Choosing The Best Quality Lawn Sprinkler

Here in Illinois it has been hot the last couple days and that meant I had to start watering the grass for the first time this year. That reminded me that I probably should be talking to you guys about watering your lawn the right way, and of course, that starts with having the right sprinkler doesn’t it? Here is my advice on buying the best sprinkler and why.

Best Sprinkler For Lawn

We want to deliver as much water to the turf as possible quickly and that is best done with an impact sprinkler, also called an impulse sprinkler. The reason we want to use an impact sprinkler is because they keep the water low to the ground and in large droplets. This means less mist to blow off target (like into the street) and larger droplets penetrate faster down into and through the thatch layer.

The impulse or impact sprinkler is also going to allow you to cover larger areas of the lawn without having to move it around too much. Some sprinklers only cover a small area but the impact sprinkler covers well. Some of you think that impact sprinklers throw the water far but not evenly… But you have to adjust it properly and here is the secret!

How To Adjust Impact Sprinklers

The key to getting the larger droplets that fan out evenly across your watering zone is in the tension screw on the impulse sprinkler. You adjust this screw to interrupt the water stream slightly, fanning out the water. This screw, by the way, is also what makes the sprinkler rotate.

Best Quality Impact or Impulse Sprinkler

I have tried all kinds of impact and impulse sprinklers over the years and without a doubt I have found that metal construction and metal based impact sprinkler perform better and last longer. The metal construction means the water is thrown further. Plastic impact sprinklers do not throw water as well, period.

Dramm 15035 ColorStorm Premium Impulse Sprinkler with Heavy Duty Metal Wheeled Base, Blue

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $27.95

Amazon Price: $26.86

Gilmour Metal Head Impulse Sprinkler on Metal Sled Base 167SMB

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $34.99

Amazon Price: $31.42

How To Water Your Lawn

Now that you guys have the best lawn sprinkler I can recommend, yuo need to know how to use it. Here are the basics:

1) Water 1/2 inch of water 2-3 times per week. Set your impact sprinkler out and use a rain guage or tuna can to see how long it takes for 1/2 inch of water to build up. In most cases, this will be 45 minutes or so. We want heavy watering 2-3 times per week. Heavy watering of 1/2 inch will ensure the water soaks deep into the lawn and gets through that thatch layer. Don’t make the mistake that many of my customers do and water 20 minutes every day. This creates all kinds of problems with grass rooting because the water stays high up in the thatch layer and the grass roots turn upward to get to it. If your lawn is spongy, this could be why.

Anyway, the point here is that I want you to deliver heavy water twice per week until we get to July and August, then up the schedule to three times per week. Keep it consistent.

2) Water in the mornings ONLY! WHen you water in the morning before 10AM, the grass gets its drink in and the rest is evaporated away by the sun, simple. But if you water in the evening, the leftover water sits there in the evening heat and fungus can form in the lawn, giving it all kinds of issues. Bottom line, water in the morning!

If you are wondering how you are gonna do that, follow my pattern: I get up for work at 4:30 AM. The first think I do is go out and turn on my sprinkler. It takes me about an hour to get dressed and ready to go so around 5:30, on my way out the door, I turn the sprinkler off! Whammo! One hour of watering in and just over 1/2 inch of water down on the lawn! Easy!

3) Water consistently. Too many times I find folks hurting their lawns with inconsistent watering habits. You see, in the summer if you don’t water right, your lawn will go into dormancy and turn brown. This is not necessarily a bad thing health wise.. it is just a defense mechanism. The issue is, however, that homeowners start to water the heck out of a dormant lawn and bring it back to green. That is fine but then they stop watering and let it go back into dormancy again. You cannot to that. If you bring it out of dormancy, keep watering it consistently 2-3 times per week. It is not healthy for turf to go in and out of dormancy during the summer.

Sound complicated doesn’t it? Well, it really isn’t when you consider that lawn care is just another important part of owning a house! Water right, water deep, water consistently and use the best sprinkler!

Orbit 3/4-Inch Brass Impact On Ring Base Sprinkler 58643