This DIY In-Ground Sprinkler System Has Over 2,000 Five-Star Reviews

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No matter how hearty and durable your plants and grass are, you still have to keep them watered. Summer can run its toll on plants quickly if they aren't watered regularly, and since Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate with our precious plant baby's schedules, we have to rely on good ole technology to do the trick.

Sprinklers are a must-have for any gardener (or anyone who wants their grass to look decent), so why is it so tough to find a good one? We employed the expertise of Carmen Johnston, the founder and owner of Carmen Johnston Gardens and Bespoke Garden Plans, who has over 15 years of experience caring for gardens and lawns of all sizes to get her tips on shopping for the best lawn sprinkler.

Surprisingly, there are a lot of factors that play into finding the perfect sprinkler. While the typical stake-in-the-ground version might work for some people, there are tons of different options available that are more well-suited for other yards.

Yard Size

Obviously, you'll want to start here. Not all sprinklers have the same coverage area, which could mean needing to move your sprinkler around multiple times just to fully cover your yard—aka, a pain! You'll need to know the approximate square footage of your yard to determine what size sprinkler you'll need.

While a regular sprinkler should do the job for an average to small sized yard, larger yards are going to need something more heavy-duty. You'll either have to invest in a travel sprinkler or an irrigation system or prepare to move your sprinkler often. "For larger properties, I absolutely recommend an irrigation system to help with lawn coverage," Carmen says. "Even with a good system, you will still need to hand water or supplement with sprinklers to keep landscapes properly hydrated during intense heatwaves."

Yard Shape

Odds are, you don't have a backyard that's a perfect circle (the shape of a typical sprinkler pattern), which means working around corners and crevices is going to be a problem. If your backyard has tons of pockets or is more rectangular in shape, a traveling sprinkler might just be a game changer for you. These sprinklers travel along a predetermined path (mapped out by you) to soak the entire yard.

You could also invest in an irrigation system, whether that be professionally installed or a DIY project. "Any lawn that you want to maximize growth (can benefit from an irrigation system)," Carmen says. "Sprinkler systems offer great coverage and even watering."

Shrubs and Plants

In addition to an oddly-shaped yard causing problems for your sprinkler, tall shrubs, plants, or other interferences can also stop the flow of water to certain areas of your yard. Irrigation systems and a traveling sprinkler are both fantastic options for yards with tall bushes, but you could also look into a sprinkler on a tripod base. This elevated base will give your sprinkler a head above most everything else in your yard so water reaches its full coverage area.

Does Grass Type Matter?

The short answer: no! While you may need to water at different at different times of the day or more often for certain types of grass, the sprinkler type absolutely does not matter. "Believe it or not, any grass type can be trained to use less water," Carmen says. "For example, a type called St. Augustine is known as the 'poor man’s grass,' and it can go completely dormant and turn brown—but with one good soaking rain, it’s back to a gorgeous, lush green! There are certain grasses that don’t require as much water as others."

How Often Should I Water My Yard?

How often you'll need to water depends heavily on your climate and your grass type and plants. Carmen's tell-tale sign? "Usually, you will notice the coloring is off and missing that lush, grass green hue," she shares. "Also look for spots that are starting to wilt or brown."

It's important to note that while your grass may be more drought-resistance, many plants aren't. Like Carmen said before, even with an irrigation system or sprinkler used often, you might need to supplement was a hose soaking or small sprinkler for certain plants or garden beds that prefer to have wet feet.

And when you do use your sprinkler, it's important not to overwater. "(It) depends on what type of soil and grass they have and how frequently they’re watering, but anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour is average," Carmen says. "You will definitely be watering more in the summer versus early spring or fall, too"

The Best Lawn Sprinklers

Traveling Sprinkler

If you have a large yard but aren't ready to splurge on a full system, then this traveling sprinkler may just be your new best friend. The self-propelled sprinkler travels along up to 200 feet of hose to reach all those oddly shaped corners of your yard and can cover a whopping 13,500 square feet total. Say goodbye to the days of having to go outside every 15 minutes and move the sprinkler to a different section of the yard.

But even if you don't have a large yard, this traveling sprinkler is a great buy for anyone who doesn't have a simple square plot to water—aka, most of us. The watering diameter is adjustable from 15 to 50 feet. So if your yard is small but oddly shaped, just lower the diameter and set your sprinkler on a track to follow the corners and crevices of your yard. You can also choose the speed of your water flow with high, low, or neutral stationary settings to control saturation levels.

And, what might just be our favorite feature, this sprinkler has an auto-shutoff. As soon as the sprinkler runs over the included ramp, it triggers the auto-shutoff on the bottom of the unit. So not only do you not have to switch locations of your sprinkler, but you don't even have to worry about turning it off immediately!

Positive review: "This baby works like a charm! I have been using it for a few weeks in my backyard -- and the only negative thing I can say is that I shoulda bought it years ago! Initial assembly was a bit confusing (the metal arms have to be pushed *into* the plastic washers), but after that everything has been smooth sailing. It does a fantastic job of evenly distributing water and we've had no issues with it getting stuck or anything. I know it feels a bit expensive for a sprinkler, but the time I have saved by not having to move sprinklers around has already made it a worthwhile purchase."

Oscillating Sprinkler

Oscillating sprinklers are a fantastic option if you have a relatively square yard or if you're looking to water a specific region of your yard, i.e. a single garden bed. We particularly love this oscillating sprinkler because of its ultra-durable construction. Instead of a normal plastic base, this sprinkler has a metal base that holds up to more than just usual wear and tear. If you happen to step on this sprinkler, you shouldn't have to worry about it breaking. In addition to the durability, users also love that the metal base adds a bit of weight so the sprinkler stays in place and has a more controlled output of water.

Also, with a 4,400 square foot coverage area, this sprinkler can cover a decent-sized yard with ease. But if your yard is on the smaller side, you'll have no problem adjusting the coverage range. There's also two size options for this sprinkler, a 20-inch and a 16-inch. We're reviewing the 20-inch version, but it's worth noting that the 16-inch option can cover 3,600 square feet.

In addition to a metal base, this sprinkler also has a metal hose connector, making it even more durable. If you're looking for a low-maintenance sprinkler that'll last you for years to come, this is easily one of the best options on the market.

Positive review: "This sprinkler is awesome. I live on corner lot in neighborhood with average size US yard. The water coverage is huge! Waters the entire front yard without need to move it. The water pressure is great and the fountain shoots very tall, thoroughly watering everything. No wonder it’s #1, excellent value and very satisfied. Recommend!!"

In-Ground Automatic Sprinkler System Kit

If you've got even the slightest bit of DIY-er in you, then you could save thousands on a professionally-installed sprinkler system with this kit. It contains everything you need to install your own in-ground sprinkler system, minus the shovel.

Other than saving you tons of money, one of the coolest features of the RainBird system is the timer. It has the ability to schedule your sprinkler to run on certain days of the week for select amounts of time and even has a rain-override feature.

As for installation, you can expect about a full-day to an afternoon's worth of work with this system. Before you fully install it, you'll want to determine your path and do a flat lay and run the system just to make sure you're satisfied before fully installing. From there, you can dig a small trench and embed the tubing and sprinkler heads.

The major downside to this sprinkler system is that it's not suited for large yards. A single kit can cover 1000-3000 square feet, depending on your water pressure. You can hook up to three systems to a single spigot.

Positive review: "This is the next best thing to a sprinkler system. Super easy to install and works like a champ. The quick connect feature for the hose is slick. Very well built. I’ll be purchasing more!"

Tripod Base with Brass Impact

Elevated on a tripod, this sprinkler is an excellent option for homeowners with extra-large yards. Since the sprinkler itself is elevated, water is able to spray even farther, covering a 90 foot diameter.

In addition to being great for large yards, this elevated sprinkler is also perfect for gardens that have towering bushes or other interferences. We also love the adjustable head that makes customizing your coverage area a breeze. And when not in use, the tripod base folds up compactly for storage.

While Orbit claims that the base of this sprinkler is incredibly sturdy, we noted a few reviews that mentioned heavy wind gusts knocking the tripod over. We'd advise adding weights to the feet or being mindful of the weather when using.

Positive review: "My previous sprinkler was similar to this sprinkler head, although the bottom was a spike that had to be pushed into the ground (rather than the tripod). This meant I had to shut of the sprinkler each time that I wanted to relocated it. Then I had to push it into the ground at the new position, and turn it back on.The 'Lawn Impact Sprinkler on Tripod Base' is much easier to use and relocate. I can easily pickup the tripod (from the back side) and move it to a new position. Most times, I can simply leave the sprinkler running and move it, since I don't need to push it into the ground. The tripod is very sturdy. If the sprinkler is being placed onto a slight hill or uneven ground, it is easy to re-adjust the height of the tripod legs, so that the sprinkler head is position in a generally level position. I highly recommend this product, because it is well built and much easier to use than my previous sprinkler head."

Drive Sprinkler

Sometimes the simplest answer is the best. And if you have an average-sized yard and don't mind needing to occasionally move your sprinkler, then this Orbit stake sprinkler will do the job just fine.

While it may have a low profile, this small but mighty sprinkler actually has an 80 square foot spray diameter. It also has customizable spray coverage and six spray patterns.

Our favorite feature of this sprinkler might just be how simple it is to use. Just screw your hose on, plant the stake in the ground, and watch this bad boy get to work straight out of the box. It doesn't get easier than that.

Positive review: "So my wife and I decided to plant pollinator flower beds all around the house. This is year three, and I cannot begin to tell you how many wands, sprinklers, and other means of watering we have gone through. Using wands would take 90 minutes. Most seem like you need an engineering degree to properly dial in. And then you would have to keep moving them for ideal coverage. But all I seemed to do was water more of my grass then my flowers. So I bought two of the Orbit sprinkler for either side of the house. Adjusted the spray width and selected the right output right on top of the sprinkler, and thats it. Easiest sprinkler I have purchased."

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