The best sprinklers for lawns

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One of the keys to a healthy lawn and garden is having a reliable sprinkler that effectively waters all the various spots in the landscape. We tested out some of today’s top models to see which ones live up to their reputations. Some sprinklers require pulling a hose across the lawn to reach all the little corners and nooks, while others can be programmed to move around the yard watering the grass while you tend to other matters. For stationary convenience, an underground sprinkler system with a sprinkler pump can run on a timer, and it will water all reaches of the yard.

We tested a variety of different sprinklers, and the following models came out on top. Keep reading to better understand what type of sprinkler can help meet the watering needs in your yard and to find out how each of the following sprinklers performed in our hands-on testing.

Reading: The best sprinklers for lawns

1. BEST OVERALL: Dramm Duty Metal Base 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Trazon Garden Sprinklers
3. BEST OSCILLATING: Melnor 65074-AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler
4. BEST FOR SMALL LAWNS: GARDENA ZoomMaxx Oscillating Sprinkler
5. BEST FOR GARDEN BEDS: Melnor 65083-AMZ Multi-Adjustable Sprinkler
6. BEST FOR NOOKS: Gilmour Spot Sprinkler

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Lawn Sprinkler

Lawn sprinklers are straightforward yard helpers. They disperse water in various spray patterns, and they’re powered by the pressure of the water in the hose. They can be made from a variety of materials, and some have moving parts, while others don’t. Individual watering needs are one of the top considerations when looking for the best sprinkler for a lawn or garden.

Type

Lawn sprinklers fall into six primary categories, ranging from immobile to roaming. When choosing a sprinkler, consider the local climate and whether conserving water is a priority. Watering needs for a newly seeded lawn differ from the watering needs of a vegetable garden or an established lawn.

• Fixed or stationary sprinklers vary in design and reach, but each connects to a garden hose and sprays water in the same pattern over the same area until moved. Typically only able to cover a radius of 5 to 15 feet at a time, this type of sprinkler is best suited for small yards and compact gardens.
• Oscillating sprinklers feature a row of multiple openings to disperse water in a semicircular spray. The sprinkler head and the resulting water fan then move from side to side, so your irrigation covers a larger area than most stationary models.
• Rotating or rotary and impact sprinklers spin 360 degrees as they release water. The former typically has two or more arms that spin, while the latter (sometimes known as an impulse or pulsating sprinkler) spews water from a single jet, clicking as it turns its full rotation. As a result, an impact sprinkler often boasts the farthest range of water distribution.
• Sprinkler hoses are essentially rubber hoses with small perforations lined along the top that emit a fine, controlled spray. The length and flexibility of these models work well for watering long, narrow, and even irregularly curved patches of grass since they stretch out over your ground like a vine.
• Traveling sprinklers roll through the yard (garden hose in tow) in a programmed pattern. Also called “lawn tractors,” they move like a miniature lawn mower while watering the grass.
• In-ground sprinkler systems take the guesswork out of watering the yard by operating on a set schedule. While there’s more effort upfront to map out the watering system, dig trenches for water lines, and connect a new ground sprinkler system to the water main, the strategically placed sprinkler heads can be programmed to emerge from the ground and water the lawn at preset times. Many of today’s sprinkler system controllers are smart home capable, allowing the user to program the settings via a smart device. Choosing the right sprinkler pump for an in-ground system is based on the number of zones and available water pressure.

Material

Plastic and metal are the two most common types of materials found in lawn sprinklers, but rubber and silicone can be found in some models. The quality of the materials varies, with some types of plastic being durable, heavy, and fade resistant. Other less expensive models may be thin, fade quickly, and become brittle in a season or two.

Metal sprinklers are typically a bit more durable than plastic, but the quality of the metal also varies. Rust-proof chrome and stainless steel are among the best metal materials for sprinklers. Many have moving parts, and those with sealed ball-bearing connectors will be among the most durable.

Coverage Area

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Many of today’s lawn sprinklers come with the ability to adjust the pattern and distance of the water spray, often by adjusting a lever on the top or the side of the sprinkler. This allows the user to select various watering patterns and sizes, including circular- rectangular-, triangular-, and fan-shaped patterns.

Ultimately, the amount of water pressure in the hose will determine the maximum distance of the water pattern. For example, a distance-type impact sprinkler may be advertised as capable of shooting a stream up to 30 yards, but if the water pressure in the hose is low, the coverage area will be less. Most residential water systems feature pressure between 30 and 60 pounds per square inch (psi), and most sprinklers work best with a minimum of 30 psi of water pressure. However, a few require higher psi to reach their advertised coverage area.

Water Conservation

Watering the lawn consumes a good deal of water. If the hose is ½ inch in diameter and the water pressure is 60 psi, the average usage will be around 630 gallons during an hour of watering. As the garden-hose diameter increases, so does water usage. A ⅝-inch hose delivers approximately 1,020 gallons at the same water pressure, and a ¾-inch hose will deliver 1,860 gallons.

Some lawn sprinklers come equipped with features to help control water usage. On an in-ground sprinkler system, the use of automatic timers allows the user to schedule exact watering plans (when, where, and how much water) in advance. For aboveground sprinklers, comparable features to look for include auto-shutoffs and flow timers that monitor and limit the amount of water used.

Our Top Picks

Yards and budgets vary so that no one sprinkler will be suitable for every yard, but I was impressed enough by the following sprinklers and their performance. I looked at the overall quality of the sprinkler and the potential durability of any moving parts. Part of my testing involved assessing how well each sprinkler lived up to the manufacturer’s description. After my testing, the following sprinklers came out on top. They are well-suited to various watering tasks, and they’re among the top options for watering lawns and gardens.

Our Verdict

I was more impressed than I thought I’d be by the quality of the lawn and garden sprinklers I tested. The ones that made my short list above all performed well and were made from quality materials with the Dramm Duty Metal Base 9-Pattern Turret Sprinkler standing out as the best among the bunch.. I expect each to offer years of service. With water conservation becoming a high priority across the country, it makes sense to purchase the right type of sprinkler(s) for individual yards and gardens. Oscillating models, like the Melnor 65074-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.

How We Tested the Best Lawn Sprinklers

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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. Then observed how it operated and whether it met the manufacturer’s watering claims. 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. The maximum water pressure at my outdoor spigot runs an average of 60 psi, but I didn’t test all the sprinklers at maximum pressure. 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.

FAQs About Lawn Sprinklers

Lawn sprinklers vary widely in quality, price, and the type of water pattern they disperse. Choosing the best lawn sprinkler requires considering the lawn’s or garden’s individual water needs. 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.

Q. What should I look for in a sprinkler system?

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

Q. What is the best kind of garden sprinkler?

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.

Q. What kind of sprinkler covers the most area?

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.

Q. How many minutes should you water your lawn?

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.

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