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Choosing the Appropriate Watering
Device: |
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Landscape irrigation devices can be divided into two
major types: spray and point-source (each plant
assigned a specific water emitting device).
You want to choose a device that is well suited to
your plant material and to your soil type. |
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Watering Device
|
Description |
Radius |
|
Spray |
|
|
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Rotor / Impact |
Sprinklers with one or
more rotating streams of water |
15’ to 60’ |
|
Sprayhead |
Sprinklers with a
fan-shaped, non-rotating spray pattern |
5’ to 20’ |
|
Microspray |
A mini-version of
sprayheads with a very fine spray |
2’ to 13’ |
Point Source
|
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Bubbler |
A device that emits
water in a flowing stream. |
N/A |
|
Drip |
A device that emits
water slowly in drops. |
N/A |
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Suggested Irrigation Devices Based on
Plant Type: |
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Spray
devices are more suited to areas of continuous
relatively flat landscaping such as turf and
groundcovers. Point-source units find their best use
on individual plants with significant variation in
height such as shrubs and trees.
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Plant Material |
Dimensions of Planting Area
|
Best
Irrigation Choice
|
Pressure Required |
|
Turf, Groundcover
and Flower Beds |
15 feet or greater
on the shortest side |
Rotor |
30 psi or more |
|
Turf |
Less than 15 feet
on the shortest side |
Spray Head with
Flow- Controlled Nozzle |
20 psi or more |
|
Groundcover & Flower Beds Planted from Flats
|
Less than 15 feet
on the shortest side |
Microspray |
15 psi or more |
|
Groundcover
Planted in One-Gallon Size |
Less than 15 feet
on the shortest side |
Drip Irrigation |
10 psi or more |
|
Vines, Shrubs and Trees |
Any |
Drip Irrigation |
10 psi or more |
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Suggested Irrigation Devices Based on Soil Type:
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Each
device has a different range of Application Rates.
If your soil is very sandy, it can tolerate a high
Application Rate (also called Precipitation Rate).
Heavy clay requires a low Application Rate. Sandy
soil is better suited to spray devices. |
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Soil Type
|
Heavy Clay |
Clay Loam |
Loam (Medium) |
Sandy Loam |
Sandy |
|
Watering Device |
|
|
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Rotor / Impact |
|
Poor |
Satisfactory |
Good
|
Excellent |
Excellent |
|
Sprayhead |
|
Poor |
Poor |
Satisfactory
|
Good |
Excellent |
|
Microspray |
|
Good |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
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Bubbler |
|
Poor |
Poor |
Satisfactory
|
Good |
Satisfactory
|
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Drip |
|
Good
|
Excellent |
Excellent |
Good
|
Satisfactory
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