btaylor9,

I garden about 40 miles due east of you and I have tried quite a few things. My favorites are: soaker hoses on a timer (until something breaks a hole in them) and osculating sprinklers. (also on a timer) The only time the sprinklers don't work well is when it is windy and/or when the plants get really tall. I received a timer for mother's day last year that works on battery power. It helps with the lack of time to water issue (I work two jobs and volunteer with 4-H)

Billie

I also use soaker hose/drip lines under mulch with timers--seems to be the only water efficient way to keep things growing in CO's arid climate.

I'm up in boulder but soaker hoses on a timer worked well for me last year. Make sure you mulch and water at night. Can't stress watering at night enough, so much water is wasted when you water late morning or midday. There was only one day last year where the plants started to wilt and needed a little water mid-day for me.

I've had this timer for 3 years now and it's still going strong. http://www.amazon.com/Orbit-58872N-Complete-Yard-Watering/dp/B003LY4I28/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1360419235&sr=8-7&keywords=sprinkler+timer

My soaker hoses under mulch on a timer worked for two years, then I started getting holes in them & became too much work to fix for 250sf of raised bed. I take a cup of coffee out in the morning to enjoy the new day.