The small moist spot around each emitter, where the water slowly dribbles out, covers only a fraction of the soil's surface. The larger dry areas between emitters remain too dry for weed seeds to sprout. Drip irrigation systems eliminate tedious and inefficient hand watering. Automatic drip systems add the convenience of your not even having to remember to turn valves on and off by hand. Furthermore, careful placement of emitters away from the trunks of trees, schrubs, perennials and vegetables will keep the crown of the root system dry and minimize such root problems as crown rot, root rot, collar rot and armillaria root - Provide better water distribution on slopes.
Sprinklers often create wasteful runoff when set to water the upper slopes of hills or berms.
Drip emitters can apply the water slowly enough to allow all the moisture to soak into the soil. Heavy sprinkler irrigation can produce puddles, cause clay particles to stick together and increase soil compaction. While more costly than a hose with an oscillating or hand-held sprinkler, drip irrigation systems usually cost less than fixed sprinkler systems.