Permanent Raised Bed Gardening: Selection and Use of Fertilizer Injectors

Because fertilizer is corrosive, choose a sprayer that has a polyethylene tank and a pump housing made entirely of plastic. For the typical backyard garden, a 1-gallon sprayer will suffice. A 3-gallon sprayer is recommended for gardens larger than 1,000 square feet.

Before operating the pump-it injector, fill the tank with the desired amount of fertilizer concentrate. Insert the pump into the tank and tighten the handle. Insert the injector manifold into the head assembly of the drip system, making sure the manifold ball valve is closed prior to turning on the system. Once the system is fully charged, pressurize the tank by using the hand pump. When you are ready to inject the concentrate, simply open the ball valve and adjust it to control the injection rate. The vacuum breaker adjacent to the ball valve prevents irrigation water from entering the tank if the tank pressure falls below the system's operating pressure.