The best sprinklers for lawns and gardens
- Water is essential for plant life and maintaining a healthy garden, lawn, or outdoor grounds.
- Selecting the best type of water delivery system can save money, protect natural resources, and provide the gardening results you desire.
- We tested sprinklers and selected these five options as the best for durability, water distribution, ease of use, and price.
- For a gardener on a budget, the Melnor XT 4000 Oscillating Sprinkler will provide the irrigation your plants need.
Every gardener, including those without a green thumb, needs the right tools and knows that plants need water to survive. Even if you are devoted to cacti and other drought-tolerant xeriscaping grasses and plants, they still need some moisture.
That's why it's important to understand the watering requirements of different plants, your local climate and soil, and how to properly add supplemental water.
One of the best places to start – and it's free – is your local county extension office. Tied to land-grant agricultural colleges in every state, Extension horticulturists can answer your questions and help determine your gardening needs. I'm a farmer's daughter, and I still learned so much from the horticulture specialists and county agents I worked with at Clemson University Extension who advised me to spend some time observing these four things before simply sprinkling water everywhere:
- Plant variety in the garden: Trees, shrubs, lawn grasses, annuals, and perennials all have different water needs. If you are just getting started, try to group plants with similar water needs together.
- Climate and annual rainfall: Windy, dry climates are very different from cloudy, humid areas and require different water levels and methods of delivery to get the most moisture to the plant's root system.
- Soil type: Get to know your dirt. Clay soil is heavy and water is absorbed slowly so you need to water at a slow rate. Water passes through sandy soil quickly and plants need to be watered more often. Loam soil, a combination of sand, clay, and organic matter, distributes water evenly and is the easiest to manage.
- Size and slope of the garden: Sprinkler choices will depend upon the terrain and the size of the area that needs watering.
If you don't have an automatic irrigation system installed, and don't have time to water every area of your garden with a garden hose or watering can, you will need a sprinkler to help distribute water in your garden. We tested sprinklers for durability, water distribution, ease of use, and, of course, price.
Here are the best sprinklers:- Best for large lawns: Nelson 1865 RainTrain Traveling Sprinkler
- Best for small lawns: Melnor XT Turbo Metal Oscillating Sprinkler with Flow Control
- Best shelf sprinkler for flowers and vegetables: Gardena 1951 Spike Sprinkler
- Best soaker hose: Gilmour Flat Soaker Hose
Updated on 6/8/2020 by Emily Hochberg: Updated prices, links, and formatting.
The best for large lawns
When you need to provide water to a large, open expanse, the bright yellow Nelson 1865 RainTrain Traveling Sprinkler that can cover 13,500-square-feet is a perfect choice.
Moving along a customized hose path that you lay out, and powered by the force of the water, the RainTrain is both practical and fun to watch.
The body of the train is made of cast iron with a fired, rust-proofed coating and weighs about 17 pounds. The sprinkler arms are made from aluminum and can be set to cover an area with a diameter of 15 to 55 feet at three different speeds. An automatic shut-off keeps the sprinkler from overwatering at the end of the line.
After several seasons of use, I am still impressed with the high-grade materials and durability. And even though I've had no problems, it's good to know that the RainTrain has a two-year warranty. There is a bit of a learning curve, however, to make sure the sprinkler runs at the speed you desire, and how to set up the hose path.
One tip that will make the operation more trouble-free is to use a 5/8-inch hose. A smaller hose can cause the train to jump the tracks. Lay out the hose properly, especially curves, (read the manual) to avoid kinks and the train will chug along easily.
Pros: Covers large lawns without having to move the sprinkler, made of durable materials, two-year warranty, replacement parts available
Cons: Necessary learning curve for first use, not suitable for heavily planted, or highly sloped natural areas
The best for small lawns
When I moved from my after-college apartment to my first home, I happily went out and bought "yard stuff." I didn't give much thought to quality or appropriateness for my garden, and just bought a lawnmower, hose, sprinkler, and rake that I could afford.
If I had been a bit more astute, I would have known that you get what you pay for and chosen a more durable sprinkler like the Melnor XT Metal Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler with Flow Control.
The sprinkler I bought was 100% plastic, light-weight, and the hose connection soon cracked and began to leak. That's why I prefer the metal components of the Melnor XT. The base of the sprinkler is metal so it stays in place. There is a removable metal filter that can be cleaned and the end plug doubles as a cleaning tool for the nozzles.
Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, the sprinkler features controls to adjust the width, range, and flow of the watering pattern. I can pinpoint specific areas that need watering, like a newly-planted bed. There are 20 nozzles that can cover up to 4,500-square-feet.
I am particularly impressed with the smooth movements and the ability to adjust the spray so I don't shoot water high into the air, which then evaporates before it ever hits the ground.
While I use this sprinkler for specific planting beds around the house, I also gave it to a friend as a house-warming gift for her patio home and she finds that it covers all of her garden-watering needs. She agrees that I chose a winner.
Pros: Adjustable width, range, and flow of water pattern, all-metal components, heavy-duty, limited lifetime warranty
Cons: Must be moved frequently to cover large areas of lawn
The best shelf sprinkler for flowers and vegetables
Just as babies need a gentle touch, so do young plants and freshly planted seeds to encourage growth. Whether I direct-sow into the soil or start the seeds indoors, the water they need must be delivered gently or the seeds will wash away or drown. That's why I love the Gardena 1951 Spike Sprinkler , which delivers moisture in a fine mist spray that protects your investment and hard work.
The easy-to-move and connect spike delivers water in a fine mist that soaks into the soil slowly and doesn't beat down fragile seedlings. The mist is delivered in a circular pattern that can reach a diameter of up to 10 yards. However, by just reducing the water pressure, the diameter can be adjusted to cover much smaller areas.
Pros: Simple to install, delivers water in a fine mist spray, adjustable for coverage area, compatible with other Gardena sprinkler components, 12-month warranty
Cons: Hose connector is plastic and can break if not handled carefully
The best soaker hose
If you are tired of dragging a hose and sprinkler around the yard but can't afford a sprinkler system, you need the Gilmour Flat Soaker Hose.
Gilmore Soaker Hoses wind around underneath the mulch to gently provide the moisture plants need without losing water to evaporation, which also conserves water. Since the water is going directly to the root balls, there is less danger of mildew and other foliage diseases caused by excessive moisture. Weed control is also easier because there is less surface water to sprout unwanted seeds. And, it saves time because I don't have to reposition sprinklers.
Made of 100% recycled vinyl, the hose has a clog-resistant fabric cover that allows the water to flow easily. Lightweight and available in several lengths, the hose is easy to place and mold around the base of plants to deliver water exactly where you need it. Just join additional hoses, if needed, to cover the entire area.
The fabric cover also makes this hose more durable than other brands. Each late autumn, I flush it out and bring it inside for storage and it's lasted me for at least five years.
Pros: Available in several lengths, connectable, made of recycled vinyl, flow rate is adjusted at water faucet, 7-year warranty
Cons: May need landscaping staples to hold the hose in place, should be flushed and stored inside during cold weather
The best on a budget
Melnor is a leading name in garden sprinklers and if you need to watch your budget, or plan to only tend a garden for a season or so, the Melnor XT 4000 Oscillating Sprinkler will serve you well.
Covering approximately 4,000-square-feet, the oscillating sprinkler has 18 nozzles, six of which have a positive shutoff, and adjustable settings for width and range. One of my sons rented a place temporarily and needed a good sprinkler for the season. I chose this for him because of the price and Melnor name. The sprinkler worked well and even contained a tool for cleaning out clogged nozzles. My son found it to be a really good sprinkler and took it along as a back-up in his new location.
While the entire sprinkler is made of plastic, the sled design is sturdy and the connections will last for a season or two without the larger investment in a metal sprinkler. Always move the sprinkler out of the sun when not in use to prevent damage from ultraviolet rays to the plastic.
Pros: Budget-friendly, covers 4,000-square-feet, adjustable coverage settings, limited warranty
Cons: Plastic components can break more easily
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