Anyone who cares for a lawn or garden knows that there are many different types of sprinklers out there. What you may not know is that some of the sprinklers hold clear advantages over others. Among the most popular sprinkler options are oscillating sprinklers. These sprinklers are a fantastic option for homeowners or garden hobbyists hoping to water a broad area. If you’re looking for an efficient way to give water to all your favorite garden plants, you should read through this article to learn about some of the best oscillating sprinklers that you can buy today.
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- IN A HURRY? HERE'S OUR TOP PICKS…
- 5 Best Oscillating Sprinklers
- What to Look for In an Oscillating Sprinkler
- Common Questions about Oscillating Sprinklers
- Sources
IN A HURRY? HERE’S OUR TOP PICKS…
5 Best Oscillating Sprinklers
Finding the right product in any category can be a time-consuming affair. To add some convenience to your sprinkler shopping experience, we have listed a few of the best oscillating sprinklers on the market with some helpful descriptions of their most noteworthy features.
Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16
With 3,600 square feet of coverage, you can rely on the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 to reach all the plants in your yard. This sprinkler is also incredibly durable as it employs an alloy steel base that can stand up to any wear and tear it encounters. But despite those great benefits, the best feature of this model may be that it is clog-resistant, making it unlikely that you will have a problem with low water pressure.
Things We Like:
- Water nozzles are resistant to clogging
- Durable metal base
- Larger range than many sprinklers
Things We Don’t Like:
- No option to control the width of the spray
- Some connection pieces can loosen over time
Eden 94116 Metal Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler
When you buy a new garden product, the chances are you intend to use it right away. The Eden 94116 Metal Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler allows you to do that because it is compatible with all standard garden hoses that you can find in the United States. This sprinkler also gives you the chance to control the water pressure via an intuitive knob. You also won’t need to worry about losing water pressure as all the connection pieces of this sprinkler are entirely leak-proof.
Things We Like:
- Includes leak-proof connection pieces
- Options to control water flow and pressure
- Fits all standard garden hoses
Things We Don’t Like:
- Coverage area could improve
Melnor 65074-AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler
One of the drawbacks of many oscillating sprinklers is that they have a very wide spray angle. While this is perfect for large areas, a wide spray is less than ideal for watering smaller areas. The main selling point for the Melnor 65074-AMZ XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler is that it gives you total control over the width of the spray. That means you can provide water to a large lawn space or to a small garden bed. Along with that control, you’ll also enjoy a long warranty with this product.
Things We Like:
- Offers complete control over spray width
- Includes a reliable warranty
Things We Don’t Like:
- Lightweight construction materials could be more durable
GUDWING Garden Oscillation Sprinkler
What makes the GUDWING Garden Oscillation Sprinkler stand out is that it comes with 18 nozzles, all of which are made of brass. Those nozzles can cover a large area and will remain intact and functional over time. Another impressive feature of this sprinkler is that it includes four buttons that let you change both the range and the width of your sprinkler’s spray. And if anything goes wrong, you can rely on the full refund guarantee that the manufacturer provides.
Things We Like:
- 18 brass nozzles make for great coverage
- Buttons let you control both range and width
- Full lifetime refund/replacement guarantee
Things We Don’t Like:
- Not the most long-lasting base material
Rocky Mountain Goods Turbo Metal Oscillating Sprinkler
Keeping your sprinkler nozzles clean is one of the best ways to make sure that you don’t lose water pressure. The Rocky Mountain Goods Turbo Metal Oscillating Sprinkler makes that cleaning easy by including a pin tool to keep the jets clear and functional. This model also uses an aluminum outer material to increase its longevity.
Things We Like:
- Strong aluminum outer frame
- Comes with a pin to keep jets clean
Things We Don’t Like:
- While outer materials are tough, inner materials are not
- Can make noise while oscillating
What to Look for In an Oscillating Sprinkler
A lot of consideration goes into finding the best sprinkler for you. If you are in the market for such an item, the next three sections will give you some key buying insights.
Durable Materials
A lack of durability is one of the most common complaints that people have about oscillating sprinklers. While these sprinklers are great at covering large areas evenly, they are not always made of the strongest materials. Keep that fact in mind while you shop and be sure to select a sprinkler that is made of a durable material such as metal.
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Range and Width Control
It is helpful to select an oscillating sprinkler that allows you to control both the range and the width of the sprinkler spray. Often, these items will include knobs that let you change the distance and general shape of the water leaving the sprinkler. This lets you water a large or small area, depending on your preference.
Cleaning and Leak-Proof Features
Another common issue with oscillating sprinklers is that they can lose their water pressure. The main reasons for this issue are leakage and clogging. To circumvent those issues, make sure you choose a sprinkler that has strong, leak-proof connections. Keep your eye out for sprinklers that include a pin to clean the nozzles as well.
You may also be interested in… 6 Best Hose Timers for Your Garden
Common Questions about Oscillating Sprinklers
Although watering plants seems like a straightforward task, many gardeners have several questions about how to perform that task in the best way. To help you learn more about oscillating sprinklers and some general garden watering guidelines, check out the answers we’ve provided to the common questions below.
Try watering your lawn for about 20 minutes at a time. In normal weather, you should perform that watering three times each week. Generally, it is best to give your lawn about one inch of water per week. In most cases, one-inch amounts to around one hour of total watering time. Remember that you may need to increase your watering in periods of drought or hot weather.
To cover the largest lawn area, it is best to use a rotating tower sprinkler. These sprinklers sit on a tripod base as they distribute an even amount of water over a broad space. However, not all homeowners will need such a far-reaching sprinkler. In many cases, an oscillating sprinkler will work well too.
It is possible to water grass at night, and many people do. What you should know is that watering at night comes with some risks that daytime watering does not carry. Mainly, the lack of sunlight at night means that the water will not evaporate. This gives your grass the chance to absorb all the water, but it also creates the potential for excess moisture. Too much moisture can cause fungus and other issues.
Typically, the reason that an oscillating sprinkler gets stuck is that it has malfunctioned, or it has become clogged with stones, dirt, or plant matter. Another standard cause of a stuck oscillating sprinkler is low water pressure.
Rotary sprinklers spin while they work, allowing them to send water in all directions. This feature gives rotary sprinklers a slight advantage over oscillating sprinklers when it comes to covering a lawn area evenly. However, rotary sprinklers are also a bit more complex, leading them to have a higher price.
New grass seed needs water to survive. But if you don’t water gently, your grass seed may clump or wash away. After spreading your seeds, use a soft setting on your hose nozzle to water the seed carefully for about ten minutes. Wetting the soil before spreading the seed is also a helpful tactic to keep your seeds alive.
Most homes have a minimum water pressure of 30 psi. In response, most sprinklers are designed to work with that degree of pressure or more. If your home has low water pressure, your best approach when buying a sprinkler is to choose one that advertises itself as working well with low pressure. Such sprinklers come in several varieties, some of which have reliable water pressure-regulating mechanisms.
One reason for low water pressure is that your sprinkler head is dirty. Clumps of dirt and debris can prevent water from exiting the sprinkler at its fullest capacity. Another reason for this problem is that the backflow valves of your sprinkler system are not fully open. Opening those valves and cleaning your sprinkler head should solve most low water pressure concerns.
Sources
How Oscillating Sprinklers Work
Troubleshooting Problems with an Oscillating Sprinkler
John Haryasz is a freelance writer and landscape designer. In the field of landscape architecture, he has contributed to many successful design projects throughout the country. As a writer, John specializes in creating captivating and informative web content. Through that work, he aims to share his design knowledge and promote engagement with the outdoor world.
