Garden irrigation has many nuances, but this comparison guide can save you a lot of time, money, and headaches. Whether you’re prone to overwatering or underwatering, finding the proper balance of soil moisture is not always easy. You don’t want to spend all day walking around with a hose, but you don’t want to turn on sprinklers and leave the scene, either.
Before you install a new irrigation system, consider the key pros and cons of each type of watering. Let’s compare and contrast the 7 most common irrigation systems to figure out which one is best for your garden.
Drip irrigation is the most common, efficient, and widely recommended type of irrigation for gardeners and farmers alike. A properly designed drip irrigation system is proven to save up to 80% more water than other types of irrigation. It works by using drip lines to deliver moisture directly to the root zones, dramatically reducing the risk of evaporation, runoff, water waste, and weed growth. Root zone watering can also prevent foliar diseases caused by overhead irrigation.
Modern drip lines are typically made of flexible plastic tubing with differently spaced emitters. For a plastic-free option, some gardeners use copper tubing to permanently install drip lines around trees and perennial plants. Drip irrigation is a form of subsurface irrigation that waters your plants from the ground level or just below a layer of soil or mulch. It is particularly suitable for arid climates where water is scarce, and temperatures are warm.
