Hi and getting estimates to install in ground sprinklers in a few weeks. Just too much hose dragging and I have a fair amount of potted figs and pomegranates that need water. I hear many of you describe a drip irrigation system for your many potted figs. Any advice how to incorporate such a drip system into the sprinkler installation since I assume a drip system needs much lower pressure than the other 6-7 zones.  I assume I would have the installer add an extra zone with a pressure reducer and a sprinkler head that has many small drip hoses? thoughts or ideas? thanks

Barry - My recommendation is you can have the installers add another hose spigot in an easy location for you that is not regulated by the sprinkler system, some systems don't allow you to control the zones separately. This way you can buy a separate timer and pressure reducer(15psi) for the spigot, and run the lines. I had that done last year when i got my sprinklers installed and built my own drip system. I now run PVC to separate garden zones that each have their own ball valve then go into black plastic to run each drip emitter.  This helps having a separate spigot, since winterizing drip irrigation is a little different than a sprinkler system. I can take some photos for you once the snow clears on how i did my drip system.

Barry, I install sprinklers as part of my business here in NJ. To answer your question I would need to know how your pots are laid out. If they are in a straight line or rows or some other pattern?

Each type of system has an optimal pressure zone but I've only ever had to install one because of very high water pressure. Most likely this is not necessary.

Instead of drip, I'd lean towards micro emitters on stakes. If you really want drip I'd go with 1/4" micro drip.

Very helpful info. I keep most of the pots on a 20 by 5 foot patio on the side of house about 10 feet from any lawn and I could arrange in rows. Wondering if it might be best just to add separate zone that sprays that area and could always change to drip system in future if needed?

If you mix pots like some clay, some plastic, some ceramic spray wont work well. You will be forced to overwater some to keep others from being underwatered. Drip emitters come in a variety of outputs and will  give you more control. You can water a 5 Gal Plastic, a 1 Gal clay and  a 20 Gal Ceramic pot all on the same 10 or 15 minute cycle. Also will not wet anything but the soil. I use micro emitters on stakes also but not for potted plants. Could be wrong and I'm always willing to learn but that's what I have found works best.

[QUOTE=bgli]Very helpful info. I keep most of the pots on a 20 by 5 foot patio on the side of house about 10 feet from any lawn and I could arrange in rows. Wondering if it might be best just to add separate zone that sprays that area and could always change to drip system in future if needed?[/QUOTE]

If your pots are in rows you could have a 1" irrigation line on top of the patio against the house. From there you can run 1/4" (spaghetti) lines off of that. One line per pot. The micro sprays come in different styles. One lets you adjust the volume of water via a dial. The other accepts different size heads that control the volume of water. This is important because you may have different size pots or different size plants in the pots. A 2' fig in a 10 gallon pot will have different water requirements than a 6' tree in the same size pot. You want to be able to set your timer to one time (10-15 min) and have that be perfect for all of your pots. Both style of sprays are easy to install and change. In the fall the blow out method is the same as lawn heads.

For more info check out:
Www.irrigationdirect.com

Aaron thanks for the great info. Very helpful