There are three types of sprinkler heads to meet the needs of most landscaped areas: spray heads, rotors, and bubblers. To avoid over- or underwatering, use the same type of head throughout a circuit. Use sprinklers with a shorter spray radius in smaller areas and heads with a longer spray radius in larger areas.

Spray heads
These are ideal for small lawns, shrubs, and oddly shaped beds because their fixed spray radius (usually between 5 and 15 feet) allows for targeted watering. A spray head has two main parts: the body and the nozzle. For placement near shrubs, the head sits on top of a fixed riser; for high-traffic areas where the riser could be broken off, a pop-up head sits flush with the soil until the water comes on, rises during watering, and then retracts when the cycle is finished. Nozzles are attached to the body of the spray head, above the filter, and come in several patterns to direct spray in quarter, half, or full circles.

Spray heads throw more water in less time than do rotors, and they need lower water pressure—about 20 or 30 psi (pounds per square inch) compared to between 30 and 70 psi for rotors. High water pressure causes spray heads to mist, so you may have to install heads with built-in flow adjustment or use pressure reducers to keep them efficient.

Rotors
For large landscaped areas, rotors are the best option. They use higher water pressure to shoot streams of water much further than spray heads can—up to 50 feet. Newer gear-driven rotors reduce the noise standard ones make, and closed cases seal out debris to make maintenance needs less frequent. Like spray heads, rotors can sit on fixed risers near shrubbery or pop up during use; they also come with different nozzles for different spray patterns.

Rotors are an especially good option for clay soil since they deliver water more slowly than do spray heads, thereby allowing for better drainage. While slower water delivery means you may have to run rotors longer than spray heads, their long reach means you’ll need fewer of them.

Bubblers
Ideal for small shrubs, trees, and planters, bubblers direct spray downward in areas up to 5 feet, making them ideal where you want to water roots without getting flowers or foliage wet.

Photos copyright Sunset Publishing Corporation