Lawn Sprinkler Buying Guide

Bright green lawns are the epitome of summer. From hosting sports, family games, bonfires, relaxing, and much more, the lawn is a gathering place for good times and summer fun. The most important part of creating and maintaining such an oasis is ample amounts of water. During the summer heat, grass can quickly dry out, creating scratchy brown patches all over your yard. The solution? Getting creative with your lawn sprinkler systems!

Not all sprinkler systems are created equal. Whether in a landscaping business or taking care of your residential landscape, here is your ultimate sprinkler-buying guide.

Why Use Sprinklers?

If you are beginning to get interested in landscape design and gardening, you may wonder if investing in a sprinkler system is even worth it. You can indeed accomplish a lot of your routine watering with a simple watering can or hose. However, evenly watering your entire lawn with a hose can become a tedious part of routine yard maintenance, taking up valuable time that could be used elsewhere. If you have put in the effort to create a custom landscape design, it's worth investing in a watering system that lends itself to an efficient and eco-friendly landscape. Clemson University says, "The most efficient way to water a lawn is to apply water when the lawn begins to show signs of stress from lack of water." Sprinkler systems make this process a whole lot easier. The best sprinkler systems use less water and time to create beautiful lawns.

Types of Sprinklers

There are many different types of sprinklers to choose from when planning your landscape maintenance. Some may require manual relocation to get to every corner of your yard, while others can be strategically placed so you can set it and forget it.

First, some sprinklers can be attached directly to your hose. These include stationary sprinklers, multi-stream rotary sprinklers, oscillating sprinklers, and impact sprinklers (that make the iconic summer chik-chik-chik as the water jets are spread over a wide area). Each of these can have a place in your garden, especially if you have a small area or don't mind manually setting them out and moving them around to reach every area of your lawn. These can be an excellent choice for those just starting or looking for a low-cost option.

Next are conventional lawn sprinklers that stay in the ground where they are set. These are connected to an irrigation system that can reach every corner of your lawn at one time, but they emit large amounts of water that the yard may not be able to absorb. These can include pop-up sprinklers and rotary impact sprinklers. This type can also be set up as an inground sprinkler system and includes products like our adjustable gear drive sprinkler, perfect for nighttime use and consistent water coverage.

Finally, there is the matched precipitation (MP) sprinkler system. MP sprinklers apply water evenly over a given surface area. These use much less water than conventional lawn sprinklers due to their low precipitation rate and multiple rotating streams. Because the spray angles are adjustable, MP sprinklers can be used to cover odd-shaped areas. This does mean you may have to get creative with spacing to ensure you maintain head-to-head coverage (from one nozzle head to another).

Deciding on Your Sprinkler System

Landscaping companies may have differing needs and goals than those looking to create an affordable landscape for themselves and their families, which may help you determine which sprinkler system is right for you. After a backyard renovation, new grass requires consistent, steady watering for it to flourish. If you know yourself and won't remember to water every day, incorporating a built-in sprinkler system with a timer may be your best option. However, if you merely have a small grassy yard you would like to maintain in high temperatures, then an affordable sprinkler that can be attached directly to your hose may be right.

According to the University of Minnesota, residents need to pay attention to weather and rainfall patterns before automatically setting their irrigation systems to conserve water. For those people who are serious about eco-friendly landscaping and want to maintain an immaculate yard throughout the summer season, investing in a system like the Rain Bird Irrigation Control System can make landscape management much easier. It can control up to 6 different irrigation zones and allows you to tailor your watering to your landscape and the season. While installing your system, it is essential to remember to avoid any pathways, buildings, lighting, or roads. This way, you can prevent accidental soakings of any passersby and limit any wasting of water.