Getting water to your plants can be one of the most labor-intensive aspects of gardening. But it doesn’t have to be.
While I do sometimes enjoy standing in the garden with a hose and communing with the flora and fauna, other times I’m glad if something more automatic takes over the job – like when it’s 98 degrees outside.
Sprinklers
Sprinkler watering is perhaps the most common type of irrigation. And there are a few different types available, in above-ground or in-ground styles.
A downside to sprinkler systems of either type is the loss of sprayed water to the atmosphere, and on the driveway and other hardscape areas.
A benefit, however, is that sprinkled water will soak any containers in its path.
Above-Ground
This is the kind you place on the end of a hose and haul out to the yard or garden, moving from area to area to get everything watered.
These hose-end sprinklers can have various types of water-distribution functionality, such as oscillating, sweeping, pulsating, and arm whirling.
Some sprinklers allow you to change the distance, the radius, and the pattern of the spray. As an added bonus, this is the type the kids love running through in the summertime.
