Drip Tape Installation

General Fruit Growing
1

Time has come to replace the old drip tape in my garden beds. The old tapes (5yrs+) were getting to the point of being more patches than tape :wink:

I’ve got all the parts I’ll need (I think), but ran into a question. Should the new drip tape be installed with the emitters facing up or down. Supplier said it varies but up is usually the better way, but could not go into the details of when down facing was preferred.

Just curious if anyone here knows the details on which way and why to do this. BTW in my installation the tapes will be above ground but covered with mulch.

TIA

2

Up because sediment can settle on the bottom and clog the emitters. I don’t really worry about which way is up for annual plantings, but I do flush the lines out once in a while.

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3

Laces out (Up)

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I havent noticed a difference in which way the tape lays. I have some very long runs and it eventually get twisted and some is up, some is down. If it is laying down the lines drain out almost completely which is a benefit in the winter.