Use an "ell" fitting to connect the main line with emitters.

The emitter line of choice for use in permanent beds is the thick-walled hard hose with pre-installed drippers at 12- or 18-inch intervals. While initial cost is greater than that of tape, the hard hose emitter has a long service life and can be overwintered in the beds, thanks to its rugged design. Experience has shown hard hose to be the easiest of all the emitter types to install in our raised bed growing system, as well.

In order to develop a shopping list for your drip system, you should first design the system. Refer to the scale drawing of your raised bed garden.

Start by locating the source of water in the drawing. Ideally, the faucet or hydrant should be within 100 feet of the farthest bed. This shouldn't be a concern in most backyard garden situations, however.

If the source needs to be closer to the garden, consider installing a freeze-proof hydrant nearby. Freeze-proof hydrants permit irrigation during the winter months, if necessary. When not in use, water in the hydrant is automatically drained off, preventing freeze-up.

To determine the amount of emitter line to purchase, multiply the number of beds by the length of line per bed. The length of emitter line per bed can vary, depending on the number of lines per bed.

Certain crops such as tomato, squash, cucumber, cantaloupe and eggplant are typically planted in single rows when grown in 40-inch beds on 5-foot centers. In such situations, one emitter line per bed will suffice.

In situations where multiple rows of closely spaced root and leafy green crops are distributed over the entire surface of the bed, two evenly spaced emitter lines per bed provide for a more uniform wetting pattern. Plan on installing two emitter lines per 40-inch bed. You will be pleased with the added performance and flexibility the dual lines provide.

For beds more than 4 feet in width, a third emitter line should be considered. One line should suffice in beds less than 24 inches in width.