One of the things we need, especially since the grass is just now recovering from last Summer's epic drought, is a sprinkler (or two or three). This weekend, I did some watering but it was a tedious process. I need something better. So I started looking and I guess I didn't realize there are so many options. We can't have an in ground system, not this year anyway, but I'd still like to keep the yards around the house green for this season.
SO, I need to see what people use, what they like, what doesn't work, etc.
I have narrowed it down to the three main types:
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| Oscillating Sprinkler |
This is the one I call the "old school" kind, the oscillating sprinkler. You just put it where you want it in the yard and it arches back and forth to water a specific swath of the yard.
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| Tripod or stand sprinkler |
This kind probably has the furthest reach, at least I assume, since the sprinkler head is attached at the top of the stand and then shoots water outward in a 360 degree radius around the yard.
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| Traveling or tractor sprinkler |
This one is the one I know the least about. It has a gear drive that lets it "travel" along the length of the hose. I'm not sure if it covers as much, I just don't really know. It does appear to be the most expensive of the three styles.
So do I just go old school and get an oscillator or two and just move them around in the yard? Or get a tripod and let it go round and round? Or get a tractor and let it move back and forth along the hose?
Thoughts and/or all suggestions welcome!
Thoughts and/or all suggestions welcome!
We don't water out grass deliberately (rain or over spray from gardens) But to be honest very little of our yard is actually grass. it is really just a big giant weed patch, mostly consisting of clover. We have a small off the ground oscillating one. It ratchets 360° but you can set the swathe less than that. It was relatively inexpensive, we have had it for at least 8 years and it works well.
ReplyDeleteI think our yard is mostly weeds, but I just like the green. Last summer I blew it off and the yard was TOTALLY dead, I mean, NO green it was all brown and dead. It was like the dust bowl pictures of the 1930's ha. Thanks for the info.
DeleteWe don't water either...no point as everything gets brown and crispy by July. My yard sounds just like Tonya's...Clover and weeds. But what grass there is recovers every fall. My neighbor across the way uses the tripod though. Like you pointed out, furthest reach = quicker completion of the task. If I were watering, I'd go with the tripod.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I may give up at some point but I'd like to keep some green if possible. And yes, it's more weeds than grass, ha. A vote for the tripod!!
DeleteBecareful with your green lawn obsession. Water = $$$. That said I like the tripod kind; more water faster, farther which = less moving.
ReplyDeleteYes, I hear you. It doesn't have to be entirely green just some, ha. We have a private well though, so no water/sewer bill, but I still have to think of the water supply, especially after last years drought. More tripod votes!! Thank you!!
Deletei would have to recommend the 'ol school one - we had 2 at our house back in the city and i loved that you could move them around as some areas are drier than other areas. plus it's fun to go and move them around and the real bonus is being able to run through them getting cooled off while watering the grass at the same time. it makes you feel like a child and you and Second Man will laugh your butts off when you do it!
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
There is something to be said for the price, and then, OMG, running through them sounds perfect! I have memories of that from childhood too. I guess we're never too old to run through a sprinkler huh??? I love that. Thank you. You make me smile everytime you post something. Thanks!!
DeleteI use an oscillating sprinkler for my garden, it's very efficient and waters a 25'' x 50' rectangular area. Most of my yard sprinklers, for the large areas, are impulse sprinklers. They do a decent job, too. Mine are in-ground, not on tripods, but I do also have extras that are just screwed into spikes and I can put those on a hose and move them wherever. One good thing about the impulse sprinklers is that they can be adjusted, so you can let them water a full circle, or set them in a corner and do a quarter circle, or up against a building and set them for a half circle. One bad thing is that they ARE circles. You get a lot of overlap in the sprinkling pattern that you don't get with the oscillating sprinkler, so probably waste a bit of water with them.
ReplyDeleteImpulse sprinklers huh? Hmmm...I'll have to check that out. I never thought about using different types for different areas that need to be watered. Thank you for the info. I didn't think about the overlap, I'll have to plan this I think. Thanks!!! You're awesome, as always!
DeleteI always liked dodging the sprinkler when I was a kid - perhaps you could combine it with dancing naked under the moon?
ReplyDeleteYes, I love the idea of the sprinkler as a kid, I remember it well. Was never naked but I suppose in the country, at night, under the moon, that could be arranged, LOL!
Deletego for the old school oscilating .... less water waste.... the problem with the tripod is it does a circular area, or half circle or portions thereof, however I have a couple that are a round shape but you can select round, square, half circle, several variations only a few dollars at Walmart. You may want to go with several varities, depending on the area needing water .. is it round, square, oblong????? Also consider drip line, there are several varities of sprayers or drips and those would be good in flower beds, less water waste.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for old school oscillating type. I like the less waste. The area is just the front and side yard, it's kind of oddly shaped. I've got an idea for a drip line in the fall, I didn't finish the flower beds this Spring before the oppressive heat kicked in, so I'll work on that as infrastructure in a few months. Thanks for the info, I'll check that out. I think i lean toward oscillating, mainly because it's inexpensive right now.
DeleteOld school number one. It's also great for playing in on hot days. ;)
ReplyDeleteOld school vote recorded!!!! And yes, they almost REQUIRE running through huh???
DeleteWe don't water the "yard" we do water our garden rows. I use soaker hoses under hay mulching to conserve water. Even in last years drought we didn't water the "yard" area around the house. Its green this year. City water is pricey to try to water a huge lawn area and it seems a bit of a waste to me out here (can't hit a well where we live so we buy our water) we water the vegetable garden rows as needed with soaker hoses and I also water my flowers that are mulched like my rose fence around the fruit orchard area. Again soaker hoses under hay mulching to conserve water. I drip water my fruit trees using hoses as needed.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in town and had to keep the lawn to expectations of the neighborhood, the lawn tractor was our choice.
We have a private well, so cost is not an option BUT conservation IS important. I want to keep some green, but we're not trying to keep up with the neighbors, ha. I really want some soaker hoses I love how well they work and keep the things watered that need to be watered. I'm kind of worried about the fruit trees when I finally get them all in the ground and I think that may be next on the agenda. Thanks for the info. I REALLY appreciate it!!
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