Choosing a good garden sprinkler irrigation system takes planning and preparation. Good plans will mean your irrigation system not only delivers the water you need but efficiently and for a long time. At flowing water we have over 20 years experience testing all the latest irrigation systems to see what’s the best. Many kits are mass produced and can contain inferior parts or fittings. The last thing you want is a leak! water is precious. We found that high quality irrigation systems often contain the best quality components. If you’re new to the site then why not check out our what’s contained within an irrigation system.
Sprinklers are preferred by most gardeners for watering as they reduce the risk of overwatering and cause less damage to sensitive plants in the garden. They are also easy to handle compared to other irrigation systems. Irrigating the garden with sprinklers requires less time and effort but waters the area evenly to keep the plants moist.
The choice of the sprinkler system generally depends on the size of the garden, the type of sprinkler you want(manual or automatic), location of the sprinkler, and water pressure.
The body parts of the sprinkler system should be made from weatherproof, sturdy material for stability and protection. The sprinkler should also have a metal filter to prevent clogging.
The coverage area or throw distance of the sprinkler is a critical feature because if you install a small sprinkler for a large garden, you will end up spending more time. The coverage area also impacts the overall cost because it will dictate how many sprinklers are needed in your garden.
Different systems offer different controls. Choose the level of adjustability you need in your garden to avoid spending extra money on a sprinkler system with complex controls. Check the water pressure before buying any sprinkler system. If your household has low water pressure, invest in a system that works with low water pressure or look for ways to increase the water pressure.
Different types of sprinkler systems are designed for use in landscapes, gardens, and agriculture crops. Below are the best sprinkler systems for your garden. Each one of them is unique in terms of features.
Top 6 Best Irrigation Systems
Types of Garden sprinkler systems
Fixed or Stationary Sprinklers?
This sprinkler system is budget-friendly and comes in different sizes. It offers both single and multiple spray patterns. The single pattern varieties cover a fixed area, but the multiple spray pattern varieties can rotate to cover a large area. They usually spray water in a rectangular, square, or circular pattern.
The fixed sprinkler system is not recommended for a large garden as most models cannot spray water at large distances. However, this is the best option for a regular small or medium-sized garden with low water pressure. It’s also inexpensive than most other varieties.
Rotary Sprinklers
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This sprinkler system has two or more arms with sprinkler heads on them. This sprinkler rotates, and the water is sprayed in a circular motion. This can distribute water evenly over a large area, so it’s suitable for any large garden or lawn. Since the water is sprayed gently with no puddles, it’s great for watering shrubs or flower beds.
There are limited options for adjustments with this type. In most cases, only the coverage area can be changed using the water flow.
Oscillating Sprinklers
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The tube on this type of sprinkler has several nozzles that create a water-fall pattern for watering. Each hole or nozzle will spray thin water streams, and the tube rotates to spread these streams. It is designed for watering a rectangular or square-shaped garden as the water can easily reach corners. Avoid using it for irregular or curved gardens or lawns.
Puddling can be avoided with this sprinkler system if you use a model that moves back and forth. The nozzles on oscillating sprinklers are usually metal or rubber and can be easily unclogged with a needle or by hand. The throwing distance for oscillating sprinklers can be adjusted using a rotary switch. This type of sprinkler sprays heavy drops of water, so it’s not recommended for plants or gardens that need light watering.
Pop-up Sprinklers
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The pop-up sprinkler is used by gardeners who need a permanent solution for watering that is easy to install and remove. These in-ground sprinklers are installed underground, and usually, the sprinkler head pops up at the ground level when it’s activated.
The gardener can pre-set the time and water pressure for activating the pop-up sprinklers. These sprinklers can spray water in a full or half circle. You can also buy the large area pop-up sprinkler to cover a large or sloped area in the garden.
Traveling Sprinklers
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This sprinkler moves or travels along the hose path using water pressure. It can evenly water large areas with little effort. Although it does not need electricity, it still requires high water pressure.
The water pressure should be maintained throughout the watering session to ensure the sprinkler keeps moving and does not flood any area in your garden. You can easily adjust the coverage area for this sprinkler system with the hose length. It’s mostly suitable for flat areas with no slopes.
Impact Sprinklers
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The sprinkler arms on this one move in a circle and spray water with high pressure and a clicking sound. This sprinkler system can cover a large area and its wind resistance. The rotation, distance, height, and pressure for water can be adjusted using the diffuser pin and deflector shield.
The impact sprinkler is suitable for most types of gardens and landscapes with trees or shrubs because of the low angle of spray. However, the high water pressure can damage delicate plants. Another drawback of this sprinkler system is the inconsistent coverage based on the distance from the sprinkler head.
Micro Sprinklers
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Also known as misting sprinklers, these sprinklers spray or mist a small quantity of water in a small area. Misting sprinklers are great for watering delicate plants in your garden since the water pressure is not high.
Sprinkler Hose
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This is a combination of a hose and sprinkler. It’s the simplest irrigation system with a sprinkler attached to a hose. These can be operated manually or automatically at any angle.
It functions with low-pressure water so pots, containers, or flower beds can be easily watered. This is also recommended for curved or irregularly shaped gardens. The sprinkler hoses are easy to operate, but they do not last long and cover a limited area.
Hozelock Easy Drip Universal Watering Kit
The current best selling irrigation system on the market, the Hozelock is an Amazon choice product and has over 4.5 star reviews. Plenty of feedback and an overall good system. It features 10mtr squared coverage of watering borders, hedges and vegetable gardens. It is no1 in Automation drip irrigation kits out of 900+ products. Check out of full review here.
Conclusion
We’ve done our best to provide useful information about different garden sprinkler systems in this article, but a thorough research and product review should be done before buying any product. If your garden needs to be watered frequently, you should choose a sprinkler system that is convenient to use and takes less time.
Pay attention to the throwing distance of the sprinkler because this feature will ensure everything in your garden is watered evenly, and you are wasting less water. Buying a high-quality sprinkler with cleaning options like a removable filter means your product might be expensive, but it will last longer.