Tips & Tricks

Always use Teflon tape with pipe-threaded fittings. Wrap Teflon tape clockwise 4 - 5 times around pipe threads. Hose-thread fittings use a hose washer to make a water-tight seal.

Over time, hose washers can compress or deteriorate, causing fittings to leak. Check garden hoses and fittings for a flexible hose washer. Replace brittle or worn washers. Insert a hose filter washer for a little added filtration in your hose or drip poly tubing. If the fitting still leaks, try adding a second washer. For pipe threads, use Teflon tape.

Some drip irrigation hole punches are shaped like a pencil and simply poke a hole as they push through the tubing. They require more force and can slip off of the drip tubing before they make the hole. The Super Punch (shown here) has a squeeze handle and is only $9.90. A less expensive option is our Deluxe Hole Punch which has a sharp, circular cutting edge. It's comfotable, easy on your hands, and costs only $3.60.

Soil type influences water penetration and runoff. If soil particles are tightly packed (clay soil), water can pool on the surface and eventually flow away from the plants. Water flows quickly through sandy soils. Select low output emitters (1/2gph, 1gph) for clay soil and higher output (2gph, 4gph) for sandy soils. View "Choosing the right Drip Emitter".

In cold weather, it helps to dip 1/4" or 1/2" poly tubing in warm water for a few minutes. Warm water will soften the ends of the tubing before installation. The tubing will go onto the fittings easier. Give it a shot the next time you are working with solid drip poly tubing or soaker hose dripline.

Install them now and thank yourself later. A threaded cap at the end of the drip line allows you to flush the line to clean it and drain the line of water before freezing winter temperatures set in. Learn more about winterizing your irrigation system.

Micro spray caps are small and snap on to micro spray bases. Pick up a 5/16" nut driver at your local hardware store. Place the cap in the nut driver and press it onto the spray base. It's much easier on your fingers. Read our Nut Driver Installantion Tutorial.
Browse our micro spray basess & caps.

Installing drip tubing on a cold day? Dip the end of mainline tubing into hot water for a few seconds. This will soften it enough to slide easily into compression fittings. Do not use lubricants on drip tubing.

These valves are great when you have garden boxes or drip areas that you may want to turn off seasonally. You can reduce the flow or shut it off completely. 1/2" Flow  Control Valves are installed just like a compression coupler.

If you use drip irrigation to water hanging baskets or flower pots, put a 1/4" flow control valve  on each pot. You can reduce the flow or shut it off completely. It's handy if the pot is has not yet been planted and you don't want to water it.

If you make a mistake and poke a hole in the wrong place on a drip line, insert a goof plug (small barb). If the hole gets worn and leaks a little, pull the plug out and use the large barbed end. Goof plus are also used to plug the end of 1/4" micro tubing.

If you have a hole in a mainline poly pipe that is bigger than a goof plug, a compression coupling is the fitting to use. Make a clean cut and insert the two tubes into each end of the coupler. No glue required.

Create your watering schedule based on mild weather conditions for your area. In most cases this will be in early spring. From there you can use the “Seasonal Adjustment” feature on your controller. For example, in the summer you can increase your overall watering duration, and in the fall you can decrease it.

Rain and soil moisture sensors work like an on/off switch. They are easy to install and work with most irrigation controllers. Once installed, they will turn the system off until the rain stops and things dry out.

Be green and save money too. Check often for excessive runoff from your irrigation system as well as puddles or pools of water. It may only take a slight adjustment of nozzles, spray emitters, or water timers for substantial water savings.

Often, overwatering will cause grass to look sickly. Check the soil moisture before making adjustments to your watering schedule. If your lawn has brown spots, it may need fertilizing, aeration, or disease control.

A good hole punch will actually cut a tiny circle out of the drip tubing. The plug of tubing can be removed from the cutting edge of the punch with a paper clip. Push it through the cutting end to clear any plastic debris.

When installing a drip system on a slope, non-pressure-compensating emitters will deliver less water at the top of the slope and more at the bottom. Install pressure-compensating emitters to ensure even flow rate even if the elevation changes. Non-PC emitters are best on flat lanscapes.

Also called an insect plug, a bug plug lets water out and keeps insects from entering and clogging the tubing. It is inserted into the open end of 1/4" micro tubing.