What type of sprinkler should i buy

Oscillating models, like the Melnor AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler , cover a wide area, while adjustable rotary and spot sprinklers can be used to supplement in smaller parts of the yard. To pinpoint which types of sprinklers were best for certain tasks, such as watering large areas of grass or keeping a flowerbed well irrigated, I tested a variety of sprinkler types.

I individually tested each sprinkler by assembling parts if necessary and then by attaching each to a garden hose. For adjustable sprinklers, I selected and observed each of the different watering patterns, taking note of the size of the watering patterns as well as the distribution of the water droplets. I adjusted the pressure to suit the individual sprinkler, meaning I used a lower water pressure to water small areas of the flower garden and I used full pressure when testing lawn sprinklers.

Unless a spigot has unusually low water pressure, the sprinklers in this lineup should perform well in most residential settings. Lawn sprinklers vary widely in quality, price, and the type of water pattern they disperse. For some yards, more than one sprinkler may be necessary. For those just starting the sprinkler shopping process, here are answers to some popular questions.

Focus on quality, and make sure the sprinkler can be adjusted to the size and configuration of the area that needs watering.

An efficient garden sprinkler should be able to reach all areas of the flower or vegetable garden without being blocked by tall plants. This may mean using a small rotating sprinkler and moving it from location to location as needed, or using a set of connecting sprinklers, such as the Melnor Multi-Adjustable Sprinkler Set , that can be positioned independently to cover all the plants at once. An oscillating sprinkler will cover a wide lawn expanse.

A tractor-type sprinkler, such as the Nelson Traveling Rain Train , can be positioned at one end of a large lawn, and it will eventually work its way to the other end, watering a large swath along the way. Sprinklers dispense water at different rates, so rather than a set number of minutes, the general rule is to water enough so that the lawn receives 1 inch of water per week.

Disclosure: BobVila. You agree that BobVila. All rights reserved. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Check Latest Price.

More From Bob Vila. How Long to Water Your Lawn. Bob Vila Radio: Watering the Lawn. Really good for rounded, curved, or irregular-shaped spaces.

Can be set to cover any size arc of a circular area. Waters slowly and gently, seldom causing puddles. Doesn't work well under low pressure. Not the best type for watering rectangular areas.

All rights reserved. Close Sign in. Which type to choose depends on your climate and greenery, the shape of your lawn or beds, and the texture of your soil—whether it's porous sand, dense clay, or absorbent loam affects how fast you need to put the water out. Unless you have a small, square plot of grass, most likely you'll need a couple of models to reach all the areas that need watering.

Here, you'll find out how to pick the best sprinkler for your landscape, plus tips for proper watering. Good for: Watering very small lawns or isolating garden beds in a drought. Adjusts from a gentle mist for seedlings to heavy rain on established grass, at all water pressures. Look for wheels or a sled base so you can move it without getting soaked. Good for: Large yards that need a lot of water in a short time.

The mechanism is concealed inside the head, which muffles the chugging-train noise many sprinklers make. Works well with low water pressure. Most people will water their plants, but what about your lawn? With the summer rapidly approaching now is the perfect time to start getting your garden healthy. And, if you're currently looking for top tech to help you look after your garden, then be sure to also check out T3's buying guides to the best cordless lawn mowers , best garden watering system , and best garden tools.

For more enjoyable garden tech, be also sure to scope out T3's guides to the best barbecues , best pizza ovens and best smokers. And, for those who have very big gardens, as well as those who like the idea of someone else doing all the hard work, it may also be worth taking a look at the best petrol lawn mowers and best robot lawn mowers guides, too. Don't forget to check out the best Black Friday deals , because home and garden equipment often attracts deep discounts: it's a great time to stock up for next year's Spring and Summer without paying a premium.

Aside from being especially well suited for large lawns up to m2, the main reason we love pulse or impact sprinklers is because they typify the sound of summer and especially the countryside. This Gardena Premium Pulse Sprinkler uses a decent amount of sturdy metal in its construction and comes equipped with a high precision brass nozzle that should produce a fusillade of reliable squirts day in day out.

And because it has a through connector, you can also link a bunch of them together for a full-on squirt symphony. To see how this top pick compares to a fierce rival, then check out T3's Gardena Premium Pulse Sprinkler vs Hozelock Pulsating Sprinkler comparison feature. Smaller gardens that need a reliable job done can expect good things from this side-to-side sprinkler.

However, making reach adjustments on the fly is recipe for a good soaking so be sure to time your tinkering Ethan Hunt-style between oscillations.

Take this sturdy oscillating sprinkler for example. Unlike your average common or garden oscillator, this one comes with a full complement of bells and whistles. Better still, you can customise the coverage by turning off some of the nozzles on either side to produce a narrower zone.

This setting is ideal for the average long and slim urban London lawn since it will cover the entire plot in one fell swoop. And that means you can just leave it to do its stuff while you engage in more important pastimes, like stuffing your face and getting rat arsed.

This oscillating lawn bar sprinkler from Cost Wise is the epitome of a basic, no-nonsense garden sprinkler. It's crazy cheap, so much so that you could buy multiple units for the cost of some other rival models, and you simply plug it in and away it goes. As with most cheaper models, this sprinklers action is driven by the water running through it, and coverage is directly dependent to water pressure. This means you can just open or close your tap to grow or shrink its nozzle spray spread and distance travelled.

You can lock the angle and direction of spray, too, meaning that if you want to just water a narrow patch of your garden, such as a flowerbed, then you can do so. The build quality is just average and there's no doubting that this unit is made largely out of plastic, so don't expect decades of use, but when its as cheap as it is we're not sure that's really something to worry about.

On the plus side, the increased amount of water coming out of each jet is very similar to that of rain drops so in many ways this sprinkler provides more water per squirty oscillation. On the other hand, if your lawn is relatively small — and oddly shaped — and you wish to douse the lawn and beds with more water per pass, then this is the sprinkler to go for. If you feel you actually would benefit more from a rotating sprinkler then this super affordable model from ENJSD is well worth scoping out.

Coming in at under a tenner makes it very easy to pick up, and its simple design makes it easy to blend in to your garden while in use.

The unit itself has three arms that rotate and each has 4 water jet nozzles on them, meaning you get 12 in all. The reach of the nozzles varies depending on the water pressure pushed through it from meters, so we're talking modest spread rather than an elongated reach.