Best sprinkler?

I read, and log, my water meter every week. It tells me how much I use when I water (that works out at around £1.50 per hour for me), but also if the water board put the price up and give me an estimate at the time of the price rise I can compare against my notes and if their reading was "low" I tell them to revise my bill ... if their reading was high then that's their problem, they had the option to read my meter.

You'd be better off with drip-irrigation than sprinkler though. Use a tiny amount of water, by comparison (and hence why it is permitted during hosepipe ban, when sprinkler is banned). No good for lawn though ...

 

Amazing that's exactly what I do , with a bar type oscillating sprinkler. About 20 mins then move it 12 ft. The bar type waters a rectangle shape , you need to look at it for a while to get and idea of the watering "footprint".
I am on a meter so plan on sprinkling twice a week during this hot spell. I don't know if that is enough but its all they are getting at £1.50 an hour ! ( thanks for doing the sums Kristen )
The lawn growth seems to have slowed right down as well. Is it best not to mow or mow on quite a high setting to protect the lawn ?

 

I have the lawn a good soak last night, and again tonight. I'll wait until Friday then do it again.

I've put the blades higher on my mower so it doesn't cut the lawn too short in this weather, and instead of twice a week I'll cut once if that. Just gave it a feed as well (liquid).

 

Now this is a sprinkler ! The mad Daisy. Bought from the £1 shop , plug it into the hosepipe and it soaks ... well me with the camera first and then grand kids

 

They were on qvc the other night, iirc something like 18 quid for 2 plus postage, so you got a bargain Harry!

 

Yours may be more, particularly if you are on mains-drains as you will pay Sewerage calculated as a percentage of your water usage - I know you aren't putting any garden irrigation water down the sewer, but that's how the thieving blighters calculate it. Worth getting some water storage sorted out - but at a quid or two per cubic metre to buy drinking-quality water its hard to justify the cost of water butts ... I resent putting water which has been processed and cleaned up good-enough-to-drink on my garden though

Set it high and carry on cutting. That will "top" any weeds or rough grasses that growth tufty-tall.

 

Well the robbing devils ! I got my oscillating bar sprinkler from Wilkos about 3 years ago . I think this is only the second time I have used it.

 

I was thinking of fitting a water butt , but as you say its hard to justify the cost when mains water is £2 a cubic metre.
I'll cut my lawns on a high setting this week , to keep the growth in order . Is it worth feeding lawns in this type of dry weather ? Or is it best to wait until they have a good rain drenching . I only ever use liquid lawn feed , seen too many lawns with big brown spots due to pellet feed !

Just checked my water costs with United Utilities its £1.54 per cubic mater + £1.20 sewerage . So if a 15mm hose uses 1.5 cubic metres per hour (?), that will be approx £4 an hour to sprinkle a lawn , if you are on a metered supply.

 

I calculated mine by timing how long it takes to fill a couple of 10L buckets. or if you have a big container stand it on some bathroom scales and do time & weight as 1L of water weighs 1kg.

 

You shouldn't weed or feed lawns during drought Harry.