Choosing the best plant watering system for a garden, yard, or other landscaping is an important task. Pick an incorrect plant watering system, and the plants can become overly saturated with water or inadequately watered. Irrigation methods can range from a simple hand-held hose or sprayer to a complex drip system or a pipe system. The perfect plant watering system depends on how frequent the plants need to be watered, the size of the area to be watered, and how much money the home owner wants to spend.
Watering with a hand-held nozzle may be relaxing – at first; however, many home owners quickly learn that it is too time-consuming to water anything other than a small area by hand. It is ideal for new transplants, container plants, and seedlings because the water pressure can be monitored and controlled by the person operating the hose. In addition, a handheld sprinkler can soak the soil in an exact location, instead of watering a large area of mulch just to give a single plant a drink of water.
If a plant watering system is needed for a larger area, a hose-end sprinkler may be best. It produces a spray of “fake rain” that can be beneficial to many forms of landscaping. For example, plants that prefer a cool, moist climate will thrive under an overhead, hose-end sprinkler system. In addition, it will rinse dust and pollen from leaves and halt some pests, such as spider mites, from eating the leaves. There are some negative points to consider before using a hose-end sprinkler, such as water conservation and plant health.
Many people consider an underground pipe system to be the traditional plant watering system. The underground pipe system has risers for sprinkler heads and is perfect for yards that are medium or large in size. Knowing how fast water will absorb into the soil and how fast the sprinklers will deliver water is essential to this kind of plant watering system. An underground pipe system can be more expensive to install and upkeep can be moderate, especially in cold areas where water can freeze and break pipes.
Another great kind of plant watering system is the soaker hose. It is a long tube with tiny puncture marks where the water seeps out. It is beneficial because it delivers a slow and steady stream of water to plants. A soaker hose can water plants in rows, it can snake across a wider area of landscaping, or it can encircle individual shrubs or trees. It is important to check to the soil to make sure it has absorbed enough water. In addition, it takes longer to saturate soil with a soaker hose than it does with a sprinkler.
If the landscaping has large shrubs and trees, it is important to water the roots of those plants. One of the best ways to do so is through flood watering or soaking. This method is not efficient for areas where drought is a concern because water is often wasted.
Drip watering is one of the best plant watering systems, specifically if water conservation is a concern. The water is applied very slowly, one drip at a time, with very little waste. It is perfect for trees, vegetables, shrubs, and most perennials. A drip sprinkler works using low pressure and only delivers a small amount of water to the plants. It can also be adapted to water a specific plant, or it can be tailored to water a more extensive area with a fine spray of water.