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| Photo Credit: Megan Bame |
| This decorative hose hanger provides a convenient location to stow the hose when it’s not in use. |
Irrigation can be as simple as a using watering can or as complex as an integrated landscape system complete with timers and sensors. Fact is, most home gardeners will find a suitable option somewhere in between.
A garden hose is probably a logical starting place for the sake of familiarity. While one end attaches to the outdoor spigot, the other end can be fitted with numerous nozzle attachments. The purpose of the nozzle is to break the water into a “softer” stream and water a larger area. A shut-off valve is also an important feature. Some nozzles are designed with trigger mechanisms that require you to hold the trigger the entire time you water. While this might be a fun feature for kids and washing the car, it can lead to hand cramps for the gardener. A brass shut-off valve will cost more up front, but it’ll last longer and be more reliable than plastic valves, which are prone to leaking. When the hose isn’t in use, consider storing it on a reel. This protects it from being run over by a car or lawn mower, and it avoids kinking. Cheap hoses are lightweight to pull around the yard, but these thin hoses kink more often and are more likely to spring a leak. Commercial hoses are available at most garden centers, and though heavier and pricier, they’ll last longer and are virtually kink-free. Soaker hoses are a popular choice for vegetable gardens, but they could just as easily be used in a flower bed. The soaker hose is a small-diameter, rubber hose that has tiny holes throughout. The water seeps through the holes and drips directly under the hose. A soaker hose should be placed right beside the plant stem so the water is delivered specifically to the root zone. It’s an environmentally friendly choice for water-wise gardening. Sprinklers are essentially the opposite of soaker hoses. While useful for establishing lawns, sprinklers may be a water-wasteful choice for planting beds. Plus, water from a sprinkler that lands on plant foliage may be evaporated by the sun before the plant even gets any benefit (especially in the heat of summer). Also, because a sprinkler covers a large area with large droplets of water, it takes a long time for water to accumulate and penetrate the soil to reach plant roots – particularly if the plants are well-established with foliage and mulch covering the soil.
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