I use drip irrigation to water my garden. I use a timer and have each row controlled with valves so that I can determine who gets fertigated or watered on any given day. This is the first year that I will use drip irrigation on my raised beds as well. Using a drip system frees me up to do other tasks. It used to take a hour or more to water my plants, now I just have to check lines periodically to make sure there is no problems with the lines or emitters. If someone is taking care of a large garden, I would recommend using drip irrigation. The amount of time that I save by using drip irrigation is well worth the investment. In one year, depending on temp. and weather, I use to spend aprox. 200 hours a year(or more), watering and fertilizing my plants. With a drip system in place, I have much more time to inspect plants and stay on top of potential problems, like viruses, nutritional disorders, or bacterial problems. A lot of time and effort is put forth by all of us who grow plants from seed to fruit. I look for as many ways that I can to lighten the work load. Whether you use soaker hoses, sprinklers, or a drip system, they're good tools to help make gardening a little easier.
DP