Netafim expert needed

[DALION]

I am about to start a new planting area and since drip worked out so well in the backyard I want to use it in the front. This time I want to use Netafim but have some questions.

Can I use an attachment to my existing hard line from my popup sprinklers? I would cap off the sprinklers and only use the drip but don't know anything about Netafim or its attachments.

My other question has to do with my soil. Having mostly clay out front, should I use 12 or 18 center drip and is .6gph the best way to go?

Thanks for any help and I'll be sure to post pictures of the project.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

The netafim line is rated up to 60PSI, but with that being said, you need a 200 mesh filter anyway, so might as well insert a pressure reducer. I don't bother with the pressure reducer because I was told by my commercial landscape dealer that they have found that the lines work much better at higher pressures. Since I already have a major filtering system (200 mesh filter following a 120 mesh disk filter that removes organics) I run my netafim straight off the former sprinkler risers, there are adapters that go from 1/2" NPT thread to the netafim hose.

As for the drip rate, the right drip rate is opposite of what is listed by most vendors. Most vendors say the more sand you have the higher the drip rate, but the opposite is actually true. For clay I would recommend 1GPH every 18 inches, that will give you perfect coverage. If you have a lot of shallow rooted stuff, then I would recommend the .6GPH every 12 inches.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

I should qualify one statement: the best drip rate for clay is the one that keeps the puddling to a minimum. You might want to run so tests using a single dripper.

I also recommend using the 17mm line as opposed to the 12mm line, it's stronger and tougher and can even handle gray water.

[DALION]

Thanks for the advice.

[Hammer]

Leo, you may check in with Jastin. He's done quite a bit of work on these systems.