How to Choose a Garden Sprinkler by Lawn Shape
Impulse, oscillating and rotating arm sprinklers each suit a different lawn. Match the mechanism to the shape before you compare prices.
Rectangular Lawns Want an Oscillating Sprinkler
An oscillating sprinkler sweeps a bar of jets back and forth and lays down a rectangle. Ours uses a fifteen hole bar, which is the usual configuration for a domestic lawn. If the customer's lawn has straight edges against a fence or a path, this is the mechanism that does not waste water on the paving.
Open and Irregular Areas Want an Impulse Sprinkler
An impulse sprinkler throws a single jet and steps it around in a circle or an arc. It has the longest reach of the three mechanisms, which makes it the choice for paddocks, allotment strips and any area too large for an oscillating bar. It is available here in both plastic and metal heads.
Small Round Areas Want a Rotating Arm
Three arm and ball sprinklers spin under water pressure and cover a modest circle with a gentle pattern. They are cheap, they are quiet, and they are the right product for a small lawn or a new seeded area where an impulse jet would displace the soil.
The Base Matters as Much as the Head
A spike base is only useful if it goes into the ground. On dry or compacted soil a plain spike will not push in by hand, which is why the wing spike models exist, they can be stepped in by foot. Tripod and sled bases sit on the surface and suit stony ground or established lawns where nobody wants to make holes.
Pair the Sprinkler With a Timer
The main reason customers stop using a sprinkler is the fear of leaving it running. A two hour mechanical timer costs a fraction of the sprinkler and removes that objection entirely, which is why the two products belong on the same display.
Families This Article Covers
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Questions About This Topic
Which sprinkler has the longest reach?
The impulse type. It concentrates the flow into one jet and steps it around, which carries further than a bar or a rotating arm.
Is a metal impulse head worth the price difference?
For customers who water the same area every week, yes, because the metal head holds its aim better under pressure. Most walls should carry both so the customer can choose.
Put This Into a Quotation
Send the models you are considering, the volume and the market. We will confirm the specification and the carton data before you price it.