Adequately watering your lawn during the dry summer months is one of the most important things you can do to ensure it will grow and thrive. There is a surprisingly large selection of sprinklers available and deciding on the right one for the job is a matter of choosing which one will water as much area as possible without having to move it around the yard too many times. An inch of water per week is about right for most lawns. In order to determine how much water your sprinkler is putting out, position a few small containers around the lawn and run the sprinkler for an hour. That will give you a rough idea of how much time you’ll need to water each part of your lawn when it doesn’t rain.
A pulsating sprinkler emits the sound of summer with its rhythmic pulsing and returns. These sprinklers have a stake at the bottom where you can push them into the ground and they allow you to water in a full circle or a pie-shaped wedge pattern. Look for heavy-duty die-cast construction for durability.
Oscillating sprinklers offer the familiar arc of water lines gently moving back and forth in a rectangular watering pattern. These sprinklers feature a control knob that lets you make the rectangle size smaller or larger depending on your watering needs. Look for a wide, stable base to prevent it from tipping over and sturdy aluminum and brass construction so it will last a few seasons.
A rain train type sprinkler is a tractor-shaped sprinkler that is powered by water to move around the yard. The user lays a length of hose out as the “track” and the rain train follows the track around the yard. You can position the rotating water spray arms to cover a larger or smaller area.
There are also smaller sprinklers made just for gardens and other specialty models made to suit a wide range of needs. Take some time to investigate the possibilities before you decide what type of sprinkler is best for you.