Irrigation systems provide a steady and reliable stream of water to your garden, allowing for delicate plants to survive harsh and sometimes unpredictable weather patterns. However, there are several different types of irrigation systems available, each of which operates in a slightly different way to provide water to your plants. Understanding the differences between what each type of irrigation system has to offer can help you make an informed decision about which system is the best fit for your garden's needs.
Soaker Hoses
Soaker hoses resemble regular garden hoses, but have small holes poked into them along the entire length. This allows for a small amount of water to leak out of the hose throughout the day, soaking its way into the soil. However, since the hoses themselves are fairly unpleasant to look at, soaker hoses are really only ideal to water larger sections of larger plants and trees, like hedges and bushes, and not for use on open areas like sections of grass. In addition, soaker hoses are susceptible to damage by common yard pests, as animals like raccoons and rabbits may chew through them, ruining your irrigation system.
Spraying Sprinklers
Spraying sprinkler irrigation systems are made out of a large amount of small sprinkler heads that are installed throughout your yard and garden. Each head is slightly above ground, and will spray water around themselves in a circle. You can adjust the height, amount, and coverage of each individual sprinkler head. Since individual sprinklers only cover a small amount of area, but are low profile, they are usually used in smaller areas like garden beds or along pathways to provide water and irrigation to small and medium sized plants. The main disadvantage of spraying sprinkler heads is that they are less than ideal on sloped or irregular surfaces, as they can contribute to erosion and water waste.
Rotor Sprinklers
Rotor sprinklers operate like most common yard sprinklers, spraying water over a large area to provide the widest area of coverage possible. The main advantage of using rotor sprinklers is that they can cover a huge amount of area when compared to other common types of irrigation systems: a series of sprinklers can cover large open fields with little issue. The main disadvantage of rotor sprinklers is the water efficiency: since the water is sprayed thinly over a large area, a significant amount of water is lost to evaporation on sunny and hot days when the water is most needed.
For more information, contact companies like A Greener Season Landscaping.
