I have the worst luck picking sprinklers, they last a year then trash. Can anyone recommend a good water sprinkler for watering our garden?

I have the best luck with metal sprinklers that have no moving parts. Our well water is extremely mineralized and clogs up itty bitty orifices in sprinklers. If you do an internet search for “Pound of Rain” sprinkler you’ll see what I’m talking about.

I make my own. Sort of. Well I just assemble what I want.

First you need a good sprinkler base. I've found some really good ones, heavy enough in weight, stays put and adjusted where I want them, on ebay from "SprinklerInnovations"(all together, no space} out of Santa Ynez CA. I'm pretty sure they're American made, but not 100%.
Dude has tons of positive feedback and I've never had any issue with his stuff.

Once you have that, you just need sprinkler heads. I have an assortment of the exact same sprinkler heads used for everybody's home in-ground sprinkler systems. I have an assortment because sometimes I want a 90 degree, or a 180 degree, or a full circle, maybe a pop up, and sometimes I want one that does a fine mist for certain flower beds. They spin off and on so easy, no problem at all, just easy to use. Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, any place that sells inground sprinkler heads is fine.

I have accumulated some of the older solid brass rotary sprinkler heads, such as Rain Birds. I kinda like to hear the tsk-tsk-tsk sound they make as they work oh so perfectly.

I may or may not decide to use a riser pipe to elevate the sprinkler head to what I want it do. That's just simple hardware store plumbing pipe, but actually the shorter pieces of plastic threaded pipe in the underground sprinkler department seems to work and last quite well.

Check out "Wobbler" sprinkler heads, google for info and youtube for videos. Only ONE moving part, lasts almost forever, throws a LOT of water in larger sizes so the water won't evaporate and blow away so much before it hits the ground. I love my Wobblers and highly recommend them.

I got tired of buying crappy sprinklers that wouldn't even last one season. It's money wasted as well as time wasted buying another Chinese made piece of crap.

So, buy once, cry once, be happy thereafter, the sprinkler bases I refer you too aren't cheap but they will last a looooong time. If you want a $20 cheap piece of Chinese made crap from wallymart, forget it and dig up a few more dollars.

When Fall arrives, I remove the sprinkler heads from the bases, drain the bases and store them in the garage for the winter.

Here's a link to a package deal, while you're there look at this particular sellers other items, you might find a setup better to your particular needs. Link This is a pretty good package deal.

This one LINK might be good for your garden. You'll have to look at the other offers and see what might be best for you. If you don't a full 360 rotary you could message him and ask for an adjustable angle head.

I've purchased 4 bases from him over the last 7 or 8 years, as well as some vintage Rain Bird impact sprinkler heads, and a couple of Wobblers.

I usually keep 2 bases with vintage rotary brass Rain Birds attached and adjust them to spray most of my yard. The other 2 bases I install/remove the other sprinkler heads I described above as I need.

My method is a just a little bit more time, but it's time well spent and it's satisfying to see something work right the first time, every time. Very seldom do I have something not work right, if I do it's usually one of those inground type popup sprinklers from the big box stores.

Good luck to you.

EDIT: When you do this, you'll want to make sure you get the bases and the sprinkler heads in the same size, like 1/2 or 5/8 or 3/4 inch, makes things a lot simpler.
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My dad has been in the water business since I was in kindergarten...he always used and recommended Rainbird brass sprinklers...times change and people want things that hide in the turf and work well.

I have used rainbird sprinklers in my yards. When I didn’t need to use a pop-up sprinkler I used brass sprinkler on a tripod, so I could move it where I wanted.

Don’t cheap out and go to Lowe’s and buy a cheap zink sprinkler made in China...buy once and cry once.

https://store.rainbird.com/spr...mpact-sprinkler.html

i Think brass RB's have been made in Mex for some time. I could be wrong as it been years since I did much with them. At one time I sold tens of thousands of the made in Glendora versions.

Some years ago I converted from sprinklers to drip irrigation, the Rainbird line with the "bubblers." The drip system has proven a lot more reliable, and durable, not to mention using a lot less water over the growing season. That said, I still use a sprinkler for deer deterrence, the sprinkler is fed through a motion and light sensor that sets it off upon motion, but only at night. Except for replacing batteries, this has lasted well. The one I use is exactly like the Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer but is on a tripod rather than a stake, and is taller. I think mine might be a discontinued Orbit model. Works very well for its purpose, but there is no reason it couldn't be used for general watering.

Thank you guys for all the recommendations, especially Gene for that nice write up when I have some time I'm going to give it a try.

I've had good luck with the Melnor Mini Max sprinklers for lawn watering: https://melnor.com/product-cat...cillating-sprinkler/

I use the one with the metal tripod: https://melnor.com/product/min...rinkler-with-tripod/