SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

I'd like to use it and we tried the soaker hose, but the water just didn't spread enough in our soil to be effective. Thought about drip and decided that was a no go too, same thing with the soaker, we have so many leaves around here, raking up the leaves means getting into the drip or soaker system, too much extra work. Just doesn't work in all places, not that I'm enamored with the spray system either. But like others have said, you can see it work. I'd still use the soaker or drip in a veg garden though.

As someone said before, I hate not being able to see the equipment working when checking a system. With sprays in a landscape bed I can visually verify everything is working properly before leaving the property. With drip, I get a frantic call from a homeowner about plants dying and why isn't the sprinkler working that I said was working. I've found some very specific uses for it that mostly revolve around single flower pots here and there.

drip is hard to sell in st louis. because we have very good water supply/ pressures and people here just like to see a lot of water flying through the air. do a lot of micro-spray for pots. and people don't seem to understand that the drip needs to run long, so you go back and they've changed the drip run time to 10 minutes, becusea they think all the zones should run 10 minutes. then i yell aT THEM ABOUT CHANGING THE RUN TIMES I PUT IN WHEN I TURNED IT ON.

the biggest problem with drip may be root intrusion with buried tubing - that won't be an issue with discrete emitters in tubing laid atop the soil, but they need a good deep ($$$) mulch cover to be immune to foot traffic

We just had a drip irrigation class.
It was well attended.
They did echo something you said.
They said one reason they came was the myriad of options available confused them.
It's not near as complicated as people think but the hundreds of variations possible can be intimidating at first glance

Quoted from "GatorGuy"

We see it as a great benefit. Why the low interest?

I think there is some intimidation factor involved with Micro Irrigation.

Perhaps the costs are "unknown" to the beginner. You can get a "mister" for $1.95, and a pack of 5 "drippers" for $2.95 but what does this mean if you don't know what exactly a variable mister is. They are so small, the beginner guy is left wondering if this going to put out enough water. I remember staring at all the fittings and so forth, I'll admit it was a bit intimidating.

I definitely see Micro Irrigation becoming more popular in time.

Take a look HERE for step by step instructions and a link to download a guide from DIG Corp, one of the major drip irrigation suppliers.

Is there a tutorial for the DIY person for installing drip irrigation ?

I use drip Netafim on hedge lines , small shrub bed applications, decks and pots. I would for small grass zones but I'm not the business owner of the company. I service many many drip applications though

I know drip is a huge water conservation but it does have it's place. The larger the area the less chance I will use it. It has much higher maintence, and sometimes in the long run you are paying more to take care of it then saving money with less water.

I like drip for patio pots or limited application. The new mp rotator family of products is great. I also like the new Toro O series nozzles.

Drip has its place, but the yard or flowerbed is a tough environment.