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Adjustable Drippers and Adjustable Dripper Stakes are extremely versatile. They can easily be dialed from a one gallon-per-hour drip up to a ten gallon-per-hour eight-stream spray. Whether watering potted plants or irrigating a flower bed, you’re never more than a couple “clicks” from the ideal gallonage.

Follow this chart to accurately set water usage with our Adjustable Drippers and Adjustable Dripper Stakes.

To begin, make sure the adjustable head is completely closed by turning it all the way to the right. Now, the appropriate gallonage can be set by counting “clicks” as you rotate.

Note: If the adjustable head is rotated to the left beyond what is recommended, it can come off during use. Adjustable heads are NOT available as spare parts.

Here's an oldie but a goodie.

Let's face it. Sometimes pushing 1/4" Fittings into the ends of 1/4" Vinyl Tubing is not something one would say is particularly a snap. Actually, it's not a snap at all. It's more of a sliding motion, really. But I digress.

The fact is, most of us would rather work a little smarter than harder. Well, here's your chance.

To make inserting any 1/4" Fitting into 1/4" Vinyl Tubing as easy as possible, start by soaking the end of the tubing in hot water.

Before beginning your project, fill a mug with water, then microwave it on high for about a minute. (Amount of time depends on the microwave). Next, cut your Vinyl Tubing to length. Soak the end of the tubing in the hot water for about thirty seconds. Now, simply slide the 1/4" Fitting into the end of the 1/4" Vinyl Tubing. The hot water will have softened the vinyl to the degree that the fitting just slips in. Reheat the water as necessary.

It's a simple tip. But if you have to install a large number of 1/4" Fittings, it may just save your fingers.

Happy irrigating!

Ever have one of these in your yard? Chances are you have. They're everywhere. But, honestly, who doesn't love having these small, fluffy critters darting around the backyard? They're cute, right?

Well, perhaps if they're chewing through your Mister Landscaper tubing, they're not so cute. And this is a problem for some.

We've discovered that, on occasion, squirrels will chew through the Mister Landscaper tubing to get to the water. They're thirsty.

The easiest solution is to set out water pans or install a birdbath. As with most things, squirrels will follow the path of least resistance. If water is readily available, they won't bother to chew through your tubing to get it.

However, if squirrels are just not your thing, and you'd rather them be gone altogether, there are alternatives. If you search the internet, you will find everything from homemade pepper concoctions to powdered fox urine. Personally, I like birdbaths. But to each their own.

Happy irrigating!

At Mister Landscaper, we honor and remember those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies grow

Between the crosses, row on row, 

That mark our place, and in the sky, 

The larks, still bravely singing, fly, 

Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the dead; short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe! 

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high! 

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Be thankful. Be safe. And have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.

With each Patio Kit, there are a total of eight Dripper Stakes. And each Dripper Stake can be adjusted to output from zero to ten gallons of water per hour.

There is, however, one thing you should keep in mind when installing a Mister Landscaper Patio Kit - especially if you want to get the most from it.

If you plan on, at any point, simultaneously running all eight Dripper Stakes wide open (10 GPH), it is imperative that you DO NOT run them in a single line. Instead, you must first use one of the included 1/4" Tees and split the system so that it runs in two directions. By doing this, you make sure each stake is receiving the correct amount of water pressure. For reference, you can simultaneously run up to six stakes wide open.

However, if you plan to vary the flow rates between Stakes, then it is okay to run all eight in a single line.

Alternatively, by expanding the system and using Mister Landscaper 1/2" Poly Tubing as the main line, you can increase the number of Stakes to more than 30.

To do this, install a 25 PSI Pressure Regulator and a Poly Faucet Fitting. Then connect and run the 1/2" Poly Tubing around your patio or deck area. Finally, run a single line of 1/4" Vinyl to each Stake. That's it.

Now you know how to get the most from your Patio Kit.

Happy irrigating!

Every once in a while here at Mister Landscaper, an idea comes along that is so simple, it begs the question: Why didn't we think of it before now?

But no matter. Often these little epiphanous moments yield extremely useful tidbits. Take for instance: Cooking oil.

Now, while we certainly did not invent cooking oil, we did discover one of its many uses: Installing a Mister Landscaper system.

It came to our attention not too long ago that certain individuals were having difficulty pushing the 1/2" Poly Tubing onto the 1/2" Poly Fittings (There's a built-in O-ring on the fittings that does provide a bit of resistance). Since we couldn't get rid of the O-ring (it secures the seal), we racked our brains for another solution. That's when it happened. We discovered the nine hundred and seventy-third use for cooking oil.

Here's what you do: After cutting the 1/2" Poly Tubing to length, and before connecting any 1/2" Poly Fitting, apply a bit of cooking oil (olive, vegetable, canola) to the inside of the tubing just at the end. Then push the 1/2" Poly onto the 1/2" Fitting and over the built-in O-ring. Tighten the locking collar as usual. That's it! It's like butta!

And we won't get into the science of it here, but just that little bit of oil creates enough separation between the parts that installation becomes significantly easier. Simple, huh? But it works.

Whoda thunk it?

Houston, we have a problem.

Recently, we've been getting questions about the .5, 1, and 2 gph Drippers. It seems there is some confusion over which end is installed in the 1/2" Poly and 1/4" Vinyl Tubing. Understandably, the mix-up does happen - both ends do have holes after all.

But that said, let's see if we can't clear up the confusion.

All of the Mister Landscaper Drippers - whether the aforementioned or not - have one thing in common: It's what we refer to as a barb. The barb is pointed, generally has a smaller orifice than the actual outlet, and has a ridge or rim that holds the Dripper in the Tubing and prevents it from blowing out (see inset). The barbed end of a Dripper is always the end that gets installed in the tubing. Once you know what to look for, it's easy to spot.

Drippers can be hugely beneficial in creating an effective irrigation system. Unfortunately, they only work one way.

Happy irrigating!

Everyone spends a great deal of time and energy discussing the environment these days. Global warming, the oceans rising, strange weather events. Very few media events focus a great deal of energy on a much more serious problem, saving fresh water.  There are some parts of the United States where droughts are so bad that people are using rain buckets to collect fresh water so they can water their plants when there is no rain because using sprinklers are prohibited.

Water is a precious resource in our environment. All life depends on it. Growing populations and ongoing droughts are running our fresh water resources dry, causing natural habitats to decline and impacting our everyday use of water.

People in industrialized populations should feel obligated to pay more attention to how we are using water, and how we may be wasting it. We must bridge the gap between our understanding of how important water is to our survival and what we can do to ensure that we have an adequate supply of clean water for years to come.

Here are 10 easy and practical tips for thinking "green" by saving the "blue". 

1. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. 

2. Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full, and you could save 1,000 gallons a month. 

3. Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time. 

4. Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it's time to water. 

5. When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.

6. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.

7. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.

8. Wash clothes only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons each month.

9. When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.

10. Choose new water-saving appliances, like washing machines that save up to 20 gallons per load.

For more tips on how to save fresh water in your day-to-day lives, go to http://www.wateruseitwisely.com.

Of course, Mister Landscaper recommends using their products to save water as well. By utilizing Drip Irrigation and Micro Irrigation in your landscapes and gardens, you can save over half the fresh water you use every time you water.  Imagine the impact that would make if everyone did that.