How a drip system works
A drip zone has its own valve, then a filter to keep emitters from clogging and a pressure regulator, because drip runs at much lower pressure than spray heads. From there, tubing runs through the beds with emitters at each plant, or inline emitter tubing laid in rows.
Where drip is worth it
- Shrub and flower beds, where spray hits leaves, walls, and walkways.
- Trees, which need deep water spread under the canopy.
- Vegetable gardens and raised beds.
- Narrow strips and beds next to pavement, where spray turns into runoff.
Lawn usually still needs spray or rotor heads. In Madera, the City’s FAQ says vegetable gardens for personal use on drip are not restricted to watering days, though the 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. limit still applies. See drip irrigation in Madera.
Common drip problems and fixes
- Dry plants on a working zone: a clogged emitter, a dirty filter, or tubing pulled loose from a fitting.
- Water bubbling or a wet spot: a cut or chewed line, or a fitting that popped off.
- Emitters spraying or popping off: too much pressure, often a missing or failed regulator.
- Some plants getting more than others: mixed emitter sizes, or plants that have outgrown their emitters.
Clean the filter, flush the ends of the lines, and walk the zone while it runs. Converting a spray zone in a bed to drip means capping the old heads and adding a filter and regulator at the valve.
We install new drip zones, convert spray beds, and fix drip in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, and Madera Ranchos.
Safety first: if you can’t stop the water, close the shutoff valve for the irrigation system, or the main shutoff to the house. Before you dig anywhere, call 811 to have buried utility lines marked.
Written by ACRE Landscape Co., Fresno & Clovis. Updated October 26, 2026.