How to Make an Inline Water Fertilizer Distributor
Inline fertilizers allow you to place fertilizer inside a container and distribute it automatically through a sprinkler or hose. Commercial inline sprinklers contain a tank, a suction tube, and an inlet and outlet for pipes. It's possible to make your own inline distributor using an old plant-food distributor and a few plumbing fittings. Reconfiguring the plant-food dispenser mimics the commercial fertilizer dispenser for a fraction of the cost, while saving save time and money maintaining your lawn or garden.
Locate the sprinkler irrigation control box outside the house. Pull up on the colored lid exposing the valves.
Decide which zone to attach the fertilizer. For example, if zone one on your timer controls the front lawn, then attaching the fertilizer to that zone valve provides fertilizer to the front lawn.
- Inline fertilizers allow you to place fertilizer inside a container and distribute it automatically through a sprinkler or hose.
- Reconfiguring the plant-food dispenser mimics the commercial fertilizer dispenser for a fraction of the cost, while saving save time and money maintaining your lawn or garden.
Remove the supply pipe that's connected to the chosen zone valve by unscrewing it with an adjustable wrench.
Screw the supply line nut that you just removed into the threaded outlet side of the plant food distributor. The outlet is marked on the container.
Screw a male-to-male PVC adapter into the plant food distributor’s other end. Tighten it with the wrench.
Screw the other end of the adapter into the port on the sprinkler valve. You have now completed the connection among the valve, the fertilizer and the sprinkler supply pipe.
- Remove the supply pipe that's connected to the chosen zone valve by unscrewing it with an adjustable wrench.
- Screw a male-to-male PVC adapter into the plant food distributor’s other end.
Unscrew the plant food distributor’s bottom and fill the container with a high-quality liquid fertilizer. Do not use dry fertilizer, as it clogs the system.
Turn the sprinkler timer to the "on" position and test the connection. Fertilizer begins flowing into the sprinkler system for the installed zone.
Tip
If there is not enough room in the sprinkler control box to accommodate the fertilizer, dig under and around the box to make more room.
Warning
Never use dry fertilizer in an inline fertilizer system.
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References
Tips
- If there is not enough room in the sprinkler control box to accommodate the fertilizer, dig under and around the box to make more room.
Warnings
- Never use dry fertilizer in an inline fertilizer system.
Writer Bio
Heath Robert has been a professional writer since 2001. Covering news, politics and local communities, he has worked for daily newspapers across Colorado, including the "Columbine Courier" and the "Colorado Statesman." Robert holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism and political science.
