When it comes to watering lawns and gardens, homeowners have two main options: hand watering with a hose or sprinklers. Both methods have their pros and cons when it comes to efficiency. In this article, we’ll look at the key factors that determine whether hand watering or sprinklers are more efficient for watering your yard.
Water Usage
One of the biggest considerations when determining efficiency is water usage. How much water is actually absorbed by the plants versus lost to evaporation, runoff or wind?
With hand watering using a hose, it’s easier to target the water right where it’s needed. You can avoid watering sidewalks, driveways and other non-plant areas that would waste water. However, it does take some diligence to evenly water the entire yard. Areas may be missed or overlapped, using more water than necessary. Wind can also disrupt the water stream, blowing water onto non-target areas.
Sprinkler systems apply water evenly and consistently across the whole yard. But they are indiscriminate about where the water lands, leading to a lot of waste on non-plant zones like sidewalks and streets. Evaporation loss is higher with sprinklers since the water is atomized into small droplets that are more exposed to air. Sprinklers also run on a set schedule which may not match the actual water needs of the yard on a given day.
In terms of actual water absorption, hand watering allows you to apply water slowly to give soil time to absorb. Sprinklers often apply water faster than the soil can absorb, leading to puddling and runoff. However, a sprinkler system equipped with smart technology can adjust run times and schedules based on weather and soil conditions to improve absorption.
Overall, most experts estimate that hand watering uses 30-50% less water than sprinkler systems. By avoiding waste and runoff, and better matching application to absorption rates, less water is required to meet the plants’ needs.
Labor
Another factor to consider is the labor involved with each watering method. Hand watering requires significantly more time and effort.
To thoroughly hand water a yard may take 30-60 minutes or even longer depending on yard size. You need to drag hoses, move sprinklers, monitor for evenly coverage, and adjust areas as needed. It can be tiring dragging hoses and carrying sprinklers around the yard, especially in hot weather. Hand watering may need to be done 3-5 times per week or more during peak summer heat.
Sprinkler systems require some initial labor to install and program, which may involve burying pipes and wiring. But once set up, they operate automatically according to a programmed schedule. The only regular labor is periodic inspections of the system to check for leaks or malfunctions. This saves a significant amount of time compared to hand watering.
Smart sprinkler systems with WiFi connectivity allow you to turn on the system remotely from your phone before arriving home. This makes sprinklers very convenient and hands-off once installed.
Coverage
The coverage provided by each method is another key efficiency factor. Poor coverage leads to dry spots and uneven plant health across your yard.
As mentioned above, hand watering using a hose allows you to target water precisely. But it can be easy to miss some areas, or overwater others. It takes time and diligence to learn the optimal coverage patterns for your yard.
Sprinkler systems are designed to provide head-to-head coverage across the whole yard. Rotary and spray head sprinklers cover set diameter circles, which are spaced and overlapped to blanket the entire area. This ensures very even coverage without dry spots. One limitation is that sprinkler systems are less adaptable to changes in your yard over time.
Both methods can be impacted by wind, which can blow spray droplets off target. Hand watering may allow for more adaptability to adjust for wind on a given day. Sprinkler systems follow their programmed schedule regardless of wind conditions.
Waste
Water waste is another key efficiency factor. Waste occurs when water is applied to non-plant areas like sidewalks, driveways and streets. This wasted water serves no purpose in maintaining your yard.
As discussed above, hand watering allows you to avoid watering paved areas. But it takes attention and care while watering to minimize waste. You have to monitor where the water is landing and adjust areas of overlap or misdirection.
Sprinkler systems apply water indiscriminately across the whole pattern. Unless the system is very meticulously designed and maintained, a fair amount of waste onto sidewalks and driveways is unavoidable. Wind can also disrupt sprinkler coverage, blowing water outside of target zones.
Proper sprinkler system design with head layout, nozzles calibrated for specific areas, and smart controllers can help minimize waste. But hand watering performed with attention to detail will always have an advantage when it comes to avoiding waste.
Runoff
Excess water that is not absorbed by soil and plants becomes runoff. This wasted water transports away nutrients, contaminates waterways, and provides no benefit to your yard.
Hand watering allows you to monitor runoff and adjust application rates as needed. Applying water slowly and evenly gives soil time to absorb. Sprinkler systems often apply water at higher rates that exceed soil absorption. Even if you program short, frequent cycles, some runoff is unavoidable.
New smart sprinkler controllers can adjust run times and cycles based on weather to minimize runoff. But hand watering remains the best method to control runoff by matching application to absorption.
Targeting
The ability to target water to specific plant zones is another factor determining efficiency. Plants have varying water needs based on factors like sun exposure and soil. Efficient watering gives thirstier plants more water while avoiding overwatering plants with lower needs.
Hand watering makes it easy to adjust watering for each zone. You can give extra time to the vegetable garden while just lightly watering the shady ornamental beds. With sprinklers, the entire system operates as a whole making variable watering difficult.
Some newer sprinkler controllers allow you to program different run times for each station. This provides basic targeting, but still not as customizable as hand watering.
Convenience
The convenience of each method should also be considered when comparing efficiency. The easier the system is, the more likely you are to maintain an efficient watering regimen.
Hand watering requires significantly more time and labor as discussed previously. You have to remember to water, drag hoses, move sprinklers, etc. It’s easy to skip or delay watering when relying on hand watering. Sprinkler systems run automatically, removing forgetfulness and laziness from the equation.
Sprinklers also provide convenience by allowing you to water at any hour. Hand watering may be prohibited during certain hours by local regulations. Drip irrigation provides a sort of hybrid – automation while still targeting specific plants.
Cost
The monetary costs of each system should be weighed when selecting a watering method. This includes both upfront costs and ongoing costs.
Hand watering has very little upfront cost. You can purchase a quality hose and portable sprinklers for under $100 total. Sprinkler systems involve a much higher initial investment, with professional installation often costing $3000+ for an average sized yard.
Ongoing costs for hand watering are essentially zero except for minor hose and sprinkler maintenance. Sprinkler systems require electricity to run, backflow prevention testing, repairs, seasonal activation/winterization and eventual full replacement of components.
Sprinkler systems often pay for themselves over time in water savings, but the payback period can be 10+ years. The higher initial cost of irrigation systems can be a barrier, so hand watering is generally the most budget-friendly option.
Maintenance
Maintenance requirements vary significantly between methods, impacting efficiency.
Hand watering involves very little maintenance – mostly just basic hose and sprinkler care. Sprinkler systems have much more components that require ongoing maintenance:
- Replacing broken sprinkler heads
- Monitoring for leaks and clogs
- Adjusting sprinkler patterns
- Backflow preventer testing
- Winterization and spring reactivation
- Replacing worn valves, pumps, timers
Lack of maintenance leads to inefficient watering, so the time commitment should be considered.
Environmental Factors
Local climate, weather and regulations also impact the efficiency comparison.
Sprinkler systems work well in hot, dry climates where routine watering is needed. They provide convenience while maximizing water absorption with short, frequent cycles. But in cooler or rainier regions, sprinklers may overwater since they operate on a fixed schedule.
Hand watering allows you to adapt to weather and water only when truly needed. You can shut off sprinklers during rainy spells to avoid waste. But in extremely hot and dry areas, the labor of frequent hand watering may become a burden.
Local restrictions may also dictate watering methods. Some regions prohibit unattended watering with sprinklers or restrict sprinkler use to certain days and times. No restrictions are placed on hand watering.
Overall, hand watering provides more flexibility to adjust to environmental conditions, but sprinklers hold an advantage in hot, dry climates.
Conclusion
Evaluating all the factors above, we can draw some general conclusions on efficiency:
- Hand watering uses 30-50% less water than sprinklers by avoiding waste and runoff.
- Hand watering requires significantly more time and labor for watering.
- Sprinkler systems provide more even and consistent coverage.
- Hand watering gives more flexibility to target specific plants.
- Sprinklers are more convenient, automatic and hands-off.
- Hand watering has lower upfront costs but higher ongoing labor.
- Hand watering is easier to adapt to weather conditions and restrictions.
In summary, hand watering with a hose tends to be the most water efficient method. However, sprinkler systems can also be highly efficient with proper design, maintenance and scheduling. The convenience benefit of sprinklers may outweigh their higher water usage for some homeowners.
The best approach is to combine both methods. Use hand watering as your primary method due to the lower water usage and flexibility. Install drip irrigation in zones with high water needs. Use smart sprinkler controllers as a supplement during peak watering season. This balances efficiency with convenience.
The most important factors are paying attention to your yard, monitoring soil moisture and weather, and adjusting watering volumes and frequency to meet plant needs without overwatering. Employing some simple water conservation practices can also maximize efficiency regardless of which watering method you choose.
