Choose the Best Sprinklers for a Lawn or Garden

If you have a large area to irrigate where a grass or garden is well established, an impulse sprinkler is a good choice. You may recognize this type of sprinkler by the characteristic clicking it produces as it casts an arc of water in a circular pattern.

While you can water large areas with an impulse sprinkler, it's not the best choice for new lawns or gardens. The force of the water hitting the soil can disrupt seeds or seedlings. 

To fully cover rectangular spaces while minimizing wasted water, you may need to move the sprinkler periodically or set up several sprinklers.

The spray pattern of an oscillating sprinkler is perfect for rectangular areas. Multiple streams from an oscillating sprinkler create a gentle fan of water that moves back and forth, making this type the best lawn sprinkler for newly seeded or newly planted areas.

Since oscillating sprinklers put out a lot of water, you'll need to check the irrigation area every so often to make sure water isn't puddling. This can especially be an issue with slow-draining clay soil.

There are several types of rotating sprinklers.

• One type features two or more arms that spin, casting water in a circular pattern.
• A more decorative design has a spinning ring with nozzles that spray water.
• You can also find compact rotating or rotary sprinklers that look like a sprinkler head on an underground sprinkler system.

Rotating sprinklers can irrigate a fairly large area. They're more suitable for new plantings than impulse sprinklers, but some models have watering patterns that aren't very precise. You may waste some water on areas such as sidewalks and driveways if you're not careful with your irrigation.

If you need to water an area such as a small patch of lawn or a small garden, a spray sprinkler is a good choice. This type of stationary sprinkler puts out multiple streams of water to create a gentle fountain that covers just one area.

Spike-base sprinklers have a plastic or metal base that ends in a point and may feature a blade or secondary spike for stability. This base is a good choice if you don't anticipate needing to move the sprinkler regularly.

You'll often see this base on an impulse or rotary sprinkler, where the rotating action could turn the sprinkler body.

A spike base works well in uneven yards, making it easy to level the sprinkler for consistent watering.

Sled bases are typical for oscillating sprinklers and work well if you anticipate needing to move the sprinkler a lot, either to adjust coverage or to allow mowing. They usually feature a couple of runners that rest on the ground, but you can also find sprinklers with wheels. Both types make it easy to adjust or move the sprinkler simply by pulling the garden hose it's attached to.

Sled bases are best for level terrain. You may have difficulty getting a sled-base sprinkler to water evenly if it's on a slope.

A traveler base or traveler sprinkler has wheels and an internal mechanism that uses the force of the water to turn the wheels and move the sprinkler across a lawn. It will typically follow a course you set up with the garden hose.

These types of sprinklers tend to be more expensive than others and need high water pressure to operate. However, they're perfect for watering irregularly-shaped areas since you can customize the course the sprinkler travels.

Traveler sprinklers usually have a rotating head and may include an automatic shutoff feature that activates when the sprinkler reaches the end of the course. They may not be the best choice for a yard with a dog, who may see the sprinkler as a toy.

You may see sprinklers with other types of bases, including in-ground, tripod and T-post sprinklers.

• An in-ground lawn sprinkler is similar to a popup head on an underground sprinkler system. It requires installation, but you don't need to set it up each time you need to water. When it's not in use, you can set the sprinkler below ground level.
• A tripod base lawn sprinkler lets you adjust the height of the sprinkler head so obstacles won't block the water.
• A T-post lawn sprinkler fits over a standard T-post that you'd used for wire fencing projects. The post gives good elevation and the sprinkler is easy to attach and remove.

If, after you walk on the lawn, the blades don't spring back quickly, your lawn needs supplemental water. A dull look to the grass is another indication of a lack of water.

It's best to water your lawn in the morning, at least a few hours before noon. This gives the water time to drain into the ground before the heat of the afternoon causes it to evaporate. This practice is especially useful in hot, dry conditions or climates.

If you need to water in the afternoon or evening, make sure you allow a couple of hours for the grass or plants to dry before dark. If the plants remain wet into the night, there's a greater chance of disease developing.

An established lawn needs from 1 inch to 1-1/2 inches of water per week. Ideally, this will be a combination of rainfall and supplemental watering with a sprinkler. In general, it's best to water thoroughly two or three times a week, but timing may depend on your soil type.

If you've just seeded a new lawn, you'll need to irrigate lightly each day to keep the top layer of soil moist until the grass is established and developing strong roots. See our lawn seeding how to for more tips on starting a new lawn right.

There are three basic types of soil. Each has a different irrigation need.

• Sandy soil drains quickly. Plants in sandy soil need water more frequently than those in other types. You may want to split your irrigation over several days.
• Clay soil holds water well. Plants in clay soil won't need water as often as those in sandy soil. You can apply supplemental water once a week, but don't overwater.
• Loam is a blend of silt, organic material and clay. It has a good balance of drainage and water retention. You can divide the supplemental water over a couple of days each week.

Learn more about the different types of soil and how you can improve your soil with our soil and soil amendments guide. See our watering tips for more ideas on using water wisely in the lawn and garden.