There is an endless debate in the gardening world about which process is best for your garden and the environment. Some people vehemently swear by the sprinkler system and others won’t let their garden go without the drip. Ultimately it is up to you which system you would like in your garden, the list below just serves as a guide to the advantages and disadvantages of both.
The Drip System
Drip irrigation is a low volume form of irrigation that is used both above and below ground. Water is delivered through a series of small tubes and hoses, and then dropped slowly and consistently onto their intended targets through small holes. The advantages of the drip system are that irregular shaped and hard to get to areas can be watered, there is uniform water distribution, less soil erosion, less evaporation and reduced disease risk. But there are some disadvantages such as: the sun can damage tubing, tubes can become clogged and cannot operate in very cold temperatures.
Sprinkler System
The sprinkler system is designed to mimic natural rainfall, and it sprays evenly over the selected garden area. There are new systems of irrigation that can be remotely controlled and adjusted, and these ‘Smart Systems’ are proving extremely popular. The advantages of the sprinkler system are uniform water distribution, light, even sprays, adjustable technologically advanced systems. There are also disadvantages however, that includes high rates of sun evaporation, technologically complicated and increased risk of disease.
As you can see, there are a number of advantages and disadvantages to both the sprinkler system and the drip system, and at the end of the day the choice if completely yours to make. Both of these systems are effective ways to keep irrigating your garden and ensuring that it’s as healthy as possible.