Summer is just around the corner! We find the summer sun to be unbearable at times, but our gardens and lawns thrive in the warm weather.
Lots of sunlight is perfect for most plants, but water is just as important. Watering timers ensure that your plants and garden get the hydration they need in a routine way.
This helps them grow better in the summer and reach their true potential. Here are some of the best watering timers on the market right now.
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Garden Watering Timers: Features and Benefits
There are many reasons to invest in a good watering timer. Let’s take a look at a few features you can expect from your timer depending on the brand.
All timers come with a built-in watering system that turns on and off based on your settings. This can help an avid gardener in many ways. If you expect to be out of town, your garden is still taken care of because of your watering timer.
Another feature some timers have is a rain delay setting. This allows you to pause your current watering schedule for a day or two on account of the rain. This helps you save water and money as your plants take in natural watering through the rain.
Some watering timers also have a manual bypass feature. This means that you can water by hand without disrupting the watering schedule.
Lastly, one of the major benefits of using a watering timer is the efficiency behind it all. You don’t have to worry about over-watering or under-watering your plants anymore. With a timer, you can set it and forget it, all the while reaping the beauty of a well-hydrated garden.
Many amateur gardeners think that a good garden is built through lots of hard work and time. But, in reality, the best gardeners work smarter, not harder.
These watering timers help achieve that, as they are one of the biggest assets to have on your lawn.
The Best Watering Timers For Your Garden and Lawn
If you’re ready to save yourself time and money this summer for your garden, you need a watering timer. The current gardening market is filled with many options for timers. Here are some of the best you can pick from.
The first product is the Orbit programmable hose timer. This is a good starting point for any gardener because it’s easy to use and simple to understand. Plus, it comes at a good price.
Orbit has designed several great gardening products, and this one is no different. This programmable faucet attaches onto your garden hose and turns it on and off. There’s no need to even touch it after you’ve programmed the schedule, as it does it all by itself.
You have several options for choosing a schedule with this product. You can have the water turn on as frequently as every six hours or as occasionally as once a week.
You also choose how long the water runs for. It can be turned on from one minute to four hours. Usually, you don’t need a watering timer on for four hours, but this is useful for larger-scale properties.
The installation process is fairly simple. All you have to do is attach this directly to your water faucet outside.
Then, you connect your faucet to the other end, and you’re ready to go! Set the timer as you’d like, and watch the magic.
2. Orbit 62034 Mechanical Watering Timer
Next is the Orbit mechanical water timer. Another good product from Orbit, this one is a bit less technical than the previous one. However, it’s still very effective and easy to use.
Unlike the previous Orbit watering timer, this one doesn’t require batteries to work. In this way, that changes a lot about the design in one go.
With no batteries, there’s also no technological aspect. There’s no screen to relay the information, but there is a mechanical dial to control the settings. This dial is simpler to use, but some may prefer a digital interface to it.
Another big difference lies in the amount of time you can water with this for. This mechanical timer can keep the water running from around 15 minutes to two hours. It’s significantly less than other products, but it’s good for small garden beds and lawns.
This timer is also built to be very sturdy and durable. There’s no battery or electric power, so naturally, you don’t have to worry about water damage.
All in all, this seems like a good product to use if you have a small garden and are just testing the waters with timers.
3. Instapark PWT-07 Automatic On Off Water Faucet Hose Timer
The Instapark digital watering timer is another great option for gardeners. If you’re looking for a timer that does it all, this seems to be a good pick. There are a few things that make this stand out from the rest.
For starters, the product design is completely different. This one appears to be bulkier than the others. It has an opening drawer attachment that houses the setting dials.
It includes an interface that alternates between showing the time and timer status. Because these features are inside, they’re safe from water and impact damage. That also prolongs the use of this item.
As far as the setup design goes, there are clearly marked buttons to change the watering schedule. Users also have a rain delay option, as well as a manual bypass choice.
The timing is phenomenal on this product. You can choose to water every 10 seconds or every week. That level of accuracy is hard to match in the watering timer world.
Lastly, this does run on batteries. Those are not included with the package, so that’s going to be an extra cost. You should also consider that you’re going to have to replace them occasionally.
4. Gideon Single-Valve Hose Water Timer Sprinkler
The Gideon water hose timer puts a new spin on the water timer design. While it changes the look of a typical timer, it keeps all of the important features in check.
Starting off with the design, this product has a unique swivel setup when you attach it to your garden faucet. That makes it easier to turn and move it around depending on where you want your hose to go. It’s definitely a helpful feature, and it’s not something you see often, so this is a plus.
The Gideon water hose also has a digital interface. That makes it easier to read, and with the colored background, it helps it stand out even more.
As far as customizing your watering schedule goes, this one takes the cake. You can set up the time to water as frequently and as long as you’d like. This is the most any watering timer has ever been set up to handle, so it’s definitely impressive.
Along with that, you get helpful features like rain delays and manual bypassing. All in all, the Gideon hose has a lot to offer and really stands out in terms of quality and feature design.
5. Melnor 3015 Digital Water Timer
This programmable watering timer by Melnor really connects you with the watering process. It’s probably the most informative item on this list in terms of how much and how often you’re watering.
The digital interface of the Melnor timer is really impressive. You can see when the water turns on, how long it is left, and the current time, all in one go. You can also view your current schedule with the press of a button.
The screen itself is extra-large, making it easier for users to see. Along with that, the screen even starts to flash when the battery power is getting low.
Speaking of batteries, this one does need a few to get started. Those aren’t included, as always, and you have to purchase them separately.
The whole product is made from ABS-reinforced plastic. This leads to a very durable and weatherproof item.
Its tough design helps keep everything safe and functioning. This plastic is especially useful in the rain, so the device remains waterproof.
6. Gilmour 100517121 Mechanical Water Timer
If you’re looking for a watering timer that’s more compact, then this next product is perfect. The Gilmour automatic water timer is compact, yet equally efficient as the others on the list.
The Gilmour timer is essentially a small dial that you turn to adjust the time to your desired schedule. This makes it easier for users to navigate if they prefer old-school technology. If digital buttons aren’t your thing, you’ve come to the right product.
This timer can also rotate to the angle you want. If you have a small hose space, or your timer interferes with your current setup, you can easily turn it around. The Gilmour timer is already small, but that added adjustability certainly helps.
A huge plus for this product is that it comes with a two-year warranty. Warranties don’t seem to be a priority for water timer companies, as not many brands offer that. However, Gilmour does carry it, so that’s very good news.
Other products have higher quality than this one. But the price for this is also significantly lower. In the end, you get what you pay for.
7. VIVOSUN Solar Powerd Garden Hose Faucet Timer
The VIVOSUN watering timer seems to have a “go big or go home” kind of design to it. It’s definitely larger than the others, but it’s also simpler somehow.
It all starts with a unique oval design. This product isn’t very small, but the ovular shape makes it easier to fit alongside your hose or wall. You can also turn this timer, as well, so that adds onto the convenience.
With the biggest LED screen from the list, you can view all important information about the timer. It saves time from having to constantly switch the interface screen with buttons.
The large design of this product does require more energy to run it than most water timers. To compensate for that, the manufacturers have included a solar-powered battery slot. You can power with both a regular battery and you have solar energy as a backup.
This small detail gives a lot to the user in terms of continuity of service. That means you don’t have to change the batteries as often. Even if you do, you can rely on solar energy for a bit until you get replacements.
All things considered, this product is great all around. It would make a lovely and useful addition to any garden.
8. Raindrip R675CT Analog 3-Dial Water Timer
The Raindrip timer is for those gardeners who are very hands-on with their garden. It has a slightly complicated design, but once you master it, it’s very simple to understand.
The design is different from others in the sense that it has more than one dial. Most timers are either digital or come with a single dial. This one has three, one for each function.
One dial controls the run time, while another controls the frequency of the watering. The smallest dial is for adjusting the schedule during a rain delay. Some like the different dials, but most people prefer just one dial or a screen instead.
There is no mention of a manual bypassing feature. This product also doesn’t have any warranty attached with its purchase. It seems like a product for someone who knows what they’re doing in terms of watering and scheduling.
There’s not much to complain about in this product, but it does seem a bit excessive in its design. You can test it out and decide if it’s worth the extra hassle. You might just become a new fan!
9. Orbit 62024 Single-Dial Hose Watering Digital Timer
Ending with another Orbit product, this version of their watering timer is simple. It’s so simple that it’s almost plain. The design makes it easy to read the product, but maybe it’s a little too easy.
This Orbit timer has an easy on and off section for its single dial. When it’s not in use, the light for the product turns off, so no energy is wasted.
Unlike other Orbit products, this one doesn’t have many options for scheduling. You can only pick a watering length from between two and 90 minutes. The frequency can only be every day, every other day, or every third day.
The design is simple, but the execution shouldn’t be compromised because of it. In any case, this seems like a good option if you don’t have picky plants or special watering schedules. This seems like a good thing to use when you’re planning to be away from home for a while.
This product also runs on batteries. Additionally, you can buy more than one in a package, so that’s a new feature that no other product had on this list. Despite everything, this may be a great product for your garden.
How Does a Water Timer Work?
Watering timers are a system of different components working together. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of a watering timer. It all starts with the type of timer one has.
Most timers use some form of energy, either electric or battery-powered, to get running. Let’s take a battery for example.
Inside the timer, there’s a set of valves and wires. The wires are mainly used to transmit energy and get the valves moving. The valves are what keep the water in or out of the hose.
When you set up your watering schedule, a timer is set in the system itself. When the correct amount of time has elapsed, the battery sends energy through the wires. These wires then open up the valves, and water enters the chamber.
This water continues throughout the hose until it comes out. Then this water connects to a sprinkler system and is spread out among your garden from there. When the time for running water is up, the battery stops powering the wires and the valves close.
Some watering timer products use magnets instead of wires to do the trick, but the mechanism is the same. Something powers the system when the time is right, and that triggers the valves. The valves water the garden and shut off after the correct time has passed.
When you want to manually use the hose, like for washing your car, you override the current schedule. This just puts everything on hold until you set it back to normal. This is achieved in the same way, though, so it’s amazing to see what a little energy can do.
How to Install a Water Timer?
Installing a water timer is a simple process that can be done in less than five minutes, even if you’ve never used one. Things are a little different depending on whether you have a digital or dial product, but it’s all very easy.
Start by removing your hose from your faucet outside. Attach the input end of the timer to your faucet and screw it on tightly. Then, attach the hose securely to the output end of the timer.
With a digital timer, select the program with the appropriate button. This should open up a zoning setting. This setting is used when you have different sections of your garden on different timers.
Set the schedule of one block before moving to the next. Put in the correct time and date by either entering the digits or moving the dial. Next, enter your desired schedule into the system.
This is going to be both a frequency entry and a watering length one. Make sure to set these with extra caution, so you don’t end up over- or under-watering your plants. That’s it!
Your timer is ready to be used. You can test it out with a small amount of time to be sure you’re satisfied.
How to Set Orbit Water Timer?
Because Orbit is a leading name in the watering timer business, it’s good to know how to set one up if you want to use it. It’s just as easy as the others.
Start by pressing the reset button on your device. Set the initial time, date, and year for your product. Press enter when you’re finished.
Twist the setup dial to the “start times” section, and press the up and down buttons to set the water duration. Make sure the display says what you want, and then press enter again.
Turn the dial to the “days of the week” section and do the same thing here. Set up the days of the week you want your sprinklers to run. Press enter when you’re done, and you’re all set!
Conclusion
Hopefully, this helped narrow down the best garden water timer for you. If it seems like the sprinkler isn’t working well, give it some time. With a little time and effort, you can find a timer that requires the least amount of effort from you.
More of a question than a comment:
Are you aware of any timers that would allow a high flow – more than a typical garden hose? I have installed 2 rotating sprinkler heads and 5 pop-up on the same 3/4″ line and hooked it up to the hydrant. The water pressure is sufficient to adequately feed all 7 sprinkler heads with sufficient water pressure to do the job. Works like a champ. Problem is, I have to baby-sit the system and manually turn the hydrant on & off. I put an Orbit digital timer on the system between the hydrant and the supply line. The timer works fine, but there must be some kind of restrictor in it because when it runs through the imer now, there isn’t enough capacity / pressure: all sprinkler heads operate, but the flow is inadequate and the water “limps” out of the system. When I remove the timer, I’m back to excellent pressure. Is there a timer that will NOT restrict the high flow of water? Thanks.
Hi! Silly question, but where did you find the support strut for the Orbit timer in your first picture? I’ve looked EVERYWHERE for something like this and cannot find it! I’ve snapped two input heads off of multi-zone timers and it is getting expensive, but I think that support would help from that happening again.
Thanks so much!
More of a question than a comment:
Are you aware of any timers that would allow a high flow – more than a typical garden hose? I have installed 2 rotating sprinkler heads and 5 pop-up on the same 3/4″ line and hooked it up to the hydrant. The water pressure is sufficient to adequately feed all 7 sprinkler heads with sufficient water pressure to do the job. Works like a champ. Problem is, I have to baby-sit the system and manually turn the hydrant on & off. I put an Orbit digital timer on the system between the hydrant and the supply line. The timer works fine, but there must be some kind of restrictor in it because when it runs through the imer now, there isn’t enough capacity / pressure: all sprinkler heads operate, but the flow is inadequate and the water “limps” out of the system. When I remove the timer, I’m back to excellent pressure. Is there a timer that will NOT restrict the high flow of water? Thanks.
i second this question. searching for a full flow, full pressure timer.
Hi! Silly question, but where did you find the support strut for the Orbit timer in your first picture? I’ve looked EVERYWHERE for something like this and cannot find it! I’ve snapped two input heads off of multi-zone timers and it is getting expensive, but I think that support would help from that happening again.
Thanks so much!
Aaron