Can you have a lawn without a sprinkler system? The answer is a resounding ‘yes!’ You can have a thriving lawn without having to invest in a water sprinkler. We outline the best way to water grass without sprinkler system, as well as tips on how you can irrigate your turf for cheap.
4 Ways to Water Your Lawn Without Sprinklers
Large Pail and Watering Can
A sprinkler system watering your lawn on a schedule certainly sounds appealing, but you’ll need to invest a significant amount of money to make it happen. If you don’t have sprinklers but want to keep your grass well-watered, then you can resort to old-fashioned methods, which include a watering can and a large pail of water.
This method works very well on small to medium-sized lawns, and it’s cost-effective to boot. The process is simple- collect clean water in a pail until you have enough, then grab a watering can and start irrigating. You may need to repeat this several more times until the lawn is completely covered, and you may need to keep track of the areas that you’ve already watered.
The upside to using a watering can is that you won’t have to spend more money installing a sprinkler system. However, this grass-watering method takes up more time and greater effort.
Garden Hose
A garden hose attached to an outdoor faucet is arguably the best way to water your lawn if you don’t have a sprinkler system. There are several methods you can employ so the water can reach far and simulate a sprinkler.
Chances are that you already have a hose attached and ready to use in your yard or garden. It shouldn’t matter if the end has a nozzle that pressurizes water output or not, as you can do the thumb trick so the water can reach the farthest area of your lawn.
A typical garden hose is usually enough to water a small yard, or even a large one if given enough time. To make the task easier it’s recommended that you attach a nozzle at the end, so all you’ll need to do is to point where you want the water to go.
Take care not to step on the wet grass as you might slip. Don’t drag the hose around too much so you can minimize the damage to your turf.
Soaker Hose
A soaker hose is a specialized type of watering tool that looks like a garden hose. However, it has small holes running the length of the tube so water can slowly trickle out and get to your grass.
With this lawn-watering method, you won’t have to do as much other than turning on the tap or the device and turning it off after half an hour or so. Soaker hoses are widely available in home improvement stores, and you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the right one for your lawn.
The upside to a soaker hose is that you won’t have to do as much manual labor. However, the downside is that it only covers a certain area at any given time. It’s great for small lawns, but you’ll have to reposition it if you’re watering a medium-sized to large yard.
Drip Irrigation
Last but not least, you can opt to install a drip irrigation system to water your lawn. It’s similar to a sprinkler system but it runs the length of the turf and should cover all the grass.
As far as costs are concerned drip irrigation will more or less have the same price tag as a sprinkler. Drip irrigation may be slower but it can save you a lot more money due to a lower water bill. Like sprinkler systems, you may need the help of a professional to lay out the optimal path and attach a water source to the drip irrigation system.
Drip irrigation is the best answer when you need to irrigate a large lawn or yard. With it, you won’t have to stand out in the sun and heat for an hour or longer. As mentioned, the cost of a drip irrigation system and a sprinkler are mostly the same, so you should consider a sprinkler system instead if you’re leaning towards a more aesthetically-pleasing irrigation setup.