From lush vegetable gardens to sprawling lawns, your landscape needs proper watering. According to the staff at Irrigation Tech in Rochester, NY, understanding the differences between sprinkler heads and drip irrigation—two common residential watering solutions—will determine which one is best for your needs. 

Sprinkler Heads vs. Drip Irrigation

Specific Functions of Each System

If you need to saturate a broad area, choose a sprinkler irrigation system. Water lines buried underground use a pumping mechanism and deliver large volumes of water through sprinkler heads to expansive, flat areas. Drip irrigation systems don’t have the same reach. Instead, plastic pipes installed close to the soil slowly deliver two to 20 liters of water per hour to specific plants. If you need to water plants in small areas on a regular schedule, opt for the drip irrigation approach.

Advantages & Drawbacks

Watering an expansive lawn using a garden hose is a time-consuming process. Sprinkler head irrigation systems evenly distribute water to large areas, cutting the watering time in half. The system requires a lot of water, so there’s a high percentage of evaporation and water runoff. Be careful not to oversaturate plants, as this leads to fungi growth. To avoid this, water plants at a time when the sun’s rays evaporate excess moisture. 

Using a drip irrigation system is an effective way to keep gardens and other plants in confined areas hydrated. The equipment wets the root area, so you may need to use a garden hose or water pail to saturate plant leaves and stems. Dripping valves are often installed aboveground, so they are visible.

For additional assistance deciding which residential irrigation system is best for your needs, reach out to Irrigation Tech. They will walk you through the options and provide drip irrigation installation and repair. For a free estimate or to schedule a service appointment in Monroe County or the surrounding Finger Lakes area, call (585) 225-0380 to speak with a representative. Visit them online to learn more about their automatic watering systems and like them on Facebook for updates.