Four irrigation systems, three plant types, one watering schedule. Pick your garden area, plants and method to get weekly water volume, seasonal cost and system installation estimates side by side.
Watering a 200 m2 garden - the weekly requirement
Four irrigation systems, three plant types, one watering schedule. Pick your garden area, plants and method to get weekly water volume, seasonal cost and system installation estimates side by side.
How much water 200 square metres of lawn actually takes, per week and across a season, watered by drip irrigation. The delivery method changes the answer more than the area does: a hosepipe loses a large share to evaporation and runoff, while drip lines put nearly all of it where the roots are. Switch the planting type and the system below to compare.
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Every plant, every system, every number on one page
A 200 m2 mixed garden burns through 2000 liters of water every week during summer. Over a 16-week growing season that adds up to 32 m3 - and at $4.50/m3 the bill lands at $144 if you use sprinklers. Switch to drip irrigation and the same garden drinks 35% less because water goes straight to roots instead of evaporating off leaves and pavement. The calculator compares four irrigation methods, three plant categories and gives you the seasonal total in liters, cubic meters and dollars.
Irrigation system atlas
Manual (garden hose)
Efficiency: 70%
Cost: $20-40 (hose only)
Best for: small gardens under 50 m2
Cheapest option. Requires your time and attention. Uneven coverage - some spots get too much, others too little.
Sprinklers
Efficiency: 60-80%
Cost: ~$2.50/m2 installed
Best for: lawns 100-500 m2
Good for large flat lawns. Water drifts in wind and evaporates in heat. Not ideal for vegetable beds.
Drip irrigation
Efficiency: 90%
Cost: ~$3.50/m2 installed
Best for: vegetable beds, flower borders
Most water-efficient. Delivers water directly to roots. Reduces weed growth. Requires periodic flushing of emitters.
Automatic (sprinklers + controller)
Efficiency: 70%
Cost: ~$5/m2 + $150-400 controller
Best for: large lawns, vacation homes
Set-and-forget convenience. Rain sensor prevents overwatering. Same efficiency as manual sprinklers but zero effort.
How to use the irrigation calculator - step by step
- Area to irrigate (m2) - measure only the parts you water: lawn, vegetable patches, flower beds. Exclude paths, patios and wild areas.
- Plant type - lawns need 5 L/m2/week, vegetables 20 L, mixed areas 10 L. When in doubt, pick "Mixed."
- Irrigation system - each system has a different efficiency. Drip wastes the least water (90% reaches roots), sprinklers the most (60-80%).
- Water price (optional) - enter your local rate to see seasonal cost and savings from drip vs sprinklers.
- Read the results - weekly demand, seasonal total, actual use after system losses, cost and installation estimate.
Water needs by plant type and area
| Garden area | Lawn (5 L/m2) | Mixed (10 L/m2) | Vegetables (20 L/m2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 m2 | 250 L/week | 500 L/week | 1,000 L/week |
| 100 m2 | 500 L/week | 1,000 L/week | 2,000 L/week |
| 200 m2 | 1,000 L/week | 2,000 L/week | 4,000 L/week |
| 500 m2 | 2,500 L/week | 5,000 L/week | 10,000 L/week |
These are plant demand values. Actual water use depends on system efficiency (70-90%).
System comparison - cost, water use and payback
| System | Efficiency | Install cost (200 m2) | Season cost ($4.50/m3) | Water used (season) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual (hose) | 70% | $30 | $206 | 45.7 m3 |
| Sprinklers | 70% | $500 | $206 | 45.7 m3 |
| Drip irrigation | 90% | $700 | $160 | 35.6 m3 |
| Automatic | 70% | $1,000+ | $206 | 45.7 m3 |
Based on 200 m2 mixed garden (10 L/m2/week), 16-week season. Drip saves $46/year vs sprinklers - payback in ~4 years.
Watering frequency guide
| Plant type | Times per week | L per session (100 m2) | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn (established) | 2 | 250 | Early morning (6-8 AM) |
| New lawn / seed | Daily | 100-150 | Morning + evening first 2 weeks |
| Vegetables | 3-4 | 500-700 | Morning (before heat) |
| Flower beds | 2-3 | 300-500 | Evening (6-8 PM) |
| Container plants | Daily | varies | Check soil moisture daily |
Practical examples
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Calculator verified by the LiczGrupa.pl team
Content, formulas and results have been reviewed for accuracy and relevance by our team of specialists.
Reviewed by: Patryk Matyjasik