy soils allow 35cm of space and when watering large trees form a loop around the base.

Step Three: Sketch Yourself a Plan
Draw up a plan of your garden. Outlining the main building outlines, position of pathways, width of garden beds, location of trees and any other obstacles, so you can see the actual areas you want to water. Then mark in where the main polytubing from the tap is going to go. The next step is to mark where the distribution lines are to go for the areas to be watered and mark where the drippers are needed. The main tubing can be a larger diameter than the tubing used as distribution lines so that more than one distribution line can be used.

Then using the manufactures brochure, write up a shopping list of how many sprayheads, drippers, tubing and accessories you need. Or take your plan to Mitre 10 and ask them to give you a hand.

Step Four: Installing
Using your plan, lay out all the parts where you intend to install the watering system. Use bricks or stakes to hold the polytubing in position. Working from the tap in the direction of the water flow, adjust the layout till the main tubing and distribution lines are suitably located and cut the poly tubing to length with your utility knife or secateurs. Connect all the tubing with joiners, elbows or trees to form the desired layout. Secure each connection with a locking clamp and be sure there are no kinks in the polytubing.

Seal the open end with an end stop. Pierce the polytubing with the hole punch this must be a straight, clean punch with no wobbling side to side. Then, push the dripper inlet into the hole. Cover the tubing with soil leaving the drippers exposed.

Make the most of your water
Leaving the sprinkler on is an unnecessary and costly waste. Not only that, it’s a fact more plants die from over watering than under watering. So adding a tap timer to your newly installed fixed watering system makes perfect sense. There are several types available and can be manually or electronically set.  You’ll never forget to turn the water off again.

Tools for the Job

• 9 Litre household bucket
• Measuring tape
• Secetures
• Spade
• Pen and paper

Material Checklist

• Polytubing 13mm wide
• Nuts and trails- for connecting to the tap
• Joiners- for straight connectors
• Tees- for-t-junction
• End Stops- to seal open ends of tubing
• Locking Clamps- for all connections to prevent leaks
• Punch/Spanner- for fitting sprays ect into tubing
• Repair Plugs- to seal unwanted holes in tubing
• Filter- to take out rust and impurities in pipeline

There can be a range of variables in your materials so it is best to check with a helpful Mitre 10 staff member who will give you the best possible advice.

For a detailed MitrePlan on ‘Installing a Water System’ follow the link or pick one up at your local Mitre 10 store. 

www.mitre10.com.au