The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler is a basic oscillating sprinkler, great for square or rectangular-shaped lawns. With a metal base and plastic moving parts, it is sturdy but won’t rust.

Note: The version that we tested is an earlier version of the Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler, the Melnor Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler. Please note that the pictures are of this earlier version. 

Some oscillating sprinklers have a lot of adjustment options now, but this more basic model allows you to adjust the length only. Basic oscillating sprinklers are great options for large, rectangular lawns – most of the adjustments aren’t needed if it’s a large patch of grass that needs to be watered.

Be sure to watch our video review below to see the sprinkler in action and to hear more of our thoughts on this model.

Packaging

The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler came in cardboard packaging. The packaging did get a little bent and crushed in transit, but the sprinkler itself was not harmed.

The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler came in cardboard packaging

Specifications

Parts

The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating sprinkler has a metal hose connector, surrounded by a rubberized grip, which makes connecting the hose much easier than some of the other sprinklers we’ve tested. It also has a sieve to keep debris out of the sprinkler.

The sprinkler itself is made from lightweight metal, which made it slightly less stable than some of the other sprinklers we have tested. The length of the water output can be adjusted with the lever on the side. The lever did not stick, was easy to move, and was intuitive to use.

The metal connector and rubberized grip (along with a sieve to keep out debris)

The metal arm of the sprinkler also has metal nozzles, which differ slightly from the plastic or silicone nozzles on other models that we have tested.

The nozzles on the Melnor XT Oscillating Sprinkler are made from metal

The end of the sprinkler is removable and contains a nozzle needle to clean the nozzles, as dirt and dust can accumulate over time.

Uses and Limitations

As a basic oscillating sprinkler, the Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. It is simple and to-the-point. The one thing that is adjustable on this sprinkler, however, is the length. A yellow lever (or, on the later model, an orange lever) on the side of the sprinkler is easy to move to adjust where you want the water to go. Be sure to watch our video review (above) for a demonstration of this.

Making adjustments to the length of the water flow is simple and intuitive

With oscillating sprinklers, it is important to remember that much of the water can be moved around by the wind and that some of the water spray will be lost to evaporation. In our tests to see how consistent the coverage was for this sprinkler, more water was captured at 25 feet than at 5, 10, or 15 feet, so the coverage was not very universal.

The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating sprinkler is very similar to another sprinkler that we tested, the Dramm ColorStorm Oscillating Sprinkler. Both are basic metal oscillating sprinklers, of similar size and structure. The Dramm sprinkler is slightly heavier, making it more stable, and has a flow control knob but there are very few other differences between the sprinklers.

The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler shared many similarities to the Dramm ColorStorm Oscillating Sprinkler

Neither the width nor the flow control can be adjusted on the Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler. There is no on/off switch, so the water flow must be controlled from the spigot.

Water from oscillating sprinklers can be blown by the wind and evaporates easily

Warranty

Melnor offers a limited lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship.

Recommendation

The Melnor XT Turbo oscillating sprinkler is a sturdy yet basic oscillating sprinkler which should work well for square or rectangular yards. As with all oscillating sprinklers, some water may be lost to evaporation or wind, but overall it should do a great job of helping you reach the recommended one inch of water a week for your lawn.

Where to Buy

The Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating sprinkler is available on Amazon. You may also find it at a garden center or box store near you.

Melnor XT Turbo Oscillating Sprinkler

Because we tested an earlier version, this looks slightly different than our pictures

$57.05

See it on Amazon