Question
Hello-
I dont have the privledge of having an underground sprinler system.  My question is what type of manual sprinker is the best to go with.  Would using a spinning type be good to go with or would the fanning type that goes high in the air and side to side be a good choice?

Answer
Hi Ryan;
Count yourself fortunate that you DON'T own one of those water wasting pains in the neck.
NO sprinkler is good.
When the temp is 95 and above, depending on how dry your air is, you can lose more water to evaporation than reaches your lawn, and ALL of it will register on your water meter.
Soaker hoses or watering with a hand held hose is by far the best.
If you don't enjoy standing for hours watering, get a timer to fit on your faucet.
I use soaker hoses.
I paid attention to how long it takes for water to get to the point of running off the yard onto the street or sidewalks, and I lay out my soaker hose pattern, and turn on the water, set the timer for that much, and go about whatever I want to do. I can even leave and go shopping. when that much water has run through, or for that length of time ( I have one that goes by minutes, and the one in back goes by how many gallons) it shuts off. In about an hour it has soaked in enough to turn on again, and set for the same amount of time. I keep doing the off and on like this until it is watered at least 6 inches down. Then i don;'t worry about that section for at least a week.
I may do the whole yard the same day, or i may do a section a day until I get it all covered, but fit in between other things i have to do.
I water early in the morning, and have them all off by noon, and don't turn it on again until the sun has gone down and the ground has cooled off a little. that also cuts down on evaporation.
I want every gallon I pay for to go into my soil, not on the street or in the air.
A good, deep root system helps protect against heat, cold and drought damage.
Deep watering, to a depth of at least 6 inches, makes the roots go deep to get water.
Shallow watering makes them come up to the surface to get water, and they are easier to kill.
Write any time.
Charlotte