We are urban dwellers in our first house and have a back yard that is about 1200 sq ft. (about 30ft x 40ft). I'd really like to have an automated watering system since history at our old place suggests my wife and I are often busy enough that we forget to water and kill the lawn. Thus, I'm thinking of putting in some sprinklers on spikes in two opposite corners (so they're out of the way) of the lawn and hooking them up to a battery-power timer to water each morning about 5a during the summer.

What kind of equipment would people recommend. I've seen both pulsating and gear-driven rotor systems. The gear driven sounded nice since they wouldn't give off that pulsing noise at 5a but, then again, it isn't that loud so if the pulsating ones are more reliable, I'd go that route. I'd also love any recommendation for good timers. I don't want to break the bank and could, some day, see us putting in an underground system but right now we need to start paying off the new mortgage!

Thanks, Tom