The Different Types of Garden Sprinklers

Garden sprinklers are of five types, namely, stationary sprinklers, rotary sprinklers, oscillating sprinklers, pulsating or impulse sprinklers, and traveling sprinklers. The type of garden sprinkler to use depends on the kind of area to be covered, its size and the budget.

1. Stationary sprinklers. These are inexpensive garden sprinklers used in small gardens. Stationary garden sprinklers are available in various designs such as rings, full circle and half circle. Water is dispersed through a pattern of holes on top of the garden sprinkler. Another type of stationary sprinkler is the "salt shaker", which has a single pattern on a sled or spike, but can be adjusted to different patterns such as a square, rectangle, strips, circles or swirling-type spot sprinkler.

2. Oscillating sprinklers. These garden sprinklers cater to medium to large areas and have popular designs. Conventional designs of oscillating garden sprinklers use curved aluminum tubes, while the modern ones use rust-free, molded straight tubes with jets that are set at progressive angles. The latest models of oscillating garden sprinklers reveal full-operation sprinklers at lower water pressures. In this type of sprinkler, water is sprayed in multiple streams from openings in a spray tube that swings backward and forward in a rectangular pattern. A multi-position dial allows for pattern adjustment to full sweep, left, right or center sprinkling.

3. Pulsating or Impulse sprinklers. A pulsating or impulse garden sprinkler runs on low water pressure but sprays more water at one particular time over a larger area. Its spray is strong enough to resist wind. The nozzles large openings prevent clogging problems. This makes the pulsating or impulse garden sprinkler the most efficient and versatile among the other types of garden sprinklers. These garden sprinklers are made from brass, zinc, aluminum, plastic or stainless steel.

4. Rotary sprinklers. These garden sprinklers have rotating spray arms with stationary or adjustable tips for spraying small- to medium-sized areas.

5. Traveling sprinklers. These garden sprinklers are self-driven sprinklers with shut-off valves used for wide, irregular areas. Traveling garden sprinklers have two arms like a rotary sprinkler that can be adjusted up or down to control the water coverage area. Traveling garden sprinklers are available in two types -- the wind-up and the tractor. The wind-up sprinkler has a laid cord, dual speed and a large hose capacity, while the tractor sprinkler tows the hose behind it.

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