- 1). Identify the main pipe to tap into for the sprinkler's water source. Use plastic flags to identify the location of the trenches and sprinklers. Excavate the trenches for the pipe to a depth of 4 to 12 inches, depending on local building codes. Rent a gas-powered trenching machine from the local tool rental store. Some people use a spade for smaller projects.
- 2). Go to the water meter to turn off the water supply at the main shut-off valve. Use a hack saw to cut the PVC pipe. Splice the tee fitting in between the two pieces of pipe. Apply PVC primer and cement on the ends of the pipes to secure the tee. For copper pipe, use a pipe cutter to cut the pipe. Solder the tee into place. Some installers mix copper and PVC pipes and fittings.
- 3). Follow the plan for locating the valve box. Excavate the trench from the primary water connection to the spot of the valve box. Make the dimensions of the hole 24 to 36 inches long and about 18 inches deep. Lay a two-inch bed of gravel in the hole. Place the valve box on the gravel. The depth of the valve box makes the cover even with the grass surface.
- 4). Follow the directions for connecting the manifold, which consist of the zone valves for the pipes placed in the various trenches. Place the manifold in the zone valve box. Lay one-inch diameter PVC pipe from the water main to the back-flow prevention component. Refer to the plans for the location of the timer. Dig a four-inch trench from the timer to the valve box. Run 24 volt underground wire from the timer to the valve box. Follow the wiring instructions for connecting the wires to each valve.
- 5). Place PVC pipe in the trenches; start at the valve box. Join sections of pipes with couplings. Apply PVC primer, cement on the ends of the pipes lines, and fit the pipe into the coupling. Attach a tee in the water line where the pipe branches off to connect to a sprinkler head. Connect the short length of flexible pipe required for the sprinkler head.
- 6). Make the connections for the drip irrigation tubing. Attach an upturned elbow, a short length of vertical pipe and a pressure reducer. Make sure the pressure reducer has a microfilter. The irrigation drip tubing connects to this component. Connect 90 degree elbows on water lines leading from the zone valve box. Connect each trench pipe to the designated zone valve line.
- 7). Turn on the water to flush the water lines after completing all the connections. Connect the pop-up sprinkler to the end of the flexible piping. Follow the instructions for inserting the line into the PVC pipe. Install spray nozzles on the sprinkler heads.
- 8). Attach the drip irrigation tubing to the pressure reducer leading from the underground pipes. Position the tubing along plants and flowerbeds. Use push-in couplings to connect lengths of tubing. Close the tube at the end of the layouts. Cut the tube with a utility knife and flush it with water. Fold the end of the tube; place the end clamp on the tube.
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