Rain Bird Micro Spray Flower Bed Watering Kit

Kit Contents

Thank you for purchasing the Rain Bird Micro Spray Flower Bed Watering Kit. This kit allows you to water flower beds and other densely planted landscapes with low volume, micro spray irrigation using your garden hose.

What is Low Volume/Micro Spray Irrigation?

Low volume irrigation using micro sprays is an efficient way to water flower beds and other densely planted landscapes. Unlike traditional sprinklers that spray water over a very wide area and consume a lot of water, micro sprays use very little water and spray over a much more confined area. Rain Bird's unique square-patterned micro spray nozzles have two settings: 5' square and 8' square, allowing you to cover just the area you need watered. The square pattern allows for precise edge coverage with no overspray.

Installation Steps

1. Assemble the low volume manifold hub as pictured (see figure 1).

   Once assembled, this will serve as the central "manifold hub" of your watering activity. It is recommended that you use pipe tape (available separately at any home improvement retailer) where indicated to prevent leaks. Also attach the quick-connect coupler to your garden hose, as pictured.

2. Decide on a place in your yard or garden to locate the assembled low volume manifold hub (see figure 3).

   Select a spot that puts it within easy reach of the plants you want to water, but pick a place that will keep it safe from lawn mowers or other hazards. It is easy to put the manifold in a place that is not too conspicuous, but you will want to be able to easily reach it to attach and remove your garden hose. If your ground is very hard, you may want to wet the area where you intend to insert the spike first to soften the soil. This will prevent damage to the spike.

3. Assemble the micro sprays (see figure 2).

   Thread either end of a riser tube onto the plastic spike. Attach a nozzle riser adapter to the riser tube by screwing it on to the tube until it stops. Place the micro spray nozzles onto the nozzle tube adapters.

4. Place the assembled micro sprays in your planting bed so that the spray will cover the entire bed.

   The knob on top of each nozzle can be turned in one of two positions. The first position creates a square watering pattern that is 5' x 5'. Turned to the other position, the watering pattern is 8' x 8' (see figure 4).

   Once the micro sprays are positioned in your planting beds, attach them to the manifold using the 1/4" tubing. Using pliers, remove one of the plugs that cover the outlets on the 6-outlet manifold (see figure 5). These are a tight fit to prevent leaking, so you may need to pull harder than you think.

   Next, press one end of the 1/4" tubing on to the outlet that no longer has a cover on it. Unroll the tubing until it reaches one of the micro sprays and cut it to length with scissors. Attach the other end to the inlet on the plastic spike. Repeat this procedure with the other 5 micro sprays and manifold outlets. You do not need to use all 6 micro sprays.

   Now you are ready to connect your hose and start watering (see figure 7).

Watering Tips

• A) Position the micro sprays so that the "edges" of the watering patterns touch. Think of the micro sprays as "blocks" that are placed in a pattern that covers your whole planting bed. For an idea about micro spray placement (see figure 6).
• B) The quick-connect hose coupler that came with your kit can be used to make connecting and disconnecting your hose easier. The female portion of the quick connector attaches to your garden hose and does not allow water to flow out until it is connected to the male portion of the quick connector (which should be attached to the zinc spike). When you are ready to water, turn on your hose and firmly push the spring-loaded connector onto the male portion of the connector on the zinc spike. When you are done watering, pull back on the green spring-loaded collar and pull the hose off the spike. By using the connector it will be easy to keep your drip manifold set up in your garden or yard.
• C) You may want to use a hose bib watering timer to control how long your new system runs. These timers (available separately from any home improvement retailer) can be programmed to turn on and off at pre-set times.
• D) If you want to expand your kit, you can remove the black plastic cap on the zinc spike and connect a hose between this kit and another kit (see figure 8).
• E) To further expand your kit, you can purchase a multitude of different emitters, micro sprays and other watering devices that can connect to your 1/4" tubing. These devices are available at your local home improvement retailer.

Diagrams and Figures

Figure 1: Low Volume Manifold Hub Assembly

Figure 2: Micro Spray Assembly

Figure 3: Manifold Placement

Figure 4: Watering Pattern Adjustment (5'x5' and 8'x8')

Figure 5: Connecting Tubing to Manifold

Figure 6: Micro Spray Placement Example

Figure 7: Connecting Hose and Starting Watering

Figure 8: Optional Expansion with Second Manifold