Buckets and watering cans.
- Buckets and watering cans are inexpensive, convenient for mixing liquid fertilizers, and just right for small areas and container gardens.
- On the other hand, they move limited amounts of water at any one time, are inefficient for large areas, and are labor intensive.
Hoses, hose-end nozzles, and other attachments.
- Hoses etc., are comparatively inexpensive and probably owned already. They deliver the water to the desired location without significant labor
- On the other hand, moving the hoses from one location to another is annoying if not labor intensive, and can waste a lot of water if not properly attended.
Drip irrigation systems.
- Drip irrigation systems efficiently bring water to the root zones of the plants and help prevent fungal diseases. They minimize evaporation and deliver water in prescribed amounts and rates. They save water and can be installed as a semi-permanent or permanent system and adapted to automatic timing control.
- On the other hand, they are complicated to assemble. If a different physical layout for the plants is used in a subsequent year the developed system must be modified or discarded. Most water districts now require the use of a backflow preventer with a drip system.
Soaker hose systems.
- Soaker hose systems made from recycled rubber let water seep out of the entire length of the hose and do not siphon particles in when the water is turned off. They provide water to the root zone which helps prevent fungal diseases. They save water. Can be installed as a semi-permanent or permanent system and adapted to automatic timing controls.
- Soaker hoses made of plastic materials can plug easily if the
soil contains moderate amounts of silt. The siphon tendency of
installed systems draws in silt particles plugging the water passage
ways.
Quality soaker hoses made of rubber are more expensive than others.
Automatically timed systems
Both drip systems and soaker hose systems can easily be adapted to automatic timers and electrically controlled valves.
- Automatically timed watering systems, once installed, save labor, time, and water. Once the system has been calibrated, plants receive the correct amount of water at the appropriate time. They are efficient for large gardens and in situations in which labor to operate manual systems is not available.
- On the other hand, such systems are expensive and must be manually controlled if it rains or there are periods of unexpected dryness.
