When it comes to maintaining a green, healthy-looking lawn and a beautiful garden that will be the envy of all your neighbors, the right lawn sprinkler can make all the difference.
But having an enviable lawn and a vibrant garden that has the potential to be compared with the outdoor displays in the glossy Home Beautiful magazine takes time and effort. With many of us living a fast-paced life, whether it is working full-time or rushing to get the kids off to school and soccer practice on the weekends, there are just not enough hours left in the day.
Our gardens can be left sorely lacking and suffering from improper care. We may find that we are struggling to dedicate the necessary time that is required to be able to lovingly tend to our gardens, administer to our flowers and shrubs, while also sharing gardening tips over the fence with the neighbors.
I have quite a large garden, and when it comes to my own garden maintenance, I never seem to have enough time to spend watering my flowers and vegetables. Some of my plants have suffered from either not having enough water or too much.
And also there is my ongoing battle with not being able to purchase the right garden hose. I have had way too many tricky moments with some of those garden hoses that seem to have a mind of their own. They can be more trouble than they are worth with their kinks, reduced water pressure, and leaky spray guns.
So if you would like to have a tip-top lawn and a fabulous garden, and have had enough of constantly heading to the hardware store to purchase new hoses and fittings, then why not try a lawn sprinkler, they have so many benefits.
The 8 Best Sprinklers
- GrowGreen Lawn Sprinkler
- Gesentur Lawn Sprinkler
- Rain Bird Impact Sprinkler
- Melnor Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler
- Gardena ZoomMaxx Sprinkler
- Gilmour Head Impulse Sprinkler
- Nelson Head Stationary Sprinkler (Our Top Pick)
- Orbit Impact Sprinkler
Our Top Pick for the Best Sprinkler
Our top pick for the best sprinkler is the Nelson Head Stationary Sprinkler.
It gives you 8 water patterns to choose from, which provides greater control over the spray settings and water usage. You can choose from a soft shower for your more delicate plants or a wider spray for those dense bushes. The metal base means greater durability and long-lasting performance, and its decorative design will look great in your garden.
Check the price on Amazon7 Benefits of Using a Lawn Sprinkler
- Sprinklers will do all the hard work for you. Once you have decided on your ideal sprinkler, you can set it up and leave it to do the watering for you.
- There are many different types of sprinklers for all lawn sizes and garden shapes. Some sprinklers are portable, and others can lie hidden among the foliage while providing just the right amount of water for your flowers and vegetable patch.
- No more annoying hose kinks or having a hose that does not fit your garden length, and no more sun-damaged hoses that need to be constantly replaced.
- You have a good choice of a wide variety of different styles: standing or spike, rotating, oscillating, tripod, or traveling.
- It gives you greater control over your water usage with smart water-saving features.
- A great recreational activity for your kids during the hot summer months.
- Some sprinklers offer soft ergonomic and easily adjustable controls.
Choosing the Lawn Sprinkler that is Right for You
When it comes to sprinklers, one size does not fit all. Your choice of water sprinkler will depend on your particular garden and lawn needs. Before you begin your search for your perfect sprinkler, consider these 5 questions.
- What size is your lawn or garden? Small, medium, or large?
- Do you need to concentrate on a specific area of your garden, like a flowerbed or do you need to water a large area?
- Do you need lawn irrigation for non-turf areas, or do you have areas where the water needs to drip directly into the soil?
- Does your garden have different kinds of soil that would require different levels of water saturation, like sand?
- Is your garden or lawn on flat ground or a sloping gradient, or is it an irregular shape?
As you begin your search for the right sprinkler, there are a few things to consider first. Water efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality of the materials.
There is a large range of water sprinklers and irrigation systems available, and many types and styles: standing or traveling, metal or plastic. Some sprinklers are portable and can be moved around the garden, others can be mounted on a tripod, others use an oscillating movement that provides for even coverage and a constant spray of water.
It always helps to do some research first, so here is a breakdown of the 3 most common styles of sprinklers on the market.
Different Types of Lawn Sprinkler
The 3 main types are spray, rotor heads, and drip systems. However, their benefits depend on the needs of your garden.
1. Spray Sprinkler Systems are ideal for medium spaces, but they also work well in smaller areas such as flower beds and vegetable patches. They allow you to limit water usage, they work best on flat surfaces, and with highly absorbent soil such as sand.
2. Rotor heads work best in larger areas such as lawns or commercial spaces such as parks. They are designed to produce water in a continuous stream, and they can come in either a single or double spray.
3. Drip Systems contain tubes or hoses that have small holes that allow the water to drip directly into the soil. They are ideal for long-term irrigation purposes as they guide water towards specific plants or sections in your garden, and they can also be used to guide water over large areas. They provide controlled even water coverage and can be covered by soil so that they will not detract from the look of your garden.
4. Standing or Spike Sprinklers are either mounted on a spike that is driven into the ground or mounted on a Tripod. The benefit of using this type of sprinkler is that it can cover a large area of lawn, therefore providing good coverage. If it is mounted on a tripod it can be adjusted according to the desired range and height of the water stream.
5. Oscillating Sprinklers work by distributing water through individual jets, which provides even irrigation to small garden plots and medium-sized lawns. The pulse or spray pattern can be adjusted depending on the size of the area that needs watering. Oscillating sprinklers are available in either aluminum or plastic. The Melnor Oscillating sprinkler comes with double brass jets that provide better water dispersion.
6. Traveling Sprinkler such as the Orbit Impact Sprinkler is self-propelled and travels along the path of your hose, and is ideal for large watering areas.
8 Best Sprinklers – Reviews
1. GrowGreen Lawn Sprinkler
The GrowGreen Lawn Sprinkler is a multi-purpose sprinkler, which is ideal for general garden watering or as a fun watering tool to keep your children cool on a hot summer’s day.
As opposed to other similar sprinklers that are made from plastic, the GrowGreen rotor-style sprinkler is made from extra thick durable ABS plastic, but it is still lightweight, and it is very easy to set up and use.
The GrowGreen sprinkler is powerful and can be used with 80 PSI water pressure. It has a 360° rotation and the water spray covers an area up to 3600-square-feet. Its bright green color will look great in any garden. For those gardeners who are dedicated to water conservation, the nozzles produce an even layer of water and you can fully adjust the nozzles to spray in any direction, which means you can save on your water usage.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Easy to set-up hose connection to your tap
- Made from extra durable ABS Plastic
- Lightweight and portable
- Can handle high water pressure
- Fully adjustable nozzles give you more control over your water usage
- Great for large and irregular shaped gardens
Cons
- Arms can snap off
- Hose connection can leak with high water pressure
2. Gesentur Lawn Sprinkler
The Gesentur Lawn Sprinkler will effectively water a small to medium-sized lawn and its efficient double water inlet feature also helps you to reduce water usage.
Its three 360° rotating arms utilize a vertical nozzle and multi-angle nozzles to provide continual jets of water in a circular motion and provides your garden with an overall coverage of up to 26-32.8-feet.
You have the option of adjusting the direction of the spray: 45°, or 90° spray distance. The Gesentur sprinkler has an upgraded brass threaded hose connector and it is made from bright green ABS plastic, which means it is sturdy, portable, lightweight, and easy to spot.
Overall, the Gesentur sprinkler is a good quality sprinkler that performs well. The sprinkler can also be connected to two or more lawn sprinklers for complete garden irrigation. As well as watering the garden, this sprinkler will provide hours of fun for the kids in summer.
Pros
- Good value for money
- Multi-purpose sprinkler
- 360° rotation
- Efficient water-saving design
Cons
- May not fit all hose types
- Not ideal for water PSI over 60
3. Rain Bird Impact Sprinkler
The Rain Bird Impact Sprinkler is a great watering tool for residential and commercial properties, such as a garden, farm, or an orchard.
This high-gallon, full-circle 360° lawn sprinkler is ideal for large lawns, gardens, and planting beds and its ½-inch inlet delivers a wide water coverage of up to 5200-square-feet. It has heavy-duty diecast brass, bronze, and stainless steel construction so it is built to last.
You will know that your plants are getting the water they need for healthy growth as the Rain Bird sprinkler makes a classic impact sound as it sprays the water over your flowers, vegetables, or grass. The sprinkler lets you diffuse the water stream into smaller or larger water droplets or adjust the deflector to change the stream length from 20-feet to 41-feet.
Pros
- Efficiently waters up to a 5200-square-feet area
- Easy to setup
- Precise watering to specific areas such as flowers or vegetable patches
- Heavy-duty brass, bronze, and stainless steel design
Cons
- Pole is not included with the sprinkler
- Can leak when used with a high water pressure
- Some trouble adjusting the sprinkler heads
4. Melnor Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler
The high-powered Melnor Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler is designed to water up to an area of 4200-square-feet. The 20 rubber reverse-trumpet nozzles provide for even coverage for your lawn or garden. This space-age-looking sprinkler is fully adjustable and the nozzles are clog-resistant.
Although this sprinkler sits low to the ground and can cause the spray to be interrupted by the grass, it is easily fixed by placing the sprinkler on a flat surface.
The Melnor Turbo sprinkler is described as a good little sprinkler with a good oscillating range and it also works with low water pressure. Although some of the nozzles can get clogged, this can be avoided by cleaning the sprinkler regularly. For larger lawns, you may need 2 sprinklers.
Pros
- Easily adjustable
- Provides even coverage for large areas
- Good for low water pressure
Cons
- Shut off value doesn’t turn the water off completely
- Sprinkler does not always stay flat on the ground
5. Gardena ZoomMaxx Sprinkler
This Gardena ZoomMaxx Sprinkler is compact in size but is perfect for watering medium-sized gardens, and is specially designed for those small areas such as your front yard and the medium strip. It has a sturdy foot which allows it to be securely positioned on surfaces with a 15% incline, and it also comes with a timer. The weighted base and the circular design stops the sprinkler from falling over when using high water pressure, and the fine mesh protects the nozzles from being blocked by sand or dirt.
The Gardena ZoomMaxx sprinkler is a heavy-duty watering system, which allows you to control the right amount of water flow to small and even narrow spaces in your garden. The ZoomMaxx is designed to target smaller lawns and gardens but it also has the ability to direct water spray into large garden areas.
Although it is one of the more expensive brands, it allows you to adjust and control the direction of the water spray, it has quick-release attachments, a sturdy base, and it comes with a timer. Overall it is tagged as a reliable product.
Pros
- Ideal for small and narrow areas
- Easy to fit to your hose
- Has a quick release connector
Cons
- Expensive
- Timer can stop working
6. Gilmour Head Impulse Sprinkler
The Gilmour Head Impulse Sprinkler is perfect for large lawns as it provides up to 5,800-square-feet of coverage.
As opposed to the sprinklers made from ABS plastic, the Gilmour sprinkler is made from heavy-duty die-cast metal and has a brass/zinc head and a sturdy polymer sled base.
Gilmour’s sprinkler provides greater control over the amount of water usage as you can adjust the distance of the spray up to 43-feet, and control the rotation to cover a partial area of your garden in an 86-feet circular spray pattern. You can also adjust the spray from gentle rain to a powerful jet stream. It has an additional connection outlet to attach more sprinklers.
The Gilmour Circular Sprinkler is ideal for gardening enthusiasts as it is rustproof and provides even water coverage for large gardening areas. Although it tends to flip over when it is not placed on even ground, and there can be some problems with the sprinkler’s head sticking, Gilmour is more than happy to replace the parts. A good tip for any problems with the sprinkler sticking or the rotation is to try some WD-40.
Pros
- Easy to use and set-up
- Heavy-duty and sturdy die-cast metal construction
- Rustproof and impact resistant
- Provides even coverage
- Easily adjustable and has an extra connection
- Choice of a gentle rain or a powerful jet
Cons
- Sprinkler head can stick
- Need to turn water pressure down for small gardening areas
7. Nelson Head Stationary Sprinkler
With its decorative base and 8 pre-set watering patterns to choose from, this Nelson Head Stationary Sprinkler will have your garden bursting into full bloom in no time. Its metal base allows you to securely place it into small places such as a flower bed, and its ergonomic dial and hose connector gives you more control over the water flow.
One of the more affordable sprinklers, it has a fancy decorative design, a metal base, and 8 water patterns to choose from. The Nelson head stationary sprinkler is the ideal gardening companion. Although the Nelson sprinkler does tend to leak, like some other sprinklers on the market, it works well in irregular-shaped gardens, is easy to connect, and more importantly, gives you that all-important control over water pressure and application.
Pros
- Affordable
- Attractive decorative design
- Eight watering patterns to choose from
- Can be used for small flower beds and shaped gardens
- Ideal for small to medium lawns
- Soft ergonomic controls
- Gives you greater control over water pressure and water usage
Cons
- Hose connection can leak under high water pressure
- Needs to be placed on a level surface
8. Orbit Impact Sprinkler
The Orbit Impact Sprinkler provides greater flexibility for gardening and watering needs. It is designed for large gardens as it has a powerful spray that can reach up to 90-feet and can provide water coverage for tall plants, and can reach those hard to access areas in your garden.
The Orbit Impact Sprinkler does tend to topple over, especially when using high water pressure, but the best way to fix this problem is to tighten the tripod and adjust its leg span. Overall the consensus is: it is well made, easy to set up, ideal for placement on uneven ground, and has brass fittings.
The tripod height and legs are adjustable and allow the water to be distributed to the more inaccessible areas of your garden. The tripod can fold down into a compact size, which is perfectly designed for easy storage.
Pros
- Affordable
- Simple setup
- Brass fittings
- Ideal for uneven areas
- Perfect for large lawns
- Easily adjustable
Cons
- Not suitable for low water pressure
- Sprinkler head leaks
- Tripod requires tightening to avoid tipping over
Our Top Pick for the Best Sprinkler
Our top pick for the best sprinkler is the Nelson Head Stationary Sprinkler.
It gives you 8 water patterns to choose from, which provides greater control over the spray settings and water usage. You can choose from a soft shower for your more delicate plants or a wider spray for those dense bushes. The metal base means greater durability and long-lasting performance, and its decorative design will look great in your garden.
Check the price on Amazon
