Community gardens are places where people gather to share the experience of gardening. However, users often struggle to find time in their busy schedules to care for their plots and crops. This research explores the impact of different watering systems on gardening based on plant quality, cost, labor, and time for. The study analyzed the inputs and outputs of hand watering, automated, and subsurface irrigation treatments in hopes of identifying how to design community gardens for the most efficient application of water, ultimately striving to increase crop production, crop quality, and community interest. Results indicate that subsurface irrigation systems are more likely to save time, reduce water use, and produce a higher quality crop when application and setting is adequate.