Best Drip Irrigation System for Your Garden

Do you love gardening? If yes, you might have a lot of plants on your balcony or garden. Whatever, the way you’re using to grow plants, you have to water them. Water gives life to plants and keeps them fresh.

But do you have time to water your plants? If not, you need an efficient drip irrigation system for your garden or farm. With a drip irrigation system, you can water your plants in a limited time. Once you install it, it will never leave your plants dehydrated. Not only this, but it will also save your energy and water.

But, which drip irrigation system is best for you? Don’t worry; we’re here to help you find the best drip irrigation system. In this article, we’ll help you to know everything about a drip irrigation system.

But before starting, let’s see our top recommendations for the best drip irrigation kit.

• Best Overall: King do way 82Ft/25M Drip Irrigation Kit
• Best for balcony pots: Raindrip R560DP Automatic Watering Kit 
• Best for container gardens: Drip Irrigation Kit for Container
• Best value: Micro Drip Irrigation Kit

What are the 4 types of irrigation techniques?

The selection of the best irrigation technique depends on factors like land type, weather conditions, and type of crop. Considering these factors, you can select the best method from the following techniques.

1. Surface Irrigation

It is a type of irrigation that relies on gravity flow. It needs a lot of water and enough workforce, as it doesn’t depend on any advanced technology. If your land’s soil is fine with the least infiltration, you can go for this method. But you’ve to level your ground.

Advantages:

• It makes the slat leaching easy.
• It is not affected by heavy rain as it can use the rainwater.

Disadvantages:

• Only flat ground is effective for this method.

2. Sprinkler Irrigation

Sprinkler irrigation involves spraying the water with water droplets. The sprinkler pump will move the water through the pipes. And the water will sprinkle through spray heads on the crops. However, you need to be careful about delicate vegetables like lettuce. Such vegetables get damaged due to large water droplets. You can use this method for most of the soil types, even with large infiltration.

Advantages:

• Leveling is not required, suitable for any slope.
• Easy to operate sprinkles

Disadvantages:

• Expensive irrigation type
• Strong winds can affect water distribution.

3. Drip Irrigation

In this type of irrigation pipes with small drippers are used. You can use this irrigation method for trees and crops in rows. It actually delivers water to the plants’ roots. So, you can cut the runoff and evaporation effects with this method. 

Advantages:

• Low chances of weed growth
• Enhanced yield
• Convenient for applying fertilizers

Disadvantages:

• Need regular management by any professional

4. Subsurface Irrigation

This method involves supplying water to the plants from the ground. You can use the pipes to supply water to the plant roots. However, you can use different techniques depending on the water table in your area. 

Advantages:

• Minimum evaporative water loss
• No need for labor

Disadvantages:

• Farming tools like tractors can damage this irrigation system

Which is better soaker hose or drip irrigation?

The most important decision you have to make is whether to use a soaker hose or drip irrigation. Both systems are effective equally. However, you can choose the best irrigation system according to your garden size and location.

Benefits of drip irrigation

• Many commercial growers of the plants use the drip irrigation system. It provides water to the plants precisely. You can place the drip emitter in the root zone. On the other hand, the soaker hose spread the water to the whole region. So, if you want targeted irrigation, drip irrigation should be your choice. 
• Whatever system you get, you cannot prevent it from getting damaged. In drip irrigation, you can easily replace the damaged part with the new one. However, for a soaker hose, you may have to cut the damaged part. It will shorten the soaker hose. So, drip irrigation should be your first choice as it’s easy to repair.
• Moreover, you can also customize the drip irrigation according to the size of your garden. 

Benefits of soaker hose

• When compared to the drip irrigation system, you will find the soaker hose easy to install the system. Just attach the soaker hose with a garden hose or faucet.
• A soaker hose is very affordable as you don’t have to buy a lot of accessories. 
• You don’t have to adjust the pressure with a soaker hose. You can simply change the pressure by turning the water flow from the tap. 
• So, if you’re a small Gardner or home Gardner, the soaker hose can be the best garden irrigation system for you. 

Which irrigation system is most effective, and why?

After discussing all the irrigation system, it’s time to know the most effective irrigation system. To be honest, the Drip irrigation system is the irrigation system due to the following reasons:

• It provides water to the plants’ root zone. So, it increases the plant growth, in turn, the yield. 
• It’s easy to customizable. So, you don’t have to install a new system if your needs have changed. 
• If you’re using a drip irrigation system, you’ve to face minimum fertilizers and nutrients loss.
• You don’t have to level your ground as you can also use it on slopes and hills. 
• It’s an ideal system for clay soils as it allows absorbing maximum water, avoiding a runoff. 
• You can make maximum use of water with a drip irrigation system. To do so, you just have to adjust your system at low pressure and low flow rate. 

7 Best Drip Irrigation System for Your Garden

After proper research, we’ve found the 7 best drip irrigation system for you. We tried to explain every feature, including the pros and cons in this drip irrigation product reviews.  We’re sure; you would find the best one after reading all reviews. Let’s start.

Raindrip R560DP Automatic Watering Kit 

If you’ve got a lot of containers and hanging baskets in your balcony or courtyard, Raindrip R560DP is the best drip irrigation system. You can water up to 20 plants with it. It carries everything you may need to water your pots. Thus, it will keep you away from watering the plants by hand. 

Best of all, you just have to follow three simple steps to install it. It may take just 20 minutes of your busy routine. With connectors, elbows, and barbed trees, you can easily customize your watering system. So, you would not have to face any problem in expanding or customizing the system as per your requirements. Moreover, you can also attaché the garden hose with this system.

In the end, the tubing of this system is easy to hook-up and start your system. So, go and buy Raindrip R560DP automatic watering kit to give a new life to your plants grown in baskets and pots.

Pros:

• Free of germs
• Easy to use
• Come with all accessories

Cons:

• May leak

Orbit 56318 Hanging Basket Flex-Mist Watering Kit

Orbit brings a perfect watering kit for your hanging baskets. Its dedicated lines stay hanging on your hanging baskets. So, you don’t have to wait for your hanging baskets to get saturated.

Further, the orbit watering kit has a hose-end timer. You can program this timer to set the watering schedule for your plants. Above all, you can water up to six plant baskets with this system without any hassle.

You can also attach a precise nozzle with its memory tube. It allows every drop of water to reach the plants. It’s very easy to install. However, if you feel any difficulty, you can follow the manual instructions to install it.

Pros:                                                                     

• Timer for automatic watering
• Hanging system
• Saves and stores water

Cons:

• Difficult to install

Micro Drip Irrigation Kit

If you’re looking for a diverse irrigation system, look no further. You can use a Micro drip irrigation kit for irrigating the lawns, vegetables, gardens, agriculture, as well as greenhouses. Its irrigation tube has a 40M + 2M hose design. It will allow you to irrigate all your plants at once. However, the irrigation ability will increase further with its 3×6-way connector. The versatile connector will distribute the tubing into 12 tributaries.

Moreover, it comes with 10 drippers, 5 sprinklers, and 15 nozzles. All these accessories make the micro drip irrigation kit highly adjustable. You can rotate the nozzles at 360-degree angles. It means you can adjust the nozzles as per your plants’ position. 

Applying a higher pressure can burst the tubing. So, be careful while adjusting the pressure. It should be 3 Bar/43.5 psi. You can adjust the pressure by turning the drip head in the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Anti-Clockwise turn will increase the pressure, and the clockwise turn will decrease the pressure. 

Best of all, it will allow the only right amount of water on the desired plant. In this way, you can save up to 70% water with it. Moreover, the two connectors in the kit allow easy installment. You can follow the user manual pictures to quick installment.

Pros:

• Can be connected to an outdoor faucet
• Water output can be set
• Customizable

Cons:

• Cannot be attached to standard garden hose

King do way 82Ft/25M Drip Irrigation Kit

King do way is the 2 in 1 irrigation system. You can use both as a watering system and a misting system. Not only this, but you can also distribute the water into four tributaries. It would never let your water pipe to get blocked. Thus, it will not only save your time but also water up to 80%.

 It carries 10 sprinklers, 10 drippers, and 20 nozzles. Its 360-degree rotatable spray nozzle enables you to set it according to your plant position. You can increase and decrease the water flow by adding it in the anti-clockwise and clockwise direction, respectively. All these features make it highly adjustable and easy to use for greenhouses, gardens, and lawns. Moreover, you can also use it for hanging baskets on your balcony. 

 When it comes to connectors, it has two connectors. So, you can make the water flow in two different directions with this irrigation kit. You can use it with most plants. You would also get two tap connectors in this kit. These connectors are for 3/4″ and 1/2 ” threaded taps. Thus, you don’t have to worry about finding the right tap.

It includes all the accessories for fitting the irrigation system. The only tip before installing the system is to put everything in hot water for some time. It will allow you to install the system without any delay.

Pros:

• Easy adjustment of the watering radius of the sprinkler 
• Two connectors
• 2 in 1 irrigation system

Cons:

• No timer

Orbit 69525 Micro Bubbler Complete Drip Irrigation Watering Kit

You will be surprised to know the fact that it’s not only a kit to water your plants. It will also prevent your delicate plants from getting damaged. Actually, it has micro-bubbler placement to water just the plants, not the weeds. 

It’s easy to install. You have to invest just 15 min on its installment, and you’re ready to use it. Above all, you can install it just around your trees with its flexible tubing. You can easily use it for your gardens and potted plants as it covers about 250 sq. feet. 

So, if you don’t want to destroy your delicate plants, go and grab the orbit 69525 watering kit. 

Pros:

• Protection from water damage           
• Cover 250 Sq. feet of area for gardens

Cons:

• Installation can be problematic

Drip Depot Drip Irrigation Kit for Container

A drip irrigation kit works best if you need to save your time but don’t want to compromise the efficiency. It looks like a simple system; however, it would do the perfect job for you.

The drip irrigation kit carries 10 pieces that you have to assemble. But don’t worry it’s very easy to assemble all these pieces. You just have to follow the instructions in the kit. After assembling all pieces, you can use them for patios, greenhouses, decks, and container gardens. 

When it comes to connecting it with the garden hose, you need no specific tools. Above all, it’s maintenance-free and saves water. If you’re looking for the best drip system for the garden, it’s for you. 

Pros

• Work best for container gardens
• Need less maintenance
• Durable

Cons

• Stake doesn’t work well sometimes

Rain Bird T70-500S Drip Irrigation Tubing

You must be aware of the fact that Rain Bird is the best drip irrigation brand. Continuing this tradition, it also makes the best irrigation tubing. Rain Birds irrigation tubes are the most reliable tubes. You can use it by attaching it with an irrigation system. So, it’ll help you to cover more area in your garden. 

It’s highly flexible tubing to water your flower bed, garden, and other landscapes. You would be happy to know that it’s maintenance-free and would never clog. Above all, you can connect it with your garden hose and faucet.

It’s resistant to UV light, algae growth, and chemicals. All these features make it highly durable. It operates at a pressure of 0 to 70 psi. Try not to go above this pressure as it can be damaging.

When it comes to installation, its self-dispensing coils make it easy. Moreover, you can carry it easily to your desired location due to its lightweight. 

Pros:

• Perfect length for large gardens
• Easy to maintain
• Resistant to germs
• Easy to attach

Cons:

• Not suitable to use for small gardens

BUYING GUIDE: How to choose the best drip irrigation system?

When buying a drip irrigation system, choosing the best one is often difficult. Consider all the following things to get the best drip irrigation system.

Garden Size

The first thing you need to consider while buying a drip irrigation system is the garden size for which you’re buying it. Measure the garden size to find the area of your garden. Now, you can find the best irrigation system with tubing comparable to your garden. You can also find the area an irrigation system covers in the product description. 

Moreover, irrigation system tubing also has different diameters.  The most common diameters for garden use are 1/2″ and 1/4″. However, a drip irrigation system with a 1/8″ tubing diameter is enough for your balcony plants. Tubing with a larger diameter will allow larger water flow. 

Quality of tubing

The length of the tubing is not the only factor to consider. The quality of tubing is also an important factor. Polythene tubing is flexible and durable. Moreover, make sure the tubing is black from the inside. It’ll keep the algae and fungus away from your tubing. 

Components

While buying the best drip irrigation kit, make sure it carries all the accessories. The essential accessories for the drip irrigation system are tubing, pressure regulator, faucet connector, plugs, risers, fittings, stakes, and emitters. If any of these is absent, you have to buy them separately. However, it’s preferable to buy the one with all these components in the kit. 

Installation

Make sure the drip irrigation system you’re buying is easy to install. Always buy the one which carries a manual with installation instructions. Moreover, you can also read reviews on the Amazon website to find the easy to install a drip irrigation system.

Most of the kits in this drip irrigation kit reviews are easy to install. Moreover, they don’t require any plumbing or digging knowledge. So, you can buy any one of them to find the best one for you. 

Adjustability

Another criterion to select the best drip irrigation system is adjustability. You should buy a system which is easy to adjust. This feature will allow you to position the nozzle on any plant you want. In most of the drip irrigation systems, the clockwise turn decrease, and the anti-clockwise turn increase the water flow.

Moreover, you should buy a kit with multiple connectors. It will allow you to water in different directions.

Price

You would find drip irrigation systems in different price ranges. You don’t need to buy an expensive kit. Just find the irrigation system which is comparable to your garden size and is affordable.  

FAQs

How effective is drip irrigation?

Drip irrigation is the most effective irrigation system, with 95-100% efficiency since it can apply the water precisely. Thus, it will decrease evaporation and runoff chances leading to the most efficient water use.

Is drip irrigation better than sprinklers?

Both systems are effective. Sprinklers can be effective for large areas. However, drip irrigation is better than sprinklers as it supplies water in a controlled manner. Thus it minimizes the water loss. Moreover, drip irrigation doesn’t damage delicate plants. You might read our latest article about the best time to run sprinklers.

How deep do you bury drip irrigation?

The depth of drip irrigation depends on the pipes you’re using. For instance, if you’re using PVC pipe, bury it up to 12 inches deep. However, if you’re using poly tubing, burying it up to six inches is enough. 

What is the best garden watering system?

Drip irrigation is the best garden irrigation system. With this irrigation system, you can water every plant efficiently. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about the overwatering and under watering of your plant. 

Why is drip irrigation bad?

Drip irrigation may have some disadvantages. It is expensive. Moreover, you have to clean it regularly as its emitters can get clogged. As a result, your plants’ roots will not get enough water leading to poor plant development.

Final thoughts…

A drip irrigation system is preferable to other systems as it’s efficient. We’ve tried to enlist irrigation systems that are easy to install and adjust. If you want to know our choice, we find the “King do way 82Ft/25M Drip Irrigation Kit” the best drip irrigation system. The reason is its versatility. It’ll not only water your plants but will also act as a misting system. 

However, our words are not stones; you can choose an affordable irrigation system according to your garden size and budget.