Hozelock ABC Automatic Watering Guide

Step-by-step guide

How to Plan a Hozelock Automatic Watering System

A little planning goes a long way. This guide walks you through everything you need to know — from sketching your garden layout to programming your timer for the first time.

30–60 minute install

Suitable for beginners

No tools needed

Step one

Plan your system

Before buying a single fitting, spend ten minutes planning. A good plan means the right amount of pipe and no wasted trips back to the shop. You don't need anything fancy — a rough sketch on paper is all it takes.

Sketch your garden

Draw a rough outline showing your outdoor tap, the beds or pots you want to water, and any obstacles like paths or fences. Mark approximate distances.

Mark what needs watering

Note whether each area contains pots, raised beds, borders, a lawn, or a greenhouse. Different areas may need different emitter types.

Estimate pipe lengths

Measure (or pace out) the distance from your tap to the furthest watering point. Add 20% extra for corners, bends and running around obstacles.

Use our free Drip System Designer

Our interactive design tool lets you plan your layout digitally, calculates how much pipe and how many drippers you need, and generates a shopping list — saving you time and money.

Step two

Choose your system type

Hozelock offers three main irrigation approaches. The right one depends on what you're watering. You can also mix types — for example, drip for pots and micro-jets for borders.

Drip Irrigation

Best for: pots, containers, raised beds, hanging baskets

Micro-Jets & Sprayers

Best for: borders, flower beds, vegetable patches

Sprinklers

Best for: lawns, large open areas, established planting

Important: don't mix types on one line

Never connect drippers and micro-jets on the same pipe run — they operate at different pressures and one type will starve the other of water. Keep different system types on separate zones.

Step three

Gather your components

A typical Hozelock automatic watering system uses a standard set of components. The Hozelock click-connect system means everything fits together with no tools required — just push and click.

Water Timer / Controller

Screws onto your outdoor tap. Automates when and how long your system runs.

Shop timers →

Pressure Regulator

Reduces mains pressure to the correct level for drip systems. Essential for reliable flow.

Shop fittings →

13mm Supply Pipe

The main carrier pipe running through your garden. Flexible and easy to cut.

Shop pipe →

Tees & Connectors

Split the supply pipe to reach different areas. Elbows for corners, end caps for line endings.

Shop connectors →

Drippers / Micro-Jets

Push directly into the supply pipe or onto 4mm micro-tubing to deliver water to each plant.

Shop drippers →

4mm Micro Tubing

Feeds water from the main pipe to individual pots or hard-to-reach plants.

Shop tubing →

Pipe Stakes

Secure the pipe in place along borders and between pots to keep it tidy and hidden.

Shop stakes →

Punch Tool & Pipe Cutter

Create clean holes in the supply pipe for fittings, and cut pipe to exact lengths.

Shop tools →

Not sure what you need? Start with a kit

Hozelock watering kits include everything to get started — timer, pipe, connectors and drippers — all in one box. The 15 Pot Kit and 20 Pot Kit are our most popular starting points.

Step four

Install the system

Installation is straightforward — no digging, no plumbing, no specialist skills. The Hozelock click-connect system means most connections are simply push-fit. Work from the tap outward, section by section.

1. Connect the timer to the tap

Screw your Hozelock water timer directly onto the outdoor tap thread. Hand-tighten only — no tools needed. Then screw the pressure regulator onto the timer outlet.

2. Lay the main supply pipe

Run the 13mm supply pipe from the tap to the first watering area. Use a pipe cutter for clean, square cuts. Secure in place every metre or so with pipe stakes.

3. Branch to different zones

Use tee connectors to split the main pipe toward different beds or areas. Run a separate branch for each zone. Keep each branch under 18 metres for best flow.

4. Add drippers or emitters

Use the punch tool to make a hole in the supply pipe at each plant position. Push in a dripper or a 4mm barbed connector, then run micro-tubing to pots. For borders, use adjustable micro-jets on stakes.

5. Cap the pipe ends

At the end of every supply pipe run, push on an end cap to seal it. Without end caps, water will simply flow straight out of the pipe instead of through the drippers.

Warm the pipe first in summer

On hot days, 13mm pipe can be stiff. Leave it in the sun for 10 minutes or run warm water through it — it becomes much more flexible and easier to route around corners.

Step five

Program your timer & test

The timer is the brain of your system. Hozelock timers are designed to be set up in minutes, even without reading the full manual. Here's what to configure:

Set the start time

We recommend early morning — between 5am and 8am. This gives water time to soak in before the sun evaporates it, and the foliage dries before nightfall which reduces fungal disease.

Set the watering duration

Start with 20–30 minutes for a drip system and 15–20 minutes for micro-jets. You can adjust once you've seen how your plants respond after a few days.

Set the frequency

Once daily is a good starting point for most gardens in summer. Pots dry out faster and may need watering twice daily in a heatwave. Borders can often go every 2–3 days.

Once programmed, turn on the tap manually and walk the system to check for leaks. Pay particular attention to dripper connections into the supply pipe — press any loose ones firmly home or use a barbed connector with a small piece of micro-tubing for a more secure fit.

Use the "Water Now" function first

Most Hozelock controllers have a manual "Water Now" button. Use this to run the system immediately so you can walk around and check every dripper is flowing correctly before you rely on the automatic schedule.

Step six

Fine-tune & maintain

No system is perfect straight out of the box. The first two weeks are the time to watch your plants and adjust accordingly. Here's what to look out for:

Plants look dry or wilting — increase the watering duration by 5–10 minutes, or check that drippers haven't become blocked.
Plants look waterlogged or yellowing — reduce the watering duration, or switch from daily to every other day.
Uneven watering — check that adjustable drippers are all set to the same flow rate, and that no connections have pulled loose from the supply pipe.
Low flow from some drippers — flush the system by removing end caps and running for 30 seconds to clear any debris from the pipe before re-capping.
End of season — remove the timer, drain and store it indoors over winter. Flush and coil the supply pipe. Drippers can usually be left in situ.

Annual maintenance checklist

At the start of each season: replace timer batteries, check all connections for splits, clear any blocked drippers with a pin, and inspect pipe for damage from digging or frost.

Need help with your specific garden?

Our irrigation experts offer free advice on planning and choosing the right products. Get in touch or call us on 0333 335 6295 — free from most mobiles.

Use the drip designer

Hozelock ABC Automatic Watering Guide

How to Plan a Hozelock Automatic Watering System

Drip Irrigation System Designer

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