[BigTree]

Subject: Pressure Compensating Drip Line quality among manufacturers?

I plan to install a ½ inch (nominal) pressure compensating drip line (nominal 0.5 gpm emitters pre-installed every 12 inches) irrigation system in planter areas and am now ready to purchase the supplies. The dilemma is quality among manufacturers. I am willing to pay more if there is an incremental increase in quality (or features) that would be of benefit. For example, it will cost 60% (up to 100%) more for me to buy Rainbird drip line as compared to DIG drip line but I don’t know if there are any substantial quality differences between these two manufacturers. Is there any difference in drip line quality among manufacturers and if so, what? Does anyone recommend specific manufacturers of drip line? Or ones to avoid? Many thanks.

[4seasons]

I can't tell you the quality of the ones you mentioned but TORO make a nice one.
I get mine from A.M. Leonard.com

[dan deutekom]

I have been pretty happy with Netafim drip line which is available from Toro

[NCSULandscaper]

first of all, what type of plants will be in these beds? Shrubs, trees, perennials? Ive never seen the reason to use pre-spaced in shrub beds, kinda defeats the purpose of drip irrigation, it drips in wasted areas...........i prefer to use 5/8" OD poly pipe and install emitters at each shrub, only use water at where its needed.

[Greensmith]

Originally Posted by NCSULandscaper

first of all, what type of plants will be in these beds? Shrubs, trees, perennials? Ive never seen the reason to use pre-spaced in shrub beds, kinda defeats the purpose of drip irrigation, it drips in wasted areas...........i prefer to use 5/8" OD poly pipe and install emitters at each shrub, only use water at where its needed.

That is what we do and it works great.

[Fine Edge]

Actually, there's another reason for the in-line emitters.
Some say that watering just at the root ball of each individual plant will keep the roots growing closer to the root ball.
Watering a larger area will allow the roots to seek out the water thus allowing them to grow larger & longer.
Larger and longer roots should result in the plant being able to absorb more nutrients which in turn would mean a stronger, healthier plant.
Which would you prefer after 4 years, a plant that only has roots within the first foot and a half of its root ball or a plant that has roots that extend beyond its canopy by a couple of feet?

[NCSULandscaper]

but you would then be watering the entire bed, if there is still enough water at the root ball, it still wouldnt grow out as you claim............if you have a good layer of mulch, and drip irrigate at each plant the water will spread out you still dont need in line emitters, they were originally made for nursery production anyhow...........

[Greensmith]

Not to mention the weeds that suddenly have optimal growing conditions with a full bed of moisture.

[Daniel Hanson]

Keep in mind that of all of the manufacturers out there who sell drip line only Rain Bird and Netafim make their own product. Many of the other companies buy it out from some other company or have it private labeled for them. Of all of the lines out there the Rain Bird and the Netafim are hands down the best. I have installed miles of the Rain Bird Landscape Drip Line and have always been really happy with it's performance. Netafim is OK but I'd rather support an American company like Rain Bird as opposed to an Israeli company like Netafim.

[Inspired]

I think the pre installed drip line works well in situations where you need to control the precip rate or you need to wet the entire bed evenly. I've also used it very successfully on hedges running a line on each side of the hedge length wise.

Big Tree: I don't know of any quality Irrigation suppliers that stock the DIG line. Toro, RainBird, Netafim, Agrifim are all good names. I have used a lot of the Toro 5/8 for over 10 years with great results.
Lately we have switched to Netafim because we can buy it with different colored stripes and we color code different zones. For instance Red stripe = flowers, Green stripe = shrubs, Blue stripe = trees, Yellow stripe = Citrus, etc. It saves time during installation and if we come back and add on later.

Hope that helps,
Bill