The big disadvantages to hand watering are the time required and inability to use a timer. Also, if someone is inexperienced, there is a good chance plants will either be over- or under-watered.
Hand-watering requires labor each time plants need water. Drip systems require less labor on a day-to-day basis but require recurring labor to set up and maintain. Drip emitters can also clog, leading to non-uniform irrigation.
ANSWER: Soaker hoses are made of a material that oozes or seeps water slowly. They apply water economically, are easy to use, and can be left in place or easily moved. Soaker hoses are much more effective than hand watering.
Provide Slow, Deep Watering
If you are unsure how long to water new plants, aim for 30-60 seconds for small plants – longer for larger plants while moving the hose to a few locations around the plant. Avoid watering when the soil feels moist. The earth must be allowed to dry out between watering.
Although hand watering helps conserve water, it is not the most efficient method. Drip-irrigation systems are more efficient because the water is delivered drop by drop over a long period of time, and this provides plant roots time to absorb waterborne nutrients gradually and continuously.
Don't let your plants sit in water continuously—this can lead to root rot—and keep in mind that you should occasionally top-water plants to flush out excess salts that can build up on the soil.
Soaker Hose Disadvantages
A soaker hose may degrade over a shorter period of time (4 years). The unregulated water release of a soaker hose is not as efficient (roughly 4lph per metre).
Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient way to irrigate many different plantings. It is an ideal way to water in clay soils because the water is applied slowly, allowing the soil to absorb the water and avoid runoff. Drip devices use a fraction of the water that overhead spray devices use.
Watering Plants and Lawns Efficiently
DO water early in the morning when sunlight is weakest, the ground is coolest and foliage will have hours to dry before nightfall. Aim for between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. DON'T water in the evening when soil is warm and wet foliage can attract insects, fungus and disease.
"Bottom watering prevents overwatering".
If you're bottom watering the idea is that after the growing medium has been fully wetted, you lift the pot, let any excess water drip out, and then put it back into its outer container. Yes, this likely would help prevent overwatering.
A boom system consists of one or more pipes containing nozzles that apply water as the system moves over the plants. It may be suspended from an overhead rail system or from a cart that moves down the aisle. Water is supplied by a trailing hose and powered by a battery pack or electric supply cable.
Other disadvantages of overhead sprinkler irrigation include the following: Higher potential for evaporation and wind drift issues compared to drip. Higher potential for runoff and erosion compared to drip.
DON'T overwater.
Overwatering, however, increases the risk of root rot and fungal disease. If you see droopy stems, wilting leaves, a whitish coating (fungus), or fungus gnats in the home—pests that thrive on consistently wet soil—it's a good bet that you're watering plants too much.
Globally, agriculture uses 70% of the planet's freshwater resources and 95% of the world's farmers use flood irrigation. Unfortunately, flood irrigation is the most inefficient of all irrigation systems, including center pivot and drip irrigation systems. Flood irrigation wastes upwards of 50% of the water used.
Surface or flood irrigation is the least efficient manner of irrigation. When a field is flooded, more water than is needed by the plant is applied to the field and water evaporates, seeps into the ground and percolates down to the groundwater, where it can be out of reach of the plant's roots.
Flood or furrow irrigation has been practiced for thousands of years and has been modified with new practices and technology along the way. Among the cheapest forms of irrigation, you can find flood irrigated fields around the globe.
A soaker hose is a type of garden hose that is designed to release water slowly and evenly along its entire length. They are often used in gardens or other areas where plants need to be watered deeply and evenly, without the risk of overwatering or underwatering any particular area.
Advantages: Soaker hoses require less time than hand-watering and result in less water evaporation than hose-end (overhead) sprinklers. Disadvantages: They are not suitable for uneven or sloped beds and require proper placement to ensure that the soil is evenly moist.
Similar to a soaker hose is drip tape, a more lightweight product that works for row crops and raised beds. Easy and inexpensive – Simply attach to a garden spigot. Useful for small gardens – good alternative when drip is not a possibility.
The best time to water plants is in the morning or evening.
Morning watering is actually preferable to evening watering as the plant has time to dry before the sun goes down. At night, water tends to rest in the soil, around the roots, and on the foliage, which encourages rot, fungal growth, and insects.
The best time to water outdoor plants is in the morning when temperatures are usually cooler. This gives the plants time to absorb the water so they can get through a long, hot day. The second-best time is late in the afternoon or early in the evening. Try not to water at night.
He recommends: 'Using a mixture of bottom watering for every day with top watering to wash away the build-up of salts and minerals will keep your plants healthy, strong and well-watered. ' The build-up of salts should be dealt with every couple of months by watering from above.