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Choosing between drip and spray irrigation for your lawn involves a variety of factors related to the size and condition of the area to be watered and the manner in which you prefer to maintain it. A spray system can water an open, large lawn with fewer worries about evaporation and wind drift than a direct system, making it, in some respects, a more efficient method of watering. But, for the sorts of intricate, miniaturized ecosystems many residents maintain, a spray system might very well be an inefficient use of both money and energy.
Prior to rushing out to buy new, shiny sprinkler heads, it's important to determine what truly matters. You're aware of the sensation one has on a Monday morning, immediately after a prolonged heatwave, upon stepping outside to find several brown patches on the lawn? There's a good chance that the way—rather, the method—by which you decided to water your lawn (or not) played a central role in the great scene divide I just described. And that's what I mean when I say the "how" can be a game-changer.
Drip irrigation systems deliver water in a slow and steady manner, directly to the roots of plants. This method is superb for the detailed work necessary in gardens, flower beds, and shrubberies where precision is preferred to pump-your-heart speed. Think of this as a stealth way to water your plants, giving them the only-kind-of-rain that they can feel.
Reduce water loss from evaporation and runoff.
Minimizes the chance of disease by ensuring leaves remain dry
Ideal for yards with irregular contours or hardscaping.
A house in GTA, with winding flower beds, found that their water bills had diminished and their plants had stopped drooping in the August sun after converting to a drip irrigation system. And the downsides? Drip irrigation systems require frequent inspections to ensure that they aren't clogged, and you might have to exercise a little patience as you determine the best way to set yours up.
Can you remember the neighborhood children dashing through the showering water of a hose? That's what we agronomists like to call "spray irrigation." It has great application in big, open areas—like homes with lawns—where you want to water a lot of space very quickly.
Coverage that hugs the contours in your yard, even in the most challenging parts, is made possible by precision nozzles that are tailored to the specific needs of individual zones.
A GTA family with a big front lawn found it easy and quick to maintain their Kentucky bluegrass turf using the pop-up spray head irrigation system they recently installed. They thought the system worked well. Yet they found that, after several weeks of using it, they had not been watering uniformly and that the turf around the spray heads was very green but unevenly tall, while the rest of the lawn was somewhat brown and crunchy underfoot. Liking the way the pop-up spray head system worked in tandem with the big, stately maple tree on the left side of their property, they were nonetheless concerned that they had watered rather unevenly for quite a long time.
Water Efficiency: Winning the Battle against GTA’s Droughts
Desire green grass and watering bills that do not break the bank? Here is the lowdown of what you must know.
Targeted delivery means that drip irrigation often utilizes 30-50% less water than spray irrigation does.
When water is applied with a sprayer, evaporation and wind exert an even greater influence, particularly during the hot afternoons of August.
At present, both systems can be outfitted with brainy devices that measure moisture levels of the plants, and if it's adequate, can turn off the system until the next scheduled time, or the next time it senses that the plants need water.
Picture this: Your neighbor's yard is now the kind of swamp one sees only in tourist brochures for places like Florida or Louisiana. Meanwhile, your yard is still, by all appearances, the happy, well-watered refuge it was before yesterday's storm. No puddles, no muddy spots, and definitely no swamp-like qualities in the landscaping, which was, if one remembers, almost eerily handsome even in the kind of rain that makes umbrellas seem pointless. Wet rain. Not the kind that falls in drops so closely packed together that umbrella-wearing seems like a good idea.
No one imagines a Saturday consumed by the mind-numbing work of clearing out pipes or fixing a malfunctioning sprinkler. Let's be honest, people.
Sometimes, a drip system needs to be flushed, but there are fewer components that can malfunction. Spraying systems are much fussier. They necessitate tweaks to the heads, cleaning of the nozzles, and, at times, replacement of cracked pipes.
Think about this question: Are you a fan of the "set-it-and-forget-it" kind of option, or do you like to get your hands a little dirty now and then? Your answer to this can help you save time and a few more gray hairs for later.
Every yard is unique—some might slope while others are entirely flat, some might bask in sunlight while others are always shaded, and some might resonate with the sounds of a young soccer star practicing his footwork day and night. But no matter what, your yard's your chance to creatively and whimsically express your personality.
Think about the size and shape of your yard and your actual landscaping style before committing to a plan. You might even find it useful to test out a part of your plan on a small section of your yard.
Making the decision between drip and spray irrigation is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. It is about matching your watering system with your lawn and your lifestyle. Turfrain has experts that can guide you through a personalized plan if you need it. We ensure that your lawn in GTA is as beautiful as can be.
