Garden sprinklers

Sprinklers have an established place in gardens but the question of whether their primary purpose is irrigation is up for debate.. Children love playing in sprinkler water, and with as many different water effects as possible. Adults like watching the spray, believing the sprinkler is doing more good than laborious weeding.

A sprinkler needs sufficient weight that it does not flip over under pressure so beware light plastic models. Sprinklers with a metal head tend to last longer.

Rotating 'whirlybird' type sprinklers are best for circular lawns and childrens' play.

Oscillating sprinklers are more business-like and less fun. They water in a rectangular pattern. The oscillating sprinkler has different modes for different movement patterns - full swing, half swing for stationary. The mechanism for controlling the modes may be an external drive or an internal water turbine. The latter is more reliable as external drives are easily damaged when knocked about.

Impulse sprinklers have a rather commercial sound - and can soak the unwary gardener. The impulse sprinkler is the most powerful type of sprinkler so it is particularly important to make sure that your sprinkler is stable with a good heavy basis. The impulse sprinkler is a circular sprinkler.

Tractor sprinklers, also known as walking sprinklers, use water-power to move slowly and methodically over large lawns. The front wheel of the tractor sprinkler straddles the hose so the path of the sprinkler is guided by the position of the hose.

Electric timers can be used for watering in the gardener's absence.