Rose City Roots

Seasonal gardening wisdom for Portland, Oregon

🌿 Zone 8b  ·  Spring 2026
MaterialsJune 27, 2026

Driplines vs Overspray

Driplines vs Overspray
When creating a new irrigation system it boils down to this:

- Lawns: you'll need rotors or spray heads depending on the size of the patch. The trick then is to figure out the proper nozzles so that your HOA doesn't think you're growing concrete or asphalt instead of grass. There are tiny numbers and letters engraved on a sprinkler nozzle, do your research or reach out to me but basically if there's a 9 or 12, it means the coverage radius is around 9' or 12'. If there's a Q, it means it'll cover 90-degree radius (Quarter), H is for Half, 180 radius) etc... Look also for the tiny marks showing which direction the water will flow.
MP rotators nozzles (or MP's) are an entire different beast and will spray as the nozzle rotates, new tech that's changing a lot of the way irrigation is handled anymore.

- Beds: plants needs will vary greatly from one to the other but generally driplines are the way to go. They keep the water close to the ground, no branches obstruct their flow, drunk house guests can't trip over and break them, no digging needed, cheaper materials, and best of all they get assembled like Legos. 
Keep them above the soil surface to make sure the top of rootballs get watered and hide them with by covering them with a couple inches of barkdust. It doesn't get any simpler. And yes critters like to think of them as their own personal water supply and will chew through them sometimes, but the repair will take about 47 seconds and will cost $0.15.

Micro sprinklers suck. And so do emitters.

And get yourself an irrigation controller, they can be as complicated as you'd like or as easy as a battery operated unit hooked up to your faucet outside. You'll save water in the end, lots of it.
driplinesmicrospraysrotorsspraysMP rotators
Driplines vs Overspray | Rose City Roots