Soaker Hose Vs. Sprinkler

Sprinklers are popular for overhead watering.

Sprinklers offer quick and easy watering that—while perfect for lawns—may harm plants in your flower garden. To bring out the green while keeping healthy gardens, use the appropriate water delivery system.

Function

Sprinklers apply water from the top down, with or without either rotating or oscillating movement. Soaker hoses are laid in place and remain there, applying water to the soil around the plant.

Time Frame

Sprinklers apply water rapidly, coating a large area at once. It is a quick solution for extremely parched grounds. Soaker hoses irrigate slowly, allowing the water to slowly soak in into the soil surrounding the roots.

Benefits

For lawns, sprinklers are the best solution with large coverage in a short time period.

For gardens, soaker hoses can be laid out once, snaking around the plants, and run for extended periods to thoroughly soak the garden bed, watering at the roots where flowers need it most.

Warnings

Sprinklers applied to gardens can cause a variety of problems in plants. Many diseases begin with wet leaves. Roses are especially susceptible to black spot, a disease caused by water remaining on leaves for extended periods. If you must water gardens by sprinkler, apply the water during the morning hours and avoid watering from the top in the evening.

Ideal Situation

For best irrigation, save the sprinkler for the grass. Snake soaker hoses through the gardens, both flower and vegetable. Time your sprinkler for the morning to run for short periods. Run the soaker hoses for extended times, about half a day or more, to soak the soil in your garden.

References

• Watering Correctly: University of Illinois
• Soaker Hoses: Green Education Foundation