Drip irrigation

Providing the right amount of water for each individual plant, only when and where it’s needed: that’s the core idea of drip irrigation. Drip irrigation is a highly developed science that leads to a range of benefits for humans and our leafy companions! Frequent irrigation, with a perfectly metered amount of water and no wastage, keeps the soil well oxygenated and promotes optimal plant growth. It’s also easy to build a customized system, small or large, to handle any type of irrigation requirements. The “starting point” of the system is a PROGRAMMABLE WATER TIMER. This device makes it possible to establish the quantity and frequency of watering cycles each day in a personalized manner. The water is transferred from the timer to DRIPPERS and MICRO-SPRINKLERS that assure a continuous and accurate flow. The drippers are also adjustable so they can deliver exactly the right amount of water for the specific plant type or soil conditions.

Drip irrigation doesn’t just save time, it also saves a precious resource for the garden and the world: water. The mains pressure required for drip irrigation is actually lower than that needed to use conventional watering systems. You can also set up less frequent watering on CLAYEY SOILS in which water penetration is lower than that of SANDY SOILS. This means that the water can be used precisely to the very last drop.
Over-watering or under-watering can be very harmful to plants. The VERSATILITY of drip irrigation solves this problem perfectly: simply set up the system in accordance with correct watering methods depending on the soil type, the plant types and the climate, as shown on a guideline basis in the preceding table.

In the home, on a balcony or patio, a container is one of the most frequent habitats for a vast range of houseplants. Drip irrigation of pot plants is the one-stop solution for a range of different needs that depend also on the type of plant, while also solving problems associated with rearranging the layout of planters in the area. Users can create ONE or SEVERAL IRRIGATION LINES, with different watering times and flow rates, equipping the lines with drippers having targeted specifications and easily altering the layout in the future whenever necessary.

Also in vegetable gardens, different crops call for different irrigation. Plants with a particularly “delicate” relationship with water, such as tomatoes, can be watered with drippers, thereby reducing the risk of water accumulation with the consequent proliferation of mould.
Leaf vegetables and seedbeds on the other hand are watered from above with micro-mist sprayers mounted on risers secured by spikes: micro-mist sprayers produce a fine shower of water similar to natural rainfall.

The drip system and micro irrigation offer a vast range of specific solutions for each individual plant or area to be watered. Flowers, trees and shrubs can be watered with 90, 180 e 360 degree adjustable shrubblers and variable flow rate or self-regulating drippers, all sharing the core feature of not wasting water because it’s delivered directly to the plant’s root system. For narrow and long surfaces, such as herbaceous borders, use micro-sprinkler strips. Small surface areas or plants with delicate flowers? We recommend micro-mist sprayers with their delivery of a delicate fine mist. Large surface areas like big flower beds or portions of lawn? 360° rotating micro-sprinklers are extremely useful to solve these requirements. All micro-sprinklers can be installed on rigid risers mounted on rugged ground spikes: the jet height can therefore be adjusted freely on the basis of the height of the plants. Also the throw of micro-sprinklers can be adjusted by means of a specific valve.

To install a drip irrigation system correctly with the best possible result, just follow the steps given in this guide.
The electronic water timer equipped with an irrigation pressure reducer (P/N 91040), must be connected to the tap; the water will be delivered through a 1/2″ tube or directly by a 1/4″ feeding tube. Connect the tube to the timer by means of the threaded automatic coupling (P/N 91494) and the specific connector (P/N 91345).

With the 1/2″ main tube you can create a complete irrigation circuit for the largest balconies. In this case the 1/4″ feeding tube is used to connect each dripper

The Claber hole punch (P/N 91185) is designed to make holes of the correct diameter for a perfectly water-tight connection between main tube and feeding tubes. The same tool is also used for tightening and adjusting micro-sprinklers.

Cut several pieces of 1/4″ feeding tube to the required length. After piercing the 1/2″ main tube at the position of the proposed branch, connect each cut length to the 1/2″ tube by means of the 2-way coupling (P/N 91155). You can also use a feeding tube shut-off valve (P/N 91270) to provide greater flexibility and control over the water flow on each individual branch.

Connect the drippers to the 1/4″ tube, positioning them at the base of the plants to be watered and securing the tube along its path with the support stakes. When the circuit has been created, set up the timer and… don’t forget to leave the tap open!

Micro-sprinklers are mounted on support stakes with adjustable height risers and they are connected to the ½” main tube by means of a ¼” feeding tube fitted using the tube punch.
Available in various models for different requirements, micro-sprinklers deliver the correct quantity of water to the target area in a delicate, uniform shower that resembles natural rainfall

Before the first winter frost arrives disconnect your timer from the tap and take it indoors; it can be stowed in a handy cupboard or in the garage, but first remember to remove the battery and discard it at an authorized battery collection point.
Next spring just fit a new alkaline battery.

When summer is over remove the drippers and wash them in running water: they’ll be ready for use next spring, with guaranteed high precision irrigation down to the last drop.
With Claber drippers, getting the system running again after the winter shut-down is easy and does not require the use of tools; and this is the perfect time to make any changes to your system or extend it if necessary, using products from the Rain Jet range.