There are many different watering systems for gardens available. The options vary by simplicity, costs, and effectiveness. In this article, different garden irrigation systems will be compared:
Sprinkler System– Watering with a sprinkler system is another easy way to water your vegetable garden. It’s good for watering gardens with sandy soil because the water is absorbed quickly. You can also cover a larger area at a time so watering doesn’t take as long.
One downside to a sprinkler system is that even though you might be saving time watering your garden, you might be making up that time pulling weeds. Because the sprinkler system is not concentrated on just the plant, but waters over a broad area, not only are you watering your vegetables but you are also watering the weeds that are anywhere close to the area. Sprinklers can also constantly wet the leaves of your plants which can increase the chance of plant disease.
A sprinkler system can also be wasteful. By spraying the water in the air, a portion of it will evaporate without ever reaching the roots for the plants to use. If you live in an area that has hot temperatures and is susceptible to drought, then even more of the water is going to evaporate. Runoff can also happen with a sprinkler system if the soil doesn’t absorb water very quickly.
Hoses– Watering your garden with a hose probably isn’t the best watering system to use for anything other than container gardening. Usually too much water is coming out of the hose at one time and the water doesn’t soak into the ground, which causes a lot of water to be wasted by runoff. The reason it is best used for watering in a container is because the water stays put in the container and it’s easy to tell how much water you need to effectively water the plant.
Hose watering is simple and easy, but just not very effective. One advice to make hose watering more effective would be to turn down the water pressure so that the water comes out more slowly and has a better chance to sink in.
Soaker Hose- A soaker hose is another simple and inexpensive way to water your garden. It’s easy to use, all you have to do is hook up the soaker hose to a water source like you would a hose, and water leaks out of the hose and onto the soil. A soaker hose is a porous hose that leaks out water droplets. The soaker hose can be laid in rows or curved around plants. It releases the water slowly reducing evaporation and runoff.
Although soaker hoses are inexpensive at first, the costs may add up by buying a new soaker hose every couple years, more or less, depending on the quality. Usually soaker hoses do not do well when exposed to the sun and will eventually disintegrate into pieces.
Most soaker hoses tend to have problems with keeping even water pressure throughout the soaker hose. Most soaker hoses have more water leaking out of the hose end that is closer to the water source than the other.
Drip Irrigation- The ultimate and absolute best way to water plants. Water slowly drips through emitters in flexible plastic pipes or drip tape. The water pressure is constant throughout and the water drips on the plants slowly, allowing the water to be soaked in deep so the plant can develop deep roots. The water is also less likely to be evaporated using this system of watering.
Even though drip irrigation is the best way to water plants, it can be pricey and complicated. Most kits that you can buy come with over fifty different parts and long twenty page instruction manual to figure out. If you do set it up correctly, it will save you time in the long run, but the hours it takes to initially set up will be a pain.
Drip Hose- Drip hose is the best compromise between the world of soaker hose and drip irrigation. The price is comparable to the price of a soaker hose, and it’s just as easy to use as soaker hose. It functions like drip irrigation though. The water pressure is even throughout and it slowly releases drips of water onto the soil. It is also made from better quality parts. The drip hose is going to be able to withstand many years in the sun, about 10 years, if you take care of it. Your drip hose is more likely to be destroyed by accidently running a plow through it, or having an animal chew on it, than from sun damage.
Watering Systems for Gardens: Easy to Understand Comparison
