Rotors throw water a long way in slowly turning streams. Here is where they shine, where they do not and how to set them up.
Rotor sprinklers shoot one or more thin streams of water that sweep across the lawn as the head turns. Because the streams are slow and thick, they reach far, from about twenty to forty feet, and they apply water gently. That makes rotors a good choice for large, open areas of turf and for clay soil, where slow application keeps runoff down. Fewer heads cover more ground than with spray heads.
Rotors need more time than sprays to apply the same water, so run times are longer. They need good spacing, head to head, for even coverage, and the right arc so they do not wet pavement. They are less suited to narrow strips and tight spaces. Most systems use rotors in open lawns and sprays or drip in smaller areas, and mixing the two on one zone causes uneven watering, so each belongs on its own zone.
Twenty to forty feet.
Good for clay.
Cover more ground.
Slow and deep.
Even coverage.
Do not mix with sprays.
Take the quiz, check a problem or ballpark a budget.
Many throw twenty to forty feet, depending on the model, nozzle and pressure.
No. They apply water at different rates, so each belongs on its own zone.
They apply water slowly, which is better for soil but takes more time.
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