Having the right sprinkler system is essential so that you have a beautiful lawn. However, you don’t have to get an in-ground option for it to be effective. There are seven different types of lawn sprinklers out there.

It’s important to know them all so that you can decide which is right for you. When you learn about the benefits of each option, you’ve got more information and can get the best product for your needs. Here are the seven most popular types of lawn sprinklers:

Types of Lawn Sprinklers

1. Oscillating Sprinklers

The oscillating sprinkler uses a plastic or metal tube, which moves back and forth. Those that are higher in price are often of better quality. They’ve got more power to adjust the spray pattern and aren’t going to fall apart or break with time.

Oscillating sprinklers are often what homeowners think about when they focus on such a product. They’ve got a long tube with various holes. The water sprays from those holes when enough pressure builds up.

That force causes the tube to move around. However, they work best on square or rectangular lawns. You’ve got to figure out the right placement so that the water gets to the right parts.

2. Stationary Sprinkler

If you’re only watering a small area, a stationary sprinkler (spot sprinkler) might be ideal. There’s often only one pre-set pattern. The device might be circular, rectangular, or square.

These are often inexpensive and shouldn’t break as often because there aren’t any moving parts. They also don’t require a lot of water pressure to work properly. However, you may have to move the device around so that you don’t have standing water in one spot.

3. Pulsating Sprinkler

With a rotating or pulsating sprinkler, there is a rotating head. Water can be projected in a jet that moves all around. That way, the sprinkler can cover a bigger area and works well for circular lawns.

The less expensive options use a sprinkler head on top of a metal spike. Sometimes, you can raise the head’s height and water more evenly or gently.

Some of them can cover up to 10,000 square feet, but they work best with high water pressure. You can often set them up with a different pattern so that it’s slow and gentle. Just make sure that you’ve got it set up to run in the morning so that you don’t have water evaporation.

4. Impact Sprinkler

You’ve probably heard a sprinkler with a clicking sound. Usually, that’s an impact sprinkler. The sound is caused by the system’s hammer hitting on the fixed plate.

Once the hammer is out of the way, water comes up in a jet and sprays the grass. Usually, you can set it to do a full or partial circle. They also come in fixed and stationary versions.

Sometimes, you can find these sprinklers in parks and other spots with large grassy areas. However, they can be problematic if you’ve got low water pressure. Plus, they can create a forceful water spray and might not be suitable for tender grasses and plants.

5. In-ground Sprinkler

In-ground sprinklers are great if you plan to live there for a while. The sprinkler head goes into the ground and rises when it’s time to water. They can be a standalone option attached to a hose or a full system.

This also means they can be quite expensive, but they’re highly convenient for irrigation. However, it can be extremely hard to move them. Therefore, it’s a good idea to consider their placement before you install them.

You may also need multiple sprinklers to get the right amount of coverage. This means a higher upfront cost. However, it’s possible to conserve water if you get them set up correctly.

6. Sprinkler Hoses

Sprinkler hoses aren’t really a sprinkler system, but you can sometimes use them that way. They’re designed for the striped side to stay upward to function as the sprinkler. If the hose points down, it’s going to work like a soaker hose.

You can use them when you’re watering long beds, but it’s only a temporary fix. They are often used when you’ve reseeded the grass or have a high-traffic area. It provides gentle watering, which isn’t going to wash away the seedlings, allowing them to establish their root system.

7. Traveling Sprinkler

Travelers are gaining more popularity for homeowners. This sprinkler moves when there is high water pressure. The placement of the garden hose guides the sprinkler while it rides on it.

It is similar to a rotary sprinkler, but it’s going to water bigger stretches of lawn than its alternative. However, you must have significantly high water pressure to use it. Plus, you’re going to find it unnecessary if you’ve got a small lawn.

They look somewhat like a small lawnmower. If you’ve got rambunctious pets, the sprinkler could get knocked over. That means it’s going to be useless and could get damaged.

Conclusion

Since there are various types of lawn sprinklers, you’ve got to know what they are before deciding which one is right for you. This is going to impact how you water the lawn and if it’s effective.

Ultimately, the shape and size of the lawn impact the choice of sprinkler you choose. When you’re shopping for a sprinkler, make sure you research the specifications about each one. That way, you know it’s going to work for your particular needs.

There’s nothing worse than getting a piece of equipment and finding out that it’s not going to do what you want. Armed with this information about sprinkler types, you can make the right choice.