Choosing the best sprinkler for new sod will ensure that the turf produces a healthy deep root system, so you can enjoy having a vibrant green lawn for years to come.
Luckily there are a number of high-quality sprinklers available that are perfect for establishing new sod. These sprinklers have gentle spray patterns, and they can cover large lawns. In the following article, we’ll go over all of them in more detail, and discuss each sprinklers pros and cons.
Best Sprinkler for New Sod
Choosing The Best Sprinkler for New Sod
The two most important things you need to look for in a sprinkler for new sod is coverage area and spray pattern.
Coverage Area
Coverage area is especially important since you want to make sure the sprinkler can reach all of the new sod. If the sprinkler can’t reach all the grass you’ll either have to move the sprinkler, or you’ll have to get multiple sprinklers to ensure the water reaches the whole lawn.
Spray Pattern
The spray pattern of a sprinkler will also play a role in establishing a healthy new lawn. You want to get a sprinkler that has a spray pattern that delivers water evenly to the whole lawn. This will ensure that all the pieces of sod develop equally, and it will help prevent dead spots from forming on the lawn.
Sprinklers for New Sod
Gardena ZoomMaxx Sprinkler on Sled Base with Water Timer
The Gardena ZoomMaxx Sprinkler (Buy Online) is one of the best oscillating lawn sprinklers on the market. This sprinkler has an adjustable coverage area of 76 sq. ft. to 2300 sq. ft.
This sprinkler has a nice set of features that will give you more control of how you water your lawn. You can even adjust the flow rate and spray pattern to match the size and shape of your lawn. It also comes with a timer, so you can set it and forget it without having to worry about overwatering your new sod.
The Gardena ZoomMaxx will work well if you need to establish a small to medium sized lawn. The adjustable coverage area will let you water a smaller area of grass without wasting water. Alternatively, if you need to cover a larger area you can adjust the spray pattern and flow rate to match the size of your lawn.
If you need to cover a larger area than 2300 sq. ft. then this sprinkler will easily slide around on the weighted base. The base is designed to make it easy to pull the hose to move the sprinkler, so you won’t have to walk all over your wet lawn.
You can also get the Melnor 4-Outlet Digital Water Timer (Buy Online) if you want to control four of these sprinklers to water your whole lawn. You’ll get the benefit of the Gardena ZoomMaxx Sprinklers adjustable spray pattern and flow control, and the Melnor Water Timer will handle turning on and off the water without you having to do any work at all.
Features
Coverage Area: 76 sq. ft – 2300 sq. ft.
Type: Oscillating Sprinkler
Adjustable Spray Pattern
Water Timer (1 to 120 minutes)
Weighted Base
Water Flow Control
Positives
You can adjust the coverage area to match the spray pattern to any size lawn
The timer won’t let you over water new sod
The weighted base keeps the sprinkler stable on uneven lawns
Negatives
Some assembly required
Orbit Zinc Impact Sprinkler on Tripod Base
The Orbit Zinc Impact Sprinkler on Tripod Base (Buy Online) is one of the best above ground sprinklers for sod. This sprinkler can be adjusted to cover an area of 1000 sq. ft. to 5000 sq. ft.
This sprinkler is perfect for someone who just laid down a large area of sod. You can adjust this sprinkler to spray up to 40 feet, which means it can easily cover about 1/10 of an acre of flat unobstructed lawn.
The tripod base will also put less stress on your newly planted sod since the legs of the tripod won’t shade the grass and leave dead spots on your lawn. The tripod can also be adjusted from 16 to 37.5 inches to improve the coverage area and reach over any obstructions in and around your lawn.
You can also set this sprinkler to cover a full circle, or you can set the head to cover a partial circle depending on the shape of your lawn. This will allow you to have better control of the spray pattern, and it will help you save water if you have an odd shaped lawn.
Features
Coverage Area: 1000 sq. ft. to 5000 sq. ft.
Type: Impact Sprinkler
Adjustable Spray Distance
Partial or Full Circle
Adjustable Tripod Base
Zinc Head
Positives
This sprinkler can cover a large lawn
The tripod base won’t block the sun from reaching the sod
You can upgrade the sprinkler head
Negatives
Not made for steep slopes or uneven lawns
Nelson Traveling Sprinkler RainTrain
The Nelson Traveling Sprinkler RainTrain (Buy Online) will make it easier to water a large area of freshly planted sod. This traveling sprinkler has an effective coverage area of 13,500 sq. ft.
The Nelson Traveling Sprinkler RainTrain offers the benefits of an in-ground sprinkler for a fraction of the cost. This traveling sprinkler will move across your yard delivering water evenly to all your freshly planted sod.
All you need to do is set up the hose as a guide and the sprinkler will follow the path until it reaches the ramp at the end of the line. Once it reaches the ramp it will stop moving, and then it will trip a switch that turns the water off so you won’t over water the sod.
The great thing about the whole design is that it is powered by water pressure alone. That means you won’t need to provide it with power or program any electronics to water your lawn.
You can also adjust the coverage area simply by twisting the spray arms. You can set the spray arms to cover a 15-foot circle, or you can alter the spray angle to cover up to a 50-foot circle.
The Nelson Traveling Sprinkler RainTrain is a great option for anyone who needs to water a large lawn of newly planted sod. You can save lots of time letting the sprinkler do all the work, and you’ll be able to rest assured that the water is reaching every nook and cranny of your new lawn.
Features
Coverage Area: 13,500 sq. ft.
Type: Traveling Sprinkler
Travels 200 Feet
Coverage Range 15 to 55 feet
Cast Iron
Powder Coated
Positives
This sprinkler is perfect for large irregularly shaped lawns
The auto shutoff switch ensures you won’t over water your sod
Works on gentle slopes and uneven lawns
Negatives
Can get stuck in the mud
Nelson Contour Master Pulsating Sprinkler
The Nelson Contour Master Pulsating Sprinkler (Buy Online) is a large coverage sprinkler with a compact design. This impact style sprinkler produces a nice even circle of water that can reach 86-feet in diameter, and it has a total coverage area of 5,800 sq. ft.
The Nelson Contour Master Pulsating Sprinkler has a durable polymer head that can easily be adjusted to cover small and large lawns. You can also adjust the spray pattern to cover a full circle or a partial circle to focus the water on your new sod.
The Nelson Contour Master Pulsating Sprinkler is very stable on a slope or uneven lawn since it sits on a 10.5-inch weighted base. The circular base will also make it easy to drag the sprinkler through the grass if you need to quickly move it around your lawn.
Features
Coverage Area: 5800 sq. ft.
Type: Impact Sprinkler
Adjustable Spray Angle
Weighted Base
Positives
Works well on slopes and uneven lawns
Simple to adjust so it will work on any size lawn
Nearly limitless spray patterns
Negatives
Plastic parts might degrade in the sun
Gardena Comfort Aqua Zoom Oscillating Sprinkler
The Gardena Comfort Aqua Zoom Oscillating Sprinkler (Buy Online) is one of the best wide angle oscillating sprinkler for watering new sod. This sprinkler has a large coverage area of 3,900 sq. ft. that can be adjusted to fit the size and shape of your lawn.
The Gardena Comfort Aqua Zoom Oscillating Sprinkler has 18 nozzles that will create a gentle rainfall pattern across your new sod. If you want to adjust the spray pattern you can individually control three of the nozzles on each side.
To control the nozzles all you’ll need to do is press the button under each one and you’ll be able to turn them on or off. That will make it easy to keep any water from going to waste if it’s hitting your house or the sidewalk.
The Gardena Comfort Aqua Zoom Oscillating Sprinkler even comes with a quick disconnect, so you can easily detach it from the hose if you need to move it, or you can quickly put it away when the season is over. It also has a removable plug that will let you flush any debris out of the sprinkler to keep it from getting clogged.
Features
Coverage Area: 3900 sq. ft.
Type: Oscillating Sprinkler
Adjustable Width (22 to 42 feet)
Quick Disconnect
Flush Plug
Positives
The quick connect is a nice feature when you need to move the sprinkler often
You can shut off the side nozzles to keep the sprinkler from overshooting your lawn
Covers a wider area than most oscillating sprinklers you can get from a big box store
Negatives
Needs good water pressure
