What Is an Irrigation System and How Does It Work?

If you’re fed up after spending hours soaking your flowers with the garden hose for results that are less than extraordinary, you’re probably looking toward new solutions. You may start to wonder what an irrigation system is and if it will work for your landscape. An irrigation system can help liven up your property by providing more water to plants when they need it most. Here’s what an irrigation system does and how it works to maintain a healthy lawn and garden.

What Is an Irrigation System?

An irrigation system is a method of applying water to a landscape, be it a yard, garden, or farm. Irrigation is a supplement to rainfall, meaning hot summer days or periods of drought won’t stop your plants from thriving. Irrigation systems can apply water to specific plants or zones or more randomly to large areas, depending on the type of system.

How Does an Irrigation System Work?

An irrigation system works by moving water from a water source, such as a tank or water main line, through a landscape via pipes, tubes, or trenches. The water is released through emitters, sprinkler heads, sprayer heads, or other openings to cover the land and soak into the soil. This allows grass, crops, flowers, and other plants to receive water, even if it’s a dry time of year. 

Irrigation can help keep plants healthy while also conserving the time spent to manually water each plant or section of yard. Many systems also incorporate programming, so they work automatically based on the settings you choose.

Types of Irrigation Systems

From sprinklers to drip lines to furrow flooding, there are many different ways to irrigate a landscape. Some options, like automatic sprinklers and drip irrigation, work best for more precise and controlled watering. Other systems, like furrow or surge flooding, are ideal for covering bigger areas.

• Drip irrigation: A drip irrigation system uses a network of above- or below-ground tubing with intermittent holes to allow water to slowly and precisely drip near each plant’s roots.

• Surface irrigation: Surface irrigation consists of two types: furrow and surge flooding. Furrow irrigation involves flooding a landscape via trenches (or furrows) with water from a bucket, pipes, or elsewhere. Surge flooding allows a certain amount of water to release in predetermined intervals (rather than in a continuous flow like with furrow irrigation).

• Automatic sprinklers: Sprinkler systems feature pipes that connect from the home’s water supply to sprinkler heads around the lawn. They can include different types of sprinkler heads, including underground sprinkler heads, to meet various watering needs.

If you opt for a sprinkler system, make sure to hire a sprinkler installer near you to design the layout and install the piping and sprinkler heads. Sprinkler systems are more complex and less DIY-friendly than drip or flood systems.

Pros and Cons of an Irrigation System

Does your lawn or garden really need an irrigation system? Why can’t you just rely on rainfall to naturally care for your landscape? Depending on your climate, lawn type, and the other plants in your landscaping or garden, irrigation may be essential for providing the right amount of water to help the landscape thrive. But these systems require both up-front and ongoing costs. 

Here are the pros and cons of installing an irrigation system on your property.

Lifespan of an Irrigation System

An irrigation system lasts 10 to 20 years, but different parts of the system have varying lifespans. For example, underground pipes for the system can last decades, while sprinkler heads and sprinkler valves last 10 to 15 years. Above-ground drip lines that are exposed to extreme weather and UV light last five to 10 years.

Irrigation system maintenance is essential for extending its lifespan. Inspect the sprinkler heads, valves, tubing or piping, and water source every season, and deep-clean sprinkler heads or drip lines to prevent clogs and damage. If you notice a part is wearing out, replace it to boost the life of your entire system.

Irrigation System Costs

Irrigation system costs depend on the type of system and the area you’re irrigating. For instance, sprinkler installation costs $1,600 to $3,600, with underground sprinkler systems coming in at a higher rate than aboveground automated sprinklers. A drip irrigation system costs $200 to $850.