If you are one of the 7 out of 10 English people who maintain their garden, you will probably need an automatic sprinkler. Programmable, it is more efficient than a manual watering can, less tiring and usable all year round, even when you are not there. Among the many models (programmers, solenoid valves, oscillating, rotating, etc.) and systems (drip, in-ground, above-ground, etc.) available on the market, it's hard to find your way around. Follow our guide.
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Our selection
"The characteristics of this programmer will not fail to seduce you. In addition to being efficient, it offers a system of adjustment that adapts easily…"
"The Johgee automatic watering controller has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its competitors. For simple and economical irrigation of your garden, this is…"
"Give each of your plants all the water they need. Potted plants, flower boxes, lawns and hedges can be watered in turn according to their…"
"Robust, efficient and very simple, the Orbit 94162 Buddy is an automatic sprinkler that will get your attention. You program it in less than 5…"
The characteristics of this programmer will not fail to seduce you. In addition to being efficient, it offers a system of adjustment that adapts easily to your needs and desires.
33,83 £ on AmazonAs its name suggests, this Gardena watering programmer is suitable for Flex watering systems. It ensures fast and automatic watering of both balconies and terraces. Very easy to use, the Gardena Flex 1890-20 can be opened manually and the quality of manufacture suggests a consequent life span of 5 to 8 years. Compared to the excellent Gardena C14e, the programming has been simplified. However, this does not affect the efficiency of the device. In addition, you can set the watering time down to the second. And the countdown function when opening manually helps you to remember to close again. It's a pity that at this price the ring for reducing the diameter of the upper connection is not included.
The Johgee automatic watering controller has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its competitors. For simple and economical irrigation of your garden, this is undoubtedly the model you need.
23,96 £ on AmazonWith the Johgee, you don't even need to consult the manual to program it. First, you need to set the time. Then program the time of the water opening and its duration. The batteries supplied last between 6 months and 1 year. You can choose the delay mode for rainy days, or the manual mode for a temporary watering in dry periods. This equipment is great for controlling the automatic watering of a garden or a vegetable garden. The programming is done in one step. Simply turn the wheel to choose from 17 predefined combinations of duration and frequency of use. The watering duration can vary from 1 second to 300 minutes and the frequency from 1 hour to 15 days.
Give each of your plants all the water they need. Potted plants, flower boxes, lawns and hedges can be watered in turn according to their specific needs with this Gardena device.
53,18 £ on AmazonThis Gardena model is suitable for owners of planting areas that require different water supplies when the pressure is low and cannot supply all networks simultaneously. With this device, you can water 2 to 6 independent networks in a fully automatic way and depending on the settings made, the specific water needs of your plants will be treated on a case by case basis. The brand delivers its product with five tap connections and three plugs. Lightweight (1.5 kg) and space-saving (L x W x H: 17.1 x 24.1 x 16.5 cm), this automatic selector has a 26.5 mm (G Ÿ) external thread and can be mounted on the floor or wall to save space. For such a potential, we recommend this product for a simplified maintenance of your garden.
Robust, efficient and very simple, the Orbit 94162 Buddy is an automatic sprinkler that will get your attention. You program it in less than 5 minutes according to your needs and it will do the rest.
30,02 £ on AmazonWhen you use the Orbit 94162 Buddy Irrigation Controller, you'll wish you'd bought it sooner. It's a quality piece of equipment with a sturdy plastic shell. The finish is on par with top of the line programmers. The Orbit 94162 Buddy stands out from its competitors by its incredible simplicity. With the help of the accompanying French manual, it takes less than 5 minutes to set up. You can program the watering in the morning (AM) or in the afternoon (PM). The watering duration varies from 1 to 240 minutes, with periods of 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours or even 7 days. This is very convenient if you have to be away for a whole week.
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The best automatic sprinkler in 2021
The best entry-level automatic sprinkler
The best high-end automatic sprinkler
The simplest automatic sprinkler
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
9/10 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
7/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Gardena Flex 1890-20
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Johgee automatic watering programmer
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Gardena automatic selector
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Orbit 94162 Buddy
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The characteristics of this programmer will not fail to seduce you. In addition to being efficient, it offers a system of adjustment that adapts easily to your needs and desires.
|
The Johgee automatic watering controller has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its competitors. For simple and economical irrigation of your garden, this is undoubtedly the model you need.
|
Give each of your plants all the water they need. Potted plants, flower boxes, lawns and hedges can be watered in turn according to their specific needs with this Gardena device.
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Robust, efficient and very simple, the Orbit 94162 Buddy is an automatic sprinkler that will get your attention. You program it in less than 5 minutes according to your needs and it will do the rest.
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Pressure (min/max)
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0.5 bar/12 bar
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2.5 bar/ 5 bar
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1 bar/6 bar
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3/4
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Compatible faucet
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20/27 and 26/34
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1/2 and 3/4
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3/4
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From 1 to 4 hours
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Irrigation duration
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From 1 second to 99 minutes
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Between 1 sec and 59 sec / 1 min and 300 min
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1 minute to 4 hours
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6 hours, 12 hours or from 1 to 7 days
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Frequency of watering
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From 4 to 72 hours
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Between 1 hr and 15 days
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1 to 7 days
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AA batteries
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Feeding
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9 V alkaline battery
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AA batteries
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9 V alkaline battery
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If your soil is sandy, water will drain quickly into the soil. If it is silty. It has a good water retention capacity. Finally, with a clay soil, the water flows slowly and stays in the upper layers for a long time. To determine the nature of your soil, mix a small lump of moist soil with a little water and make a ball from this mixture. If the ball crumbles, your soil is sandy, if the ball takes shape but the soil feels powdery, your soil is loamy. Finally, if the ball is both pliable and firm, your soil is clay.
In descending order, know that young, freshly planted trees need a lot of water, followed by the vegetable garden, hedges, shrubs, flowering plants and finally the lawn.
Too much pressure could damage the automatic watering system while low pressure handicaps its proper functioning. To measure the pressure of your water inlets, get a pressure gauge. A normal pressure is between 2 and 3 bars.
As
the pipes do not exceed 100 meters, the size of your garden is a determining criterion in the choice of one or more underground watering systems
.
Be aware that not all types of vegetation can be watered by all types of automatic sprinklers. Cannon sprinklers, for example, are not suitable for watering flowerbeds because of the risk of damaging them due to the powerful jet of the sprinkler.
Rotary sprinklers
This automatic watering system is placed on the ground or on a tripod. It can water up to 300m2 of surface, requires a minimum pressure of 1.5 bars for its installation and consists of several arms that turn on themselves thanks to the water pressure.
The oscillating sprinklers
Oscillating sprinklers are installed on a tripod or on the ground for watering a lawn or vegetable garden. They require 2 bars of pressure and can cover areas of up to 700m2.
The cannon sprinklers
Requiring a pressure of 3 bars to operate, cannon sprinklers propel water via a jerky jet to ensure the watering of very large areas extending up to 700m2 with a watering angle that can vary between 25 to 360 °. They are best for lawns and shrubs.
Before installing a drip system, check the lime content of your water because it can clog and put your drippers out of action for good.
Automatic sprinklers come in several distinct types: surface sprinklers, rotating sprinklers, drip sprinklers and in-ground sprinklers.
Above-ground sprinklers are rotating or localized watering devices with a network of pipes that are laid on the ground and can be moved according to the owner's needs.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Who is it for?
This type of sprinkler is particularly suitable for small areas.
These are
sprinklers equipped with two or three horizontal arms that rotate under water pressure and operate with simple connections to a water supply and a programmer. As for installation, some models are to be placed on the ground while others are to be raised by a tripod. As for their operation, simple connections to a water supply and a timer are enough to ensure the proper functioning of this type of sprinkler.
Advantages:
Disadvantages :
Who is it for?
This type of sprinkler is mostly used for lawns and some flower beds as well as small areas up to 150 m.
The
drip sprinkler provides precision watering. Water drips slowly down to the roots of plants through pipes with small holes and waters only the plant that needs water.
Advantages:
Disadvantages :
Who is it for?
This type of sprinkler is best suited for watering vegetable gardens, hedges, flower beds, and plants displayed on balconies, terraces, or in urban gardens.
These
sprinklers are the most aesthetically pleasing on the market because of their discretion. However, their installation requires the use of a professional due to the complexity of the process: a preliminary study must be made (measurement of the water pressure, choice of the appropriate type of water outlet, etc...) and trenches must be dug to place the pipe network.
Advantages:
Disadvantages :
Who is it for?
This type of sprinkler is especially suitable for watering large gardens.
Hand-held sprinklers look like a gun or are fairly simple. They work well when watering plants and shrubs. The hand-held sprinkler is connected to the garden hose, then the user selects the type of spray desired (if the sprinkler has such a feature) and directs the spray to the area to be watered. This type of sprinkler is a good choice if you want to water your plants from time to time.
For constant watering of plants and lawns, automatic sprinklers are a good solution. In this category, there are stationary sprinklers placed on the lawn surface and sprinklers partially placed in the ground.
In conclusion, if you enjoy taking care of your plants yourself, choose a hand-held sprinkler. However, the automatic sprinkler is indispensable because it allows for automated watering of your garden when you are not at home.
Save money
Water bills can sometimes be excessive and there can be many reasons for this. With an automatic watering system, you can save water. This type of sprinkler is equipped with a system that allows you to control the water flow and pressure. But an automatic sprinkler can also lighten the workload. If you use a manual sprinkler, you will have to go back and forth between your garden and the faucet. An automatic sprinkler, as the name implies, runs by itself so you don't have to.
Protection and preservation
When it's time to go away for the weekend or vacation, your garden may be abandoned. Neighbors may leave at the same time as you, or they simply don't have time to tend to your lawn. The automatic sprinkler can keep your lawn, flowers and flower beds irrigated while you are away.
Setting
The automatic sprinkler system consists of several hoses with sprinklers. They are directly connected to a water source. It is also equipped with a central programmer that is dedicated to the different settings. It offers the possibility to plan the time and frequency of watering of all types of plants that make up the garden.
Practicality
Each plant has its own watering needs. The automatic garden sprinkler comes in several models. You just have to choose the one that can meet the specific needs of the plants. For example, you can choose a drip irrigation system or a retractable turbine model. The installation is very easy. All you need to do is make a few connections to a water supply. If you have a large garden, a sprinkler is the ideal option to cover the entire area. The drip irrigation, on the other hand, allows you to supply a plot of land or a specific plant.
Aesthetics and value
The installation is discreet. It ensures the aesthetics of the garden throughout the year. Like the installation of a swimming pool, a sprinkler integrated into the garden constitutes added value to a property.
In our opinion, the best brands of automatic sprinklers in 2022 are :
Founded in 1961, Gardena is the leading manufacturer of gardening tools and automated watering systems. Gardena believes that designing and manufacturing reliable, quality gardening tools is not only a matter of years of experience, but also a history of passion: a vision that many gardening enthusiasts around the world particularly validate and appreciate.
The Kärcher brand is best known for marketing cleaning products. However, it also offers interesting watering solutions that are equally innovative and incorporate practical features for gardening enthusiasts.
To stand out from its competitors, the Italian brand Claber has developed different systems for watering your plants, taking into account that each plant has different water needs. What consumers appreciate most about Claber is that its products limit water loss while allowing their plants to benefit from quality watering.
Founded in 1948, Melnor is a brand that specializes in the manufacture of gardening and watering equipment that is a hit in the United States and was launched mainly thanks to its 1st product, which was the rotary watering system. Since then, Melnor has been working on every product line to offer gardening enthusiasts tools that are both practical and easy to use.
This American brand has been around since 1986. The company is among the top manufacturers and suppliers of irrigation products for the residential and commercial markets. It was once the winner of the best premium sprinkler head in the automatic sprinkler category. It is an excellent choice for professional landscaping projects and larger lawns or flower beds.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Water at the right time
When you water, the amount of moisture your plants absorb varies greatly. Watering early in the morning gives crops time to absorb moisture before it evaporates in the heat of the day. The water that reaches the foliage will also have time to dry before nightfall, reducing the risk of slug and fungal disease attacks. So choose the early morning hours, before 10 a.m. instead, to water your plants.
Opt for better water use management
If
you're interested in setting up smart water management to avoid waste, buy a watering controller. Try the smart watering controller with the EPA's "WaterSense" certification, it's the next best thing. WaterSense models control watering based on the weather.
Connected smart sprinklers
Keep
your smart sprinkler within range of your WiFi router. Otherwise, it won't work properly.
Boost your automatic sprinkler results
Soils rich in organic matter absorb moisture more easily. So add to your soil, compost or well-decomposed manure whenever you have the opportunity. In the summer, consider adding thinner layers, and in the winter, opt for thicker layers.
Get rid of weeds
Weeds that grow among your vegetables steal a lot of moisture from them. Stay on the lookout so you don't give these weeds too much free rein. Pull them as soon as they start to bud if possible. Be especially careful with perennial weeds such as field bindweed and elderberry. Pull them up to the root to prevent them from coming back.
An automatic watering system is very easy to install, once you have a timer and a fertilizer dispenser. Once these are installed, all you need to do is screw the timer to a water tap in your garden. Then you need a garden hose that should be connected to the outlet of the programmer.
If your automatic sprinkler stops running, the filter on the bottom may be clogged. If your automatic sprinkler stops running, the filter on the bottom may be clogged, so you need to remove it (using needle-nose pliers) and clean it. In case your automatic sprinkler still won't turn after cleaning it, it needs to be replaced.
Access your check valve and open it fully to adjust your water pressure. You also need to add another accessory like a booster to increase the water flow. In addition, you also need to detect and repair signs of water leaks while the automatic sprinkler is running.
Only theautomatic sprinkler can limit water consumption. Its installation saves not only your energy, but also your time. Moreover, since it has a timer, you can easily set the volume of water to be delivered. You can also program the time of watering in advance.
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