Hozelock Easy Drip System

About Hozelock Easy Drip System

The Hozelock Easy Drip System delivers precision irrigation directly to plant roots, making it an efficient solution for gardens, greenhouses, and container displays. This targeted watering method reduces water consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional sprinklers, as it eliminates waste from evaporation and overspray. The system gradually drip-feeds water exactly where plants need it most, promoting healthier growth whilst conserving water – particularly valuable for metered supplies and environmentally conscious gardeners.

Tooled-Up.com stocks the complete range of Easy Drip components, including pressure regulators, universal adjustable drippers, flexible supply hoses, and comprehensive irrigation sets suitable for various garden sizes. The modular design allows straightforward expansion as your watering requirements develop, whether you're maintaining a modest patio collection or an extensive vegetable plot. All components feature push-fit connections that require no specialist tools, making installation and reconfiguration accessible to gardeners of all experience levels.

The system connects directly to standard outdoor taps and can be integrated with automatic watering timers for completely hands-free operation. This versatility makes the Easy Drip System ideal for busy households, holiday periods, or gardeners seeking consistent irrigation without daily manual intervention. The adjustable drippers allow fine-tuning of flow rates between 0-4 litres per hour, accommodating everything from thirsty tomatoes to drought-tolerant herbs within a single system.

Jargon Buster

• Pressure Regulator: A critical component that reduces standard UK mains water pressure to the optimal 1.5 bar required for drip irrigation. This prevents component damage and ensures consistent water delivery across all drippers, regardless of fluctuations in supply pressure.
• Universal Dripper: An adjustable outlet that releases water directly onto soil at controlled rates. These versatile emitters can be set anywhere between 0-4 litres per hour, allowing customisation for different plant species and container sizes within the same system.
• Supply Hose: The main distribution pipe (typically 13mm diameter) that carries water from the pressure regulator to individual drippers throughout your garden. Quality supply hose remains flexible in cold weather whilst resisting UV degradation during summer months.
• Root Zone Watering: The practice of applying water directly to soil around plant roots rather than overhead foliage. This method encourages deeper root development, reduces fungal disease risk, and ensures maximum water absorption with minimal waste.
• Flow Rate: Measured in litres per hour (L/h), this indicates how much water each dripper delivers. Adjustable flow rates accommodate varying plant requirements, from moisture-loving vegetables requiring 4 L/h to established shrubs needing minimal supplementary watering.
• Micro Irrigation: A low-volume, high-efficiency watering technique that applies water slowly and precisely. This approach significantly reduces runoff, prevents soil erosion, and maintains consistent moisture levels that promote optimal plant health.

Who Uses Hozelock Easy Drip System?

• Home Gardeners: Enthusiasts maintaining ornamental borders, raised beds, and vegetable plots who want reliable watering without daily commitment, particularly during summer heatwaves.
• Greenhouse Growers: Both amateur and commercial cultivators producing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and other crops that benefit from consistent root-zone irrigation and controlled moisture levels.
• Allotment Holders: Plot holders who cannot visit daily but need dependable watering schedules for vegetables, soft fruit, and annual crops throughout the growing season.
• Landscape Gardeners: Professional contractors installing efficient, low-maintenance irrigation solutions for clients seeking water-wise garden designs and automated systems.
• Elderly or Less Mobile Gardeners: Individuals who find traditional hosepipe watering physically demanding and prefer automated solutions that eliminate heavy lifting and repetitive tasks.
• Holiday Home Owners: Property owners requiring reliable automated watering to maintain gardens, hanging baskets, and container displays during extended absences.
• Garden Designers: Professionals specifying integrated irrigation systems as part of comprehensive planting schemes and sustainable garden installations.
• Property Managers: Maintenance teams responsible for communal gardens, courtyard plantings, and commercial landscaping where consistent appearance matters with minimal labour input.

How to Choose the Right Hozelock Easy Drip System

Count Your Plants: Begin by identifying all areas requiring irrigation – containers, borders, grow bags, and greenhouse benches. A standard system typically serves 20-25 plants within a 15-metre radius. For larger gardens, plan for multiple systems or additional components to extend coverage.

Measure Distances: Calculate the length of supply hose needed from your outdoor tap to the furthest watering point. The system works most efficiently when the pressure regulator is positioned close to the tap, with supply hose running to planting areas. Account for routing around obstacles and allow extra length for adjustments.

Assess Water Requirements: Different plants need varying moisture levels. Universal adjustable drippers accommodate mixed plantings – set higher flow rates for thirsty vegetables and containers, lower rates for established shrubs and drought-tolerant species. This flexibility eliminates the need for separate systems.

Consider Automation: Decide whether manual operation suffices or if automatic timing would prove beneficial. Browse the selection at Tooled-Up.com for compatible watering timers that programme multiple daily cycles, essential for holidays or maintaining consistent greenhouse conditions during hot weather.

Plan for Expansion: The modular design means you can start with a basic set and add components as your garden develops. Purchase additional drippers, hose lengths, and connectors when introducing new plants or extending beds. This staged approach spreads costs whilst building a comprehensive system.

Check Your Water Source: Ensure you have outdoor tap access with standard UK threading (1/2" or 3/4" BSP). The pressure regulator accommodates both sizes and works with typical mains pressure ranging from 0.5 to 10 bar, making it compatible with most domestic water supplies.

Popular Accessories

• Automatic Watering Timers: Programmable controllers available in mechanical or digital versions, enabling multiple daily watering cycles with flexible duration settings for complete automation.
• Extension Supply Hose: Additional lengths of 13mm hose for expanding your system to reach distant borders, extending greenhouse runs, or accommodating new planting areas.
• Extra Universal Drippers: Additional adjustable emitters for increasing watering points as your plant collection grows, available individually or in multi-packs for economical expansion.
• T-Pieces and Connectors: Junction fittings that allow branching the supply hose in multiple directions, essential for complex garden layouts with scattered planting zones.
• Hose End Plugs: Sealing caps that prevent water loss from supply line terminations, ensuring all pressure directs through drippers rather than open ends.
• Inline Filter Units: Protective filters that remove sediment and debris from water supplies, reducing dripper blockages and maintenance requirements whilst extending component lifespan.
• Tap Connectors: Quick-release fittings enabling easy connection and disconnection from outdoor taps, convenient when switching between irrigation and hosepipe use.
• Support Stakes and Clips: Anchoring pegs that secure supply hose in position and keep drippers correctly positioned at plant bases, preventing displacement during maintenance.
• Winterisation Accessories: Drainage valves and protective covers for safeguarding your system during freezing conditions, essential for extending equipment lifespan in harsh UK winters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much water does the Easy Drip System actually save?

The Easy Drip System reduces water consumption by up to 90% compared to traditional sprinklers or hosepipe watering. By delivering water directly to root zones, you eliminate losses from evaporation, wind drift, and runoff onto paths or driveways. This targeted approach proves particularly economical on metered water supplies whilst supporting environmental sustainability. Gardeners typically notice significantly lower water bills during summer months whilst maintaining healthier plants through consistent moisture levels.

Can I expand the system after initial installation?

Absolutely – the modular design specifically accommodates expansion. Simply purchase additional universal drippers, supply hose lengths, and connectors as needed. The push-fit connections make adding new branches straightforward without dismantling existing runs. Many gardeners at Tooled-Up start with a basic set for initial plantings, then gradually expand as they introduce new beds, containers, or greenhouse areas. This staged approach spreads investment whilst building comprehensive coverage.

Do I need to remove the system each winter?

Draining and storing components before the first frosts is recommended to prevent frost damage and extend lifespan. Disconnect the pressure regulator and store it indoors, then drain all hoses by elevating one end to allow water to flow out. The lightweight components are easily removed and reinstalled each spring. Alternatively, thoroughly drain the system and protect exposed components with insulation if permanent installation is preferred, though seasonal removal remains the most reliable protection method.

Will the system work with low water pressure?

The Easy Drip System functions effectively with mains pressure ranging from 0.5 to 10 bar, accommodating most UK domestic supplies including properties with lower pressure. The pressure regulator automatically adjusts flow to the optimal 1.5 bar for drip irrigation, ensuring consistent performance across all drippers regardless of supply fluctuations. If you experience particularly low pressure, positioning the pressure regulator close to the tap maximises efficiency.

How long should I run the system each day?

Watering duration depends on plant types, container sizes, weather conditions, and dripper settings. As a general guide, 30-60 minutes daily suffices for most established plants during summer, whilst containers may need twice-daily watering during heatwaves. Greenhouse crops often require 45 minutes morning and evening. Start conservatively and adjust based on soil moisture – it should feel damp but not waterlogged. Automatic timers simplify scheduling and ensure consistency even when you're away.