martha,

My $0.2 worth is 2 items:

1. Have three licensed landscaper/irrigation guys give a quote. Tell them all the same details for what you want to do. When that is done, post the information for the three quotes here. The critique will then commence.

2. Go to irrigation store or any hardware store and find an irrigation knowledgeable person and he will fix you up with what need. Post back here with what he sold you and we will suggest how to install. I assume you are installing the system yourself.

Decide whether you want drip or sprinklers. I would recommend sprinklers as the least expensive system with the least amount of maintenance trouble. Great pictures; that really helps. Tunneling under the sidewalk takes patience but it can be done. You will disturb the planting on either side for the tunnels(digging access). Aloha

Thank you for your response Lehua13. Here are a few more things I want to share about my project:

1. No, I'm not installing this system myself. Because I'm paying someone else to do it, I'm quickly trying to get up to speed on what might be best for my situation so that I can intelligently discuss the job. At this point, I've gotten so much conflicting information, I was hoping for some expert advice by members of this forum. IOW, a bit of wisdom from folk who have no skin in my game, so to speak. :-)

2. I had one irrigation specialist come over just before I started this thread. He was heavy pushing lawn sprinklers and told me the job would cost me $1100. When I challenged that price and told him I had been thinking about soaker hoses, he dropped his quote all the way down to $300 (for labor and supply of the soaker hoses but no other components.) He claimed that the other components he would recommend (Hunter Mini Klick Sensor, Toro Lawn Master II and Orbit Water Master Timer plus 2 1" female valves) would cost me more than $300. However, when I did a quick check on eBay of those same items, the total amounted to nothing near such a tall price! The combo of the contradictions in his quote and that little bit of pricing research is what persuaded me to post my questions to this forum in the first place.

3. I don't know whether I want drip or sprinklers because I don't know what is best for my situation! From what I'm told, drip would be just fine for my project because the area to be irrigated is so small (less than 300 sf) and is closely planted. In fact, with respect to the last factor of close plantings, I'm hearing that soaker hose might be best of all. Also, because this is a rowhouse configuration, I am concerned about the reach and spread of the sprinklers into my adjacent neighbors' yards. Yet, a garden designer, and the one irrigation guy who has submitted a bid thus far both started off with suggesting sprinklers . . . as you have. Interesting.

Two other irrigation specialists are slated to visit the site in the next two days. Depending on the results of those consultations, and if I'm still confused, I may post back here. Thanks again!

MArtha,

Looking at your nice garden area pictures. PVC pipe and sprinkler which can be adjusted down to almost a dribble if needed will give the least cost as well as low and easy maintenance(access to heads) over time. The system will go around the perimeter only and irrigate inward. There are several low flow heads that irrigate small areas well.

Your drip tubing will be within the planting area and if you have a problem with it(soaker hoses are prone to clog) it will be very disruptive to your plantings. Looking at pricing on Ebay is misleading. A far better source is a local hardware store retail prices. Your installer would most likely pay wholesale prices but pocket the difference for himself and rightly so. Add 50% to your total to get a reasonable cost installed. I recommend you dig a hole in your plot somewhere and fill it with water let it drain once fill it again and record the time it takes to drain again. Let us know here. Find out your faucet pressure(psi) and flow rate(gpm). Fill a 5 gallon bucket and time how to fill. Post the results here. Then buy a pressure gauge for your faucet(hose connection) at a hardware store(about $15) and check your pressure at the faucet. This check will also help with checking how well your house pressure regulator is doing. Do you have a list from the contractors? JMHO Aloha

Thanks again, Lehua. This is clear advice that will surely help me better explain to others just what it is that I want/need in an irrigation system. Thanks also for the advice on the soil drain/water retention and water pressure tests. I'll definitely post back here to let you know how this all turns out!!

Hi Martha,
I would be happy to design an irrigation system for you. looking at your photos, your areas are established, I would recommend drip irrigation, specifically Blue Stripe Drip 1/2' hose with emitters. Emitters are installed every 18 inches, if you need closer spacing, you may add emitters where you need them.
The completed design will include a bill of materials and the irrigation layout. This is something you can install yourself and save money without the need to hire a contractor.
Look forward to hearing from you.

Here is a link that might be useful: GardenWeb