It’s no secret that the country comes alive in the summertime. While British citizens are thought to be perfectly contented in the doom and gloom of perennial rain, we tend to fare much better in glorious golden sunshine much like the rest of the global population.
Many of us can recall childhoods spent in the garden running through sprinklers to stay cool during heatwaves. Back then, the small shared green space behind a ground-floor flat felt as expansive as the magical realm of Narnia. We were archaeologists and explorers; giant adventurers who greeted families of ladybirds and woodlice while on our travels.
The small pop-up sprinkler which kept our patch of grass looking green held the force of a thousand ancient waterfalls and was the temperature of the Arctic ocean. When pushed by a sibling into the fearsome spray of live sprinkler, one felt a betrayal akin to the separation of Frankenstein and his Monster on two slabs of Arctic ice. Frozen, confused and sad, but all was somehow forgotten once Mum brought out a Choc Ice.
If this summer is your first with a large garden space, congratulations are in order – you’re certainly in for a good one. But with great power comes great responsibility. You cannot possibly think of hosting garden soirées with tired, brown grass and failing blooms. And, if you’re set to have children running around, you couldn't possibly subject their poor toes to sad, scratchy grass.
How often should you use a sprinkler to keep grass and flowers healthy during the summer?
According to The Grass People, the trick is to “water well but not too often”. They suggest giving your lawn a proper soak once a week, which means you should see some small puddles on the surface of your grass or soil.
An established lawn can be watered two to three times a week at the maximum, while new lawns should be watered deeply once a day, well before the summer comes out in full force (when normal temperatures range between 8-10 degrees). Another brilliant top tip from the experts is to avoid consistent light sprinklings of water, as this causes your grass to grow shallow roots and invites weeds to join the party.
If there happens to be a hose ban this year, save your watering periods for the evening or early morning, should the little ones be cooperative. Not only does allowing the sun to dry the grass out help to prevent disease during normal summer temperatures, but sprinkler water in blazing conditions will simply evaporate before it can do any good.
Without further ado, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best sprinklers for large lawns. Whether you’re in the market to care for fresh grass and precious annual blooms or are looking for a form of cooling entertainment for the kiddos, we’ve got you covered.
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Kärcher Premium Oscillating Sprinkler
When it comes to premium tools which make caring for your home easier, no brand does it quite like Kärcher. This unique oscillating sprinkler comes with an array of bells and whistles which have been designed to keep your garden green all summer long. The OS 5.320 SV is equipped with sprinkler width regulation and is brilliant for medium to large spaces, with a maximum watering area of 320 m².
Featuring an integrated splash guard, you can position your sprinkler perfectly without getting soaking wet in the process. Easy to connect to garden hoses thanks to the click system, this fantastic sprinkler also has detachable spikes which dig into the ground to prevent slipping and sliding.
Buy now £37.26, Amazon
Grüntek Oscillating Sprinkler
Designed to water lawns ranging up to 462m² depending on the water pressure in operation, this oscillating bar sprinkler has twenty easily adjustable nozzles which can be regularly cleaned with the provided plug. Suitable for all garden hose types and irrigation systems. The standard blast width of this sprinkler when placed directly in front of your desired flower bed is between 8-19m.
Control the width of the spray with the three orange buttons on either side of the bar and slide the tab on the right side of the sprinkler for supreme range control.
Buy now £24.88, Amazon
Signature Garden Sprinkler System
Bigger gardens require more powerful sprinklers, but more powerful sprinklers can sometimes topple over. The Signature Garden Sprinkler System is equipped with metal weights for enhanced stability no matter the weather. It has 12 built-in spray nozzles which have up to 10 metres of blast width. With 80 PSI water pressure and a grand total of 340m² of coverage, all you have to do is click and connect the sprinkler to your hose system for a luscious green garden all summer long.
What makes this spinning sprinkler a ‘system’, we hear you ask? Thanks to the double connection points, you can link multiple sprinklers together with additional garden hoses to create your own DIY irrigation system.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Verve Oscillating Fan Sprinkler
Always forgetting to turn your sprinkler on and off? The oscillating Verve sprinkler incorporates a handy built-in 0-120 minute timer to alleviate all your water wastage concerns. Ideal for both grass and large flower beds, it’s realised in a foldable design for easy storage.
Fear not, a nozzle cleaner and water inlet filter are included in your purchase. Plus, it’s compatible with all branded hose connectors and accessories. It has a total coverage of 188m² when the pressure is set to three bars and has both flow and width control adjustors.
Buy now £22.00, B&Q
Teamson Kids Large Inflatable Rainbow Water Sprinkler, Water Play Fun for Garden
While not exactly a gardener’s choice sprinkler, this extra-large inflatable rainbow is sure to delight the youngsters this summer while keeping varying patches of water freshly hydrated. Just be sure to move the inflatable around every so often if you’d actually like to benefit from the playful sprinkler system. The rainbow wonder also comes with a repair kit in case of any accidents.
Buy now £49.99, B&Q
Draper Adjustable Impulse Sprinkler 09180
Equipped with a fully adjustable spray distance of up to 314m², the Draper Adjustable Impulse Sprinkler is a small but mighty beast. Placed atop a sturdy ground spike to ensure immovability, it makes for a discrete and functional addition to your gardening arsenal.
Buy now £15.54, B&Q
Cellfast 4-functional Garden Hand Sprinkler Gun with Graduated Water Flow Regulation
For those who prefer full control over the watering of grass and plants yet still have a large area to cover, Cellfast’s Garden Hand Sprinkler Gun will make you feel like you’ve got the force of a thousand oceans in your hands. Slight hyperbole aside, you get the picture. The high-quality, ergonomically designed sprinkler has four different functions, the most effective of which provides a rain shower-esque flow of water.
Buy now £34.99, B&Q
Hozelock Rectangular Sprinkler
This sprinkler has a bar design that allows you to adjust the length of the sprays individually to control which areas of your garden are watered. Allowing for an even coverage due to the water-powered motor and the 15 jets, it also oscillates. Quiet and efficient, you can water the garden without disturbing your neighbours and cover up to 180m².
Buy now £25.50, Argos
Gardena 08127-20 Oscillating Sprinkler ZoomMaxx
This oscillating sprinkler adjusts to the size of the space you need to water with the ability to tailor it thanks to a sliding level. Just select the sprinkling width to a range of about 8/10m side-to-side. Allowing for great and even coverage, there is also an integrated mesh filter to protect the mechanisms from dust or dirt, which can be easily removed for cleaning. This sprinkler is ideal for small gardens but could well in medium-sized gardens as well covering up to 216m².
Buy now £25.77, Amazon
