Irrigation types

Compare Systems Hose and Sprinkler Uses • Lawns • Larger garden beds Advantages • Sprinkler is inexpensive and easy to use • Used with a timer for added convenience • Excellent for beds that need infrequent watering Disadvantages • Uneven watering • Hard to avoid overspray • Water loss from evaporation Watering Wand Uses • Individual plants or small beds • Containers • New trees or plants mixed with established plants Advantages • Easy to water individual plants • water only the roots Disadvantages • Time consuming to water large areas Soaker Hose Uses • Level garden beds • Food gardens • New trees and shrubs Advantages • Takes less time than hand-watering • Less evaporation • Use a timer for regular watering Disadvantages • Does not work well on slopes • May accidentally overwater, since water is not easily visible • Some soaker hose materials may release heavy metals • Easy to damage when digging • Proper placement is important to make sure the soil is evenly moist; difficult to tailor to the needs of individual plants • soaker hose may break down relatively quickly if not covered by mulch Dripline Uses • Garden beds that need regular water—slopes OK • Food gardens • Fruit & other trees that need water after established • Containers • Trees, shrubs, perennials Advantages • Very efficient • Waters evenly on slopes • Can tailor system to plants & soil • Can use a timer for regular watering Disadvantages • Needs to be properly installed & maintained to work well (may need help from a professional) • High-quality drip parts can be expensive Automatic overhead Sprinkler System Uses • Larger lawn or garden areas that require regular watering • Advantages • Convenience—no watering by hand • Waters while you’re out of town Disadvantages • Less efficient than most other methods, especially if spray heads are used (typically wastes 40 percent or more of water used) • Expensive to install • Requires annual tune-up & regular maintenance • Water use & bills usually higher than other watering methods