With 1/4 inch tubing, stuff the barb into the end of the tubing.

If you need more than one emitter in an area, use _:_ fittings to daisy-chain several together, or use a loop of the 1/4 inch tubing that has emitters in it. And use end plugs if you don't end with an emitter.

I do have one stuck on the end, but I need another emitter midway through the hose. I would like to avoid buying pre-drilled tubing, because I've already bought the other stuff (and my spacing isn't all that uniform, anyway) I suppose I could pick up some more t-pieces, cut the hose where I need the emitter, connect the two pieces with the t-piece-- add a little piece of hose onto the 3rd connector of the t-piece and attach the emitter to that?

Jessica,

You got it. That is how I do it for young tree and potted plants. Aloha

Yes, use the T-fittings and a short chunk of spaghetti tubing if you need multiple drippers on a line.

Excellent- I will give this a try. Thanks for the help!

jessica, those barbs can be tough to push in sometimes. It can often feel as though they would rather poke into your finger than the pipe.
*pro-tip: use pliars to hold the barb (grab it where you won't damage the other side of the barb) and then push it in. You'll know when its in because it pops.

That was one of the first things I tried. I even tried using one pair of pliers to hold around the tubing to try to keep it from collapsing and a second pair to push the emitter in. No luck- the barb was just too dull to push in. I ended up buying a box of t peices.

I think I understand now. You were trying to simply push the barbs into the poly pipe. With 1/2 or 3/4 pipe I myself am BARELY strong enough to do this, and I will often break barbs attempting to do so. There is a tool that pokes a hole first, then the barb pops right in. If you're strong enough to 'squish' that poly pipe, you're strength is clearly not the issue. You need to poke a hole first next time, but NOT TOO BIG, or it will leak. Like i say, there IS a tool, but you can use a small nail too.

"Understanding the concepts makes you an amateur.
Knowing 'the tricks' is what makes you a pro."

Sounds like you're using different pipe. My tubing is soft. Maybe the issue is that I'm using 1/4 inch, so the walls of the tubing are not actually that far apart. I bought the tool, but I got the cheapo plastic version and it mashed the tubing too.

You can't put drippers into 1/4" tubing, only onto the end. You will have to do what you mentioned earlier with the T's and an additional piece of tubing.

Yep, thanks. I got a box of them, and am now just waiting for this dang snow to melt.