Thinking About Getting a Home Sprinkler System?

Ever gaze wistfully at your neighbor's yard full of lush, green grass and wonder why your own front lawn seems so botanically challenged? Consider installing a sprinkler, and the grass might just be greener on your side! The solution is simple enough: A healthy garden teeming with beautiful grass and plants requires lots of water. What might be difficult is deciding which sprinkler to install. Some people might be surprised, even daunted, by the number of different sprinkler types out there, but we can help you understand the specific purpose for each sprinkler so you can make the right decision for your lawn.

First, think about your lawn watering needs. Usually the best way to water plants is starting from the ground and then working your way up. Roots can better receive the water this way, and you reduce the chance of spreading plant diseases. But some plants, such as ferns, do well with just a light shower or dusting of water.

Also, take into account your lawn's soil type. For example, a sandy soil would require you to water it more slowly but more frequently than a heavier soil such as silt.

Sprinkler Types-

Rotary: This sprinkler has two or three spinning arms that produce a fine spray of water. The rotary sprinkler can be adjusted to control the distance of the spray, which is a plus.

Oscillating: Think of an oscillating fan that sprays water. A curved arm that moves from side to side sprays water out of a collection of small holes. The arm can be adjusted to face either side or both.

Pulsating: This sprinkler squirts out a single spray in incremental pulses, moving in a circle. You can adjust the pulsating sprinkler to spray in a full clockwise circle or a partial circle, or you can reverse it to spray counterclockwise.

Traveling: Positioned on wheels, this sprinkler actually moves around your lawn, compelled by the force of the water as it sprays. You can place the sprinkler's hose along a path in your lawn and put one of the sprinkler's wheels on the hose. From there, the sprinkler will travel the length of the hose, watering the yard in the process, and then it will stop once it reaches the end of the hose.

Hoses-

Sprinklers would be rather useless without a hose, so when you're shopping for the sprinkler you've finally settled on, remember to consider what kind of hose you'll need. Think about the diameter, the thickness and the length of the hose. Hoses usually come in diameter sizes of 1/2, 5/8, and 3/4 inches. Simply put, a 5/8-inch hose produces 1-and-1/2 times the amount of water as the 1/2-inch hose does, and the 3/4-inch hose produces 1-and-1/2 times the water as the 5/8-inch hose. You will want the most amount of water as possible, so in most cases, you should go with the 3/4-inch hose.

Next, think about the hose's thickness. Vinyl or synthetic hoses made with fiberglass reinforcement are extremely lightweight and are generally resistant to puncturing; however, the thin walls of these types of hoses are susceptible to kinking. Thicker hoses don't kink as much, but they are heavier and can be difficult to control. If your sprinkler moves a lot, you might want to go with a hose that won't kink as easily.

Lastly, measure or get a decent estimate of the size of your lawn and figure out the distance from your house's spigots to the furthest spots in your yard. Use this information to determine how long you'll need your hose to be. Hose lengths can range between 10 feet and 250 feet.

Side note: Soaker hoses are porous, which slows the flow of water. They come in vinyl, foam, plastic, rubber and canvas, and are particularly useful in watering rose gardens or other kinds of flower gardens.

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