Table that summarizes irrigation methods commonly used in S. California gardens. Lists their strengths, weaknesses & best uses.

1. Commonly Used Irrigation Methods with CA Native Plants
Method
Hand watering
with hose
Description
Area is watered by
letting a hose run at
a low rate for a
period of time
Hand watering
with hose &
sprinkler
Area overhead
watered with a
sprinkler attached
to a hose
Overhead
watering with
‘rainbird’ type
sprinkler
Area overhead
watered with fixed
rainbird sprinkler
(or one attached to
hose or quickcoupler)
Advantages





Cheap
Simple; no moving parts
Flexible; use/move as needed
Leaves kept dry
Low water pressure not a
problem




Disadvantages
 Requires convenient spigots*
 Takes time
Best Used for
 Zone 2** with welldrained soils (not sand)
 Zone 3 (around a pond)
 Pots or planters with
raised edges to allow
flooding
 Rain gardens/swales
 Established trees
Cheap
Simple; few moving parts
Flexible; use/move as needed
Can water a fairly large area
depending on sprinkler
 Good for delicate plants,
seedlings
 Low water pressure not a
problem
 Requires convenient spigots*
 Takes time; but could attach a
simple timer
 Wets foliage – need to water
in early a.m.
 Have to replace sprinklers
periodically
 Zone 2 or 3
 Just about any soil
 Native prairies/lawns
(establishment)
 Annual wildflower
meadows
 Mixed beds (grasses,
annuals, perennials)
 Moderately inexpensive
 Moderately simple; durable
 Can water a large area,
including on hillsides
 Can be flexible (if attached to
hose)
 Requires good water pressure
 May not get even coverage
 May damage delicate plants
 Zone 2 or 3
 Large areas (meadows;
prairies)
 Hillsides/slopes

2. Method
Overhead
watering with
conventional
fixed
sprinklers
Drip irrigation:
conventional
emitters
Description
Area overhead
watered by a
conventional
sprinkler system;
may be fitted with
low flow (water
saving) heads
Advantages
Disadvantages
Best Used for
 Relatively permanent
 Easy to connect to timers;
don’t need to be there to
water
 May already be in place
 May get good coverage
 Expensive
 Requires installation
 Costs & time to maintain (e.g.,
broken pipes, etc)
 Not as flexible as hand
watering
 Requires sufficient water
pressure
 Heads/risers can be trip
hazard
 Zone 3
 Mowed lawns
 Tropical plants
 Water efficient – water only
Emitters emit a
applied where it’s needed
trickle of water.
 Water applied at slow
They come in
enough rate to soak in
different sizes;
 System can be covered with
larger sizes allow a
mulch
higher flow of
 Relatively easy to install
water. Emitters are  Foliage is kept dry
placed at the root
 Low water pressure is fine
zone of individual
 Fewer weeds – less area
plants or in pots.
watered
 System has limited lifespan
 Moderately expensive
(depending on size of system)
 Regular maintenance;
emitters get plugged
 If mulch-covered can’t see
whether working properly
 Soil can become over-watered
leading to disease
 Tubes have to be staked down
or they move
 Tubes can be a trip hazard
 If too few emitters root
growth may be inhibited
 Zone 1 & 2
 Establishment of shrubs
(CSS & chaparral
particularly)
 Larger vegetables
(tomatoes; melons)
 Pots
 Berms
 Odd-shaped & narrow
areas
 Areas that cannot be
conventionally piped

3. Method
Drip irrigation
fitted with
bubblers or
pop-up microsprayers
Soaker hose
Description
Bubblers emit
higher flows in a
circular pattern
(useful for irrigating
shrubs and for filling
basins around
newly planted
trees/shrubs
Microsprays emit
large droplets or
fine streams of
water just above
the ground. They
have higher flow
rates than
conventional
emitters
Area is watered by
porous hoses that
emit water at a
moderate rate. Hose
may be covered with
mulch
Advantages
 Water efficient – water only
applied where it’s needed
 Water applied at slow
enough rate to soak in
 System can be covered with
mulch
 Relatively easy to install
 Foliage is kept dry (larger
plants)
 Can see the emitters, so can
monitor their function better
than with conventional
emitters
 Foliage can be washed (some
native like occasional summer
spray)
 Low water pressure is fine
 Low cost
 Easy to install
 Flexible; can install when &
where needed
 Moderate lifespan (3-5 years)
 More water-wise than spray
systems
Disadvantages
 Many of same disadvantages
as conventional drip
 Less water efficient than
conventional drip
 Maintenance; can overpressure the system
 Can’t put as many emitters on
a line compared to
conventional emitters
 Less water efficient than drip
 If mulch-covered can’t see
whether working properly
 Soil can become over-watered
leading to disease
 Hoses have to be staked down or
they move
Best Used for
 Zone 1 & 2
 Establishment of shrubs
(coastal, CSS, chaparral
& woodland)
 Berms
 Odd-shaped & narrow
areas
 Areas that cannot be
conventionally piped






Zones 1-3 (best 2 & 3)
Vegetable gardens
New shrubs/perennials
Established trees & shrubs
Tropical plants
Wetland plants
* spigot or quick-coupler connect
** Water Zone 1 = no/very occasional irrigation / Water Zone 2 = occasional water (once every 3-4 weeks in summer) / Water Zone 3 = regular