To aid in planning your drip irrigation system, sketch your yard on paper. Include all areas that require watering. Also indicate areas such as retaining walls and drives that will act as barriers to your piping. Take note of sloping areas, shaded areas and drier locations. Drip systems are commonly divided into watering zones.
Zones are groups of plants with similar water requirements.
For many homeowners, the zones may simply be a division of those plants requiring frequent and infrequent watering. Homeowners with small landscapes may be able to water with a single zone but add additional or faster emitters to take care of thirsty plants. Large landscapes may need zones for hedges, trees, shade gardens, full sun gardens, etc. To determine the hose bibb's flow rate, run the water at full force into a measured bucket and time how long it takes to fill. The maximum usable flow is 75 percent of the flow rate.