Portable sprinklers

[F, Calla & Luca]

Any recommendations for portable sprinklers that actually do what they are supposed to. Last year I watered once in May. Now it is really dry here. I bought a Melnor oscillating sprinkler after my old Gardena bit the dust after years of use. This new sprinkler gets stuck all the time and is , IMHO, a piece of junk. I just looked up how they work on the very informative site"how Stuff Works", which I highly recommend. Any suggestions?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Sorry, can't help in the sprinkler department. We have automatic sprinklers on timers and also a drip system through out the property. Hope someone can help you! I just have to remember to water my potted plants and that is almost more than I can handle!!!! ha ha

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks, I can always rely on you for a quick reply. I've thought about sprinklers just for the front lawn and flowerbeds but that's still a big project since things are spread out. Also, my water is literally hard as a rock : ) and I think the sprinklers would get full of lime deposits and stop working.You could get your potted plants connected to the drip system if you leave them in one place.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I, too, have everything on sprinklers. We have HARD water and occasionally the heads need to be cleaned out with a screwdriver or less frequently changed. Before my sprinklers my favorite sprinkler was a real cheap one which lasted a long time. They still sell it at Home Depot as I just bought one for my daughter. This sprinkler is a small plastic square ( maybe rectangle) about 8-10" on a side. The center piece turns to different sprinkler patterns: square, a long thin rectangle, and a wider shorter rectangle, half circle, and a couple more. It is easy to use, does not break easily ( probably is not doodle chew proof though). It is less than $10.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks. Still researching and using the hose by hand for now.

[F, Calla & Luca]

A brief update. I bought a GardenSmith sprinkler with a timer on line for $34. After 2 days it's still working: ) And even better news, we may get some rain this weekend.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Do Calla and Luca get to run through the sprinklers? I hear it has been amazingly hot back there!!

[F, Calla & Luca]

When the sprinkler is inside the fence they do. I have to get some pictures of them trying to catch the water. Yes, the heat was awful but tonight is a little better. The rain will be great because our vegetation is not really well equipped for the most part for drought, especially when things were encouraged to grow rampantly by all the rain we had before. The story of life, too much or too little--Goldilocks knew how hard it was to get it just right.

[F, Calla & Luca]

After fooling around with another cheapish sprinkler I bought a new Gardena sprinkler and it makes all the difference in the world. It even seems to encourage rain, we had a mini deluge yesterday.