The Best Oscillating Sprinkler For Proper Garden Watering

Watering your garden should never be put on the sidelines because it’s a very important thing to consider. This is where the health of your plants relies on, as well as the feel and look of your house. But how can you do that?

Well, the answer to that is simple, and that is by using the best oscillating sprinkler. That’s what we’re going to talk about in this article.

Have fun reading, mate.

What is an oscillating sprinkler?

Oscillating sprinklers are one of the most popular types of garden sprinklers being sold in the market. What this does is that the shape of the water that is sprayed out looks like a fan. And a fan swings back and force.

This is how it gets its name – oscillating. Its metal arm oscillates or moves back and forth. This is done so that it can cover a rectangular area that is around 20 x 30 feet.

The benefits of using an oscillating sprinkler

1. Perfect for large lawns

The number one reason why oscillating sprinklers are popular is that they’re perfect for large lawns. Take note, there are a lot of lawns that are large-sized, which is why most people prefer this over other types. It can easily cover huge areas because of its back-and-forth swinging motion.

This type of motion makes it easily cover all of the areas, along with the garden’s edges and surrounding areas.

But be careful because these sprinklers can supply your plants with too much water; that’s why you should make sure that it won’t flood the area.

2. Water conservation

Another reason why oscillating sprinklers are widely used is that they are pretty good at conserving water.

You can set them up to water your garden throughout the entirety of the night. This is the time when the temperature is at its lowest peak.

And when the temperature is cold, water can easily be absorbed by the plants because it doesn’t get dried up easily by the sun. When this happens, you use less water, and your water bill goes down.

3. Customizable

These oscillating sprinklers are also pretty good when it comes to customizability.

These give you the freedom to customize your watering strategy depending on the size of your lawn. This is very important, especially if you want to target only a specific portion of your garden.

There are also a lot of oscillating sprinklers that have a lot of advanced features that make it easier for you to use.

4. Adds home value

Another cool thing about these oscillating sprinklers is that they add value to your home. This is because it shows that you care for your garden, lawn, and entire home.

If you’re going to sell your house for some reason, you’ll find it easier to sell it because the buyer can see that you’re giving it the care it deserves.

These oscillating sprinklers are also pretty good when it comes to watering consistency. And it also frees up a lot of your time too!

Top 6 best oscillating sprinklers

#1. Melnor 65003-AMZ XT MiniMax Turbo – Best overall

This oscillating sprinkler from Melnor is made up of two pieces: the sprinkler head and the base, which are not hard to assemble together.

Though only made from plastic, the base is still fairly sturdy. We have found that during normal operation, it doesn’t move too much that you can notice.

The Melnor 65003-AMZ XT MiniMax Turbo is highly adjustable. You can change the length and the width of the water pattern to point water precisely to where it’s needed.

And despite its strange look, it’s not hard to use at all.

On this four-way adjustment mechanism, you will find large control tabs and clear markings indicating how to use them. Once you are familiar with the 65003-AMZ XT MiniMax Turbo, you can adjust the range of water from 5 to 25 feet to cover up to 4000 square feet.

However, its durability is still in question since most of it is made from just plastic. And as Melnor doesn’t provide any user manual, you may find it hard to install it the first time.

#2. Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 – The alternate pick

We choose the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 as a top pick since it has a sweet spot between features and price.

Like any other top-notch model, this sprinkler from Aqua Joe provides customizable water patterns with a maximum range of 3600 square feet.

Though not as large as the Melnor 65003-AMZ, this is still enough to cover most lawns and gardens.

You can change every aspect of the water sprays – from the width and length to pressure – to make it fit the size of your garden the best. The connections of the Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 are also leak-resistant, so you don’t need to worry much about water leaking.

But the most special feature of this Aqua Joe sprinkler is its clog-resistant nozzles.

And even when they get dirty, you can use the built-in clean-out tool to get rid of all the dirt and debris so the sprinkler can deliver reliable, constant performance.

Unlike most sprinklers on the market, Aqua Joe SJI-OMS16 has a metal base. Though many customers may find it bulky and heavy, it does provide extra stability to the sprinkler. Other parts, however, are still made from plastic.

#3. Gardena 1975 Aquazooms – Best for saving water

The Gardena 1975 Aquazooms is a sprinkler that is well-liked by both experienced and novice gardeners. It is a model that can cover an area of 3900 square feet while saving a lot of water compared to other products.

This sprinkler from Gardena has a rectangular water spray design, which works well with both rectangular and square lawns or gardens.

Its adjustability is also comparable to top-notch models, providing four levers to control its adjustments. You can make it go left, right, forward, and back. But keep in mind that you may get wet while adjusting it to the right.

Since the Gardena 1975 Aquazooms have no built-in timer and the sprinklers move pretty fast, you must be careful and watch their movement closely.

Gardena offers a 12-month labor and parts warranty.

In case the 1975 Aquazooms stops working or has a faulty part, Gardena will replace or repair it for free. When you have bought your model for more than 12 months, they still provide a repair service.

You can get an estimate for labor and parts to repair your sprinkler without spending a penny.

However, many customers are not happy with the plastic parts, given their price, which is higher than most products in the same market segment.

#4. Dramm Nozzle Jets 15004 – Toughest construction

These colorful and cute sprinklers from Dramm are an excellent choice for either children’s playgrounds or lawn care.

Unlike previous products, Dramm uses die-cast brass and zinc to make the frame, which also holds a steel control bar. Even the hose connector is made from heavy-duty rubber and then coated with aluminium.

As a result, you have a durable construction that can last longer than other plastic sprinklers. This heavy build also ensures great stability: it will stay firmly where you put it, even at a high flow rate.

Its coverage area is 3000 square feet – not the largest, but still enough for most lawns and gardens.

You can adjust its spray distance and water pattern with the control tab and dial. This is why it’s one of the top choices for rectangular spaces, whether you want to take care of your lawn or let your kids have fun with water.

Depending on the area you need it to cover, the Dramm Green 15004 needs pressure from 30 to 90 PSI. A lower value of pressure means the machine produces less heat when running.

This sprinkler is available in multiple colors to make it even more kid-friendly: from berry colors yellow, green, blue, orange, and red.

But while most of its components are made from metal, the Dramm Green 15004 has a plastic oscillating mechanism. This makes it prone to any kind of rough handling.

#5. 711TEK Garden Sprinkler – The most interesting model

Although not a popular name in the lawn and garden market, the sprinkler from 711TEK is still a solid product if you don’t mind trying a new brand.

The 711TEK sprinkler is made from thick ABS plastic, with the sides being encapsulated with thermoplastic rubber.

On top of that, the 711TEK has another interesting feature – the counterweight module. Though it makes the sprinkler heavy and bulky, you don’t need to worry anymore about it flipping while working.

The oscillating mechanism is an automatic 360-degree rotating spray with 12 spray nozzles and 3 rotating arms. They work together to help deliver power water spray anywhere you need it in your garden. The water distance is from 26 to 32.8 feet, meaning a coverage area of 3600 square feet.

But the most distinctive feature is probably its ability to connect multiple 711TEK sprinklers in a chain with built-in inlets. This enables you to cover an even larger area. You can irrigate your garden, lawn, tall plants, farmland, and trees or prepare a playground for your kids in the summer.

We doubt that you can see this design in any other sprinkler on the market. But you must pay with some limitations to get those interesting features. 711TEK doesn’t include any hose in the box, and you can’t also change the water pattern with this sprinkler.

#6. Brizer Oscillating Sprinkler – Best for simple use

The Brizer sprinkler is just straightforward to install.

All you need to do is put it in your garden or lawn, adjust its direction and position, attach the hose, and then open the facet. Now it’s ready to water your garden with a coverage area of up to 3000 square feet.

That coverage is made possible with 15 nozzles.

You can adjust them easily with a dial to control the spray area: full or narrow width, right or left. This allows you to have a gentle spray to take care of your delicate plants or reseed your garden.

The Brizer oscillating sprinkler doesn’t get dirty often since the sieve can filter dirt and debris out of the water. And you can use the included nozzle cleaner to clean clogged nozzles.

The warranty policy is quite good, considering the position of Brizer in the market. There is a 30-day period where you can get a full, no-questions-asked refund if you are not satisfied with it.

Although this is an all-around great sprinkler, there is room for improvement in its materials. You will find no brass parts; instead, they are all made from plastic, even the base.

On top of that, Brizer doesn’t provide any cleaning tools in the box.

Things to consider when choosing an oscillating sprinkler

1. Flow rate

The first thing you must consider when choosing an oscillating sprinkler is its flow rate. The flow rate is the one that tells you how much water is flowing out from it per second or per minute.

Know the rate of water that flows from it so that you’ll avoid your plants drowning.

Also, see to it that the main feed pipe will be bigger than the hosepipe so that the water can easily flow through it.

2. Efficiency

Make sure that the area your sprinkler will be targeting is within reach so that you don’t have to set the pressure to a higher-than-normal level. Also, make sure that it doesn’t use too much water or power.

Remember that when it comes to watering your plants, it’s not the strength of the water distribution that counts, but it’s the placement of the supply. This means you need to make sure that you put it in a strategic location.

In doing this, the sprinkler must fit in the area you wish to put it.

3. Supply pressure

Then make sure that your water supply can handle the needed pressure of the oscillating sprinkler. If it can’t, then your sprinkler’s features would be useless.

This is why before buying one, make sure that your water source is working properly. And that it should be capable of driving enough water supply to feed your garden.

4. Brand

Then there’s the brand consideration. The brand of the oscillating sprinkler plays a major role because this is where the quality of the product depends.

It’s recommended that you choose a sprinkler that is made by a reputable company. If you’re not sure if it’s reputable or not, you can check it out on the internet and see if the testimonials of people are positive or not.

There are a lot of product reviews you can search on the Internet.

5. Price

You also must consider the price.

But this doesn’t mean that you’re going to choose the cheapest one because cheap products are usually made of low quality. Also, don’t be fooled into buying the expensive ones. It’s because not all expensive products are made of high-quality materials. 

Settle for the medium-priced sprinklers so that you can save money without sacrificing quality and price.

Conclusion

The oscillating sprinklers above are all the best oscillating sprinklers that can help take care of your lawns and gardens.

But if we need to pick one model to bring home, that’d be the Melnor 65003-AMZ MiniMax Turbo.

Though having a relatively compact size, this sprinkler can provide water spray for a massive area. And Melnor has made this possible without sacrificing its precision.

In fact, it provides the best adjustability among the products we have reviewed, allowing you to water any corner of your garden.