No question - irrigate!
A small system can be had for $60 to $86 without even shopping for bargains.
A really basic system could be made for $42 - 1/2" tubing + 1/4" dripline + a few fittings.
A wind-up timer (manual) adds $16, so you can set it for "45 minutes" and walk away.
If you want everything watered regularly whether you are home or not, a battery timer adds $40-50 and a professional AC timer could cost $50 to $100.
Or start by spending $30 to run 1/2" mainline from your spigot to your beds and then put multiple hose spigots everywhere in your yard you want them. Then, adding drip irrigation to that network of garden hose spigots would only cost an
extra $16-$40.
http://garden.org/ideas/view/R...
$16 - - 100' 1/2" tubing, 240 GPH
$ 8 - - - pressure regulator
$ 9 - - - filter, may not be needed for PC dripline
$10 - - - Tee fittings, valves, barbs
plus
$16 - - - 100' 1/4" dripline, NOT-PC
or
$40 - - - 100' 1/2" dripline, PC
or
$ 7 - - 100' 1/4" tubing (around 40 GPH) plus
$ 6 - - - 30 sprayers, 20 cents each
$0 - $30 - - - stakes if needed for sprayers
$43 + ($16 pr $40 or $13 to 43) = $59 or $83 or $56 to $86