Topic: how do I water a big area efficiently?

[duh]

Hi all,

I'm finding that drip hoses just aren't the right answer and I'm hoping there is a better one. One that won't cost me more than I can afford.

Here is the problem. my garden space starts out about 16 feet wide but then widens to over 100 feet at the back of the garden space. And it is about 150 feet deep.

When it is all finished I hope to have a street side flower bed with golden chain trees, mock orange and a mixture of full sun annuals and perennials. Then along the drive way I want to put in dwarf fruit trees about 8 of them interspersed with naking cherry bushes. Then about 50 feet down is a tree bed with 4 trees and a variety of sun and shade plants.

On the other side of the drive is where I want to put the veggie garden and directly in front of the house is a foundation bed 2 feet by 47 feet and a sidewalk bed that is 2 feet by 25 feet.

I'd like a way to water all of it without having to struggle with moving hoses.

The property is at a deep slant with the street being the highest elevation and the faucet being 100 feet down from the street so the water needs to go uphill. And it needs to cross the drive to get to the veggie bed.

The "soil" is rock and clay so it isn't easy to dig in.

To me it seems like an impossible task but maybe you can think of an answer for me. I sure would appreciate it.

[Jim]

Time and money you can do anything.  If you don't want to move a hose them your best bet is a sprinkler system. 

Moving a hose would be much more economical.  You can even get some small timers to add to the hose that will turn the water on, keep it on for a specified time and then turn it off.

My sprinkler preference:  rain bird type.

[duh]

sprinkler system huh?  I'll like to ask another question.

Do you see a significant increase in diseases when you use sprinklers?

I've read that that is the problem with them. 

Maybe a combination of sprinklers for the grass and drip irrigation for the plants? 

[Dianna]

I am wondering if using the sprinkler system during the evening hours is what causes the increase in diseases? If they are watered during the morning, they have plenty of time to get dry before night sets in so there shouldn't be a significant increase in funguses and such, in my opinion...

[Jim]

Dianna is correct.  It's much better to water in the morning.  I've not seem much other comments about increases in diseases from using sprinklers.  I imagine it depends on what your water source is.  Our well water is basically ground water with nothing at all added.  Having said that, I can tell a difference in the garden when I water versus rain.  The rain is much better it seems.

Good idea on the drip system for plants.  That should work good.

[duh]

Thanks Dianna and Jim.  I appreciate your helping me.