I had a drip system installed a couple years ago--drip hose with inline emitters every foot snaked through the daylilies and other plants(I think it's probably like what Tabby described in her garden). Before that, I would move impact sprinklers around the garden, let it run for half an hour or so and then move it to another section. Couldn't do it all at once because there wasn't enough water pressure and they frequently stuck and just watered one spot instead of rotating or I would end up watering the street instead of the flowers when the sprinkler wasn't properly adjusted..... With our hot, dry windy summers, I just decided that I needed something automatic. My garden is too big to ask a friend to come by and water if we're out of town and I was tired of feeling like I couldn't go on vacation in August (which is when I really need to escape Kansas!!!!). Last summer I ran the system every day for about 40 minutes/zone and it wasn't enough to keep the plants happy (or blooming or setting seed) but they did live--it was the worst summer I can remember and I was really glad not to have to go outside and move hoses/sprinklers around. This is different than 'soaker hoses' which I've never had good luck with--they either clog up with minerals or split from the pressure. I do get occasional leaks with these hoses (I think critters bite into them looking for water), but all I have to do is cut out the section with the hole and put in a plastic connector. Pretty easy fix. If you cover the hoses with mulch you conserve even more water--although you have to be careful when digging not to cut through the hose.... All in all I've been really happy with the system.
