6 Best Sprinkler for Small Lawn – Reviews & Guide

Watering a small yard can be tricky. For example, it may be challenging for some people to choose an oscillating sprinkler. And it may be tough to find one that suits their buying budget without blowing past their spending needs.

In this guide, we’ll help you find the best sprinkler for small lawn types like yours. We’ll create an in-depth examination of each of these sprinklers. And we’ll then provide you with answers to some of your most asked questions. Doing so will help ensure satisfaction.

Our Top 3 Best Sprinkler For Small Lawn

1. Best Choice: Nelson Eight-Pattern Spray Stationary Sprinkler
2. Runner Up: Gardena 1951 Small Area Garden Spray Sprinkler
3. Best Budget Buy: Rain Bird 1812AP 12″ Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler

6 Best Sprinkler For Small Lawn Reviewed

#1. Nelson Eight-Pattern Spray Stationary Sprinkler

We like this sprinkler for small lawns because it provides eight watering patterns. This design makes it excellent option for broad areas and narrow ones spots. With it, you can get comprehensive coverage for your watering. And you can handle the unique patterns and shapes you may notice throughout your lawn when you water.

We also liked how easy it was to anchor this sprinkler to your lawn. It didn’t need any problematic spikes or lawn-damaging steps. Instead, you place the traveling sprinkler on your property and put down a few weights. These keep it in place without damaging your lawn. It also stops any complications with its operation.

Pros:

• Effortless design is easy to use
• Durable plastic design resists rust
• Patterns may be fun for summer play

Cons:

• Cannot adjust for height
• Plastic may seem cheap to some buyers

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#2. Gardena 1951 Small Area Garden Spray Sprinkler

This rotary sprinkler utilizes a simple spike to provide anchorage in your lawn. Though this spike is invasive, it is as gentle as possible. We found that this option did minor damage to the soil and worked very well as a garden sprinkler. It was great for small and strangely-shaped lawns.

This unit also pairs well with low-pressure homes for easy watering. It utilizes a 360-degree sprinkler pattern to cover up to 36-feet in diameter. This range allows a pretty solid and reliable range of watering.

Pros:

• Strong warranty protects your investment
• Produces many sprinkler patterns
• Does not damage a lawn

Cons:

• Water spray may be less powerful
• Plastic body may feel light to some users

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#3. Rain Bird 1812AP 12″ Professional Pop-Up Sprinkler

We found this budget option when researching metal sprinklers. Surprisingly, it is cheaper than some plastic types. We also noticed that it was one of the strongest options on the market. Our tests showed it provides an easy-to-position design. This change creates the full coverage area that we desire in the best sprinklers. These factors helped make it the best budget option on our list.

We love that this inexpensive impact sprinkler has an easy-to-adjust range. It varies from 0-360 degrees, allowing you to spray a pretty broad range of areas. It also has an 8-15 foot spray distance, creating a pretty wide watering space.

Pros:

• Conserves water
• Covers most odd-shaped lawns
• Pops up to cover sloped areas and plants

Cons:

• Requires careful observation to avoid rusting
• Could clog without careful cleaning

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#4. Gilmour Rectangular Pattern Spot Sprinkler

Those with a rectangular lawn will find this sprinkler suits their needs better. This simple model will anchor in your property with minimal difficulty. And it attaches to most water sources for consistent and powerful water distribution. Setup takes place almost immediately. In this way, you should get the kind of low water pressure coverage needed.

We liked this sprinkler’s robust metal design. Our tests found it experienced minimal rust. Its flat and simple design made it more resistant to wind problems. These issues would have affected other brass impact sprinkler systems. We found they aren’t an issue here

Pros:

• Perfect for rectangular lawns
• Easy to adjust water pressure
• Strong water reach

Cons:

• Not great for oddly-shaped yards
• Minimal controls may be frustrating

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#5. Gilmour Five Pattern Turret Sprinkler

We found the last sprinkler seemed limit in its spray pattern types. Yet, this Gilmour model should do the trick for you. It has five different patterns. These include rectangular shapes and stranger designs. This model does well with high-pressure levels but adapts well to lower pressure, too. As a result, this pulsating sprinkler is a good choice.

We also loved that this model came with a small metal screen that went over the nozzle as it feeds water. This screen helps to protect this rotating sprinkler from clogs. We also found it helped other types of problems. And it is also easy to clean without fuss. This provides a surprising range of benefits for a simple tractor sprinkler model.

Pros:

• Provides a very consistent water level
• Stays clean with minimal issue
• Rust-resistant material is quite strong

Cons:

• Somewhat pricier than other options
• Lighter design may make it prone to flipping

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#6. Dramm 9-Pattern Premium Turret  Sprinkler

In some ways, this may be the best option for homeowners with a small or a large lawn. We love its nine-pattern design. These patterns include square, oblong, circular, and semi-circular patterns. Our tests found the solid metal base helped to keep it balanced. Yet, a few problems brought it down on our list. These include a heavier weight that may make moving it across a lawn a bit more challenging.

We also found this oscillating lawn sprinkler was hard to find in some areas. Some shops didn’t stock it at all. W still think it is an excellent option for those who can afford it. It is especially good for its coverage level, when used as a fixed sprinkler or an orbit sprinkler.

Pros:

• Covers more area than most sprinkler systems
• Suitable for most lawn types
• Strong metal base for minimal risk of flipping

Cons:

• Likely more expensive than other options
• May be hard for some people to adjust

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Guide To Buying Sprinkler for Small Lawn

Before you buy any of these sprinklers, it is a good idea to look at a few elements that dictate your sale. Doing so will lower your risk of making a bad buying choice. This process includes five steps that narrow down your buying needs.

Step 1: Consider Your Lawn Size

The size of your lawn will dictate what lawn sprinkler types you buy. We suggest that you aim for a sprinkler that covers at least 4,200 square feet. A vast majority of small lawns will enjoy this type of sprinkler. That said, you may want one with a smaller coverage area.

For instance, you may find a Gardena Zoommaxx oscillating sprinkler that covers 1,600 square feet. For some homeowners, it may be all that you need. These sprinklers usually provide excellent coverage in cities with small yards. They work by allowing homeowners to adjust the water flow. You can also buy inexpensive products that enhance their total water coverage.

Step 2: Don’t Ignore Your Lawn Shape

Here’s a step that we find many people just forget to do for some reason. Your lawn shape is crucial to your watering needs, as you may have a simple lawn shape that requires only one bubbler with adjusted spray angle types. However, you may also have odd extra elements to your yard that make it a little more difficult to water.

For instance, a curved lawn has a somewhat unique challenge that requires proper sprinkler positioning with a sprinkler controller to overcome. You also need to make sure that you pay attention to the shape of the lawn watering patterns available from your sprinklers.

Step 3: Plan Around Natural or Artificial Obstructions

Most lawns will possess a handful of different obstructions that may get in the way of your watering. These can include natural elements like trees or large rocks and include sheds, buildings, and other artificial features you have installed.

In some cases, you may need to use more than one sprinkler, even if the model you purchased is good enough to cover your whole lawn. If possible, try to remove any natural or artificial obstructions to improve your watering. Only take this step if these obstructions aren’t necessary for lawn health.

Step 4: Select the Best Gallon-Per-Hour Rate

Every sprinkler and sprinkler hose is rated at a certain gallon-per-hour (GPH) rate. Your lawn will have specific watering needs based on its species, your soil type, and many other factors. You must pay attention to these elements and balance them with your unique needs as a homeowner.

For instance, you’ll probably do well with a rate between 300-400 GPH, as this provides a comprehensive coverage level that does well for most lawns. However, some drought-resistant grass types may do well with less water.

Step 5: Pick a Nozzle Needle

All sprinklers come with a nozzle needle that helps to keep your sprinkler running smoothly. These tools help to break apart clogs throughout your system and should be carefully chosen based on your sprinkler type. Typically, a nozzle needle will vary depending on a handful of different factors.

For instance, a large nozzle needle is necessary for extensive lawns, though a small one is good enough for more compact yards. Critically, you also need to make sure your nozzle needle matches the sprinkler model that you use, including pairing it up based on the manufacturer and their design documents.

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FAQ

What material design is best for most sprinklers?

We usually tell our readers to choose a simple sprinkler design that uses a minimal amount of materials. One rust-resistant or rust-proof material is usually a good choice, such as plastic or even aluminum. Steel sprinklers are pretty strong but may be prone to rust.

How are small sprinkler systems hooked up to water supplies?

These days, most sprinkler systems are easy to adjust and attach to most homes’ water supplies. Usually, they can be connected directly to a garden hose to provide the necessary water flow from the lawn sprinkler head. However, the exact connection method will vary depending on the unit.

How can users control water pressure on an impulse sprinkler?

When you connect your water sprinkler to your rotary nozzle or spray nozzle connector, you can adjust the pressure right at the connection point near the spray head to change your watering pattern. Turn the spigot to the left to boost your water flow, and turn it to the right to decrease the pressure. You’ll probably get about 50 PSI.

Is a professional irrigation system necessary?

Most small lawns don’t need a professional sprinkler system because a single unit is usually more than enough. You’ll likely find that a hose attached to one or two Melnor oscillating sprinkler models scattered throughout your lawn provides more than enough water.

When should a lawn be watered?

It is best to turn on a Nelson sprinkler before 10 in the morning to get the best results. The water spread is easier to handle during this time, as the weather is cooler and there’s less wind to affect its reach. Try to avoid watering at night because the water damage your lawn.

Our Verdict

We found the best sprinkler for small lawn is by far the Nelson Eight-Pattern Spray Stationary Sprinkler. However, the best choice for you will vary depending on your needs as a buyer and a homeowner. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today if you find that you need more information.