Fern Pine Irrigation Question

[Lulu]

I have a fern pine about 12 feet tall, trunk diameter 5", in zone 9. I have a 1/4 " drip line coiled 2 times along the base of tree with soaker hole spacing every 18 in. I was wondering if I should switch the 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch drip line around this tree?

 

[Chuck]

I have a fern pine about 12 feet tall, trunk diameter 5", in zone 9. I have a 1/4 " drip line coiled 2 times along the base of tree with soaker hole spacing every 18 in. I was wondering if I should switch the 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch drip line around this tree?

What determines the amount of water coming out of a drip line is the size of the emitter or the hole in the line, not the size of the line unless it is a long drip line with a lot of holes or emitters.