Watering cans

A familiar sight in gardens, the good old-fashioned watering can works just as well as it always has and is particularly suitable for smaller gardens, window boxes or balconies. Choose from a light and hard-wearing plastic watering can, or the traditional good looks of a galvanised metal one that will last you for years. Here’s a few things to consider before buying:

• It needs to be easy to carry, so make sure the handle is comfortable even if you’re wearing gardening gloves. If you plan on using it to water hanging baskets, you may want to look for one with a side handle and smaller capacity that’s easier to lift.

   

• Choose one with different roses (the perforated head of the spout) for different jobs. For routine watering you’ll want a rose with larger holes but use a fine one when you’re watering seeds or young, delicate plants.

   

Which watering can rose should I use?

Hosepipes

If you’re thinking about a hosepipe, you’ll want to look at how big your garden is, as the hose will need to reach around the entire area and have a bit of length to spare. There are a variety of lengths available, from 15m to 50m, but if you need something longer you can invest in a connector that links 2 hoses together.

Here are some things to consider before you buy:

• Look at the thickness of the hosepipe – the more layers it has the more resistant it will be to wear and tear and the longer it will last.

   

• Consider getting a wall-mounted hose reel or a freestanding hose cart with wheels and handles that make it easier to move around the garden. These will ensure your hosepipe is tidied neatly away when you’ve finished using it.

   

• A complete hosepipe kit comes with everything you need to get started, from the hose and reel to connecting adaptors and a choice of nozzles. We’ve got some great value starter kits that will get you up and running before you know it.

   

Hose attachments

Nozzles and guns are available as handheld jets or guns that allow you to change the flow of the water through a range of settings, from a direct stream to a spray of fine mist. We also have lances for those hard to reach places, such as your hanging baskets.

Sprinklers

Sprinklers are available in three different varieties – oscillating, rotating and spike:

• Oscillating sprinklers move an arched spray bar from side to side, gently watering in a rectangular shape.

   

• Rotating sprinklers spray water in a circular shape and often come with adjustable spray patterns.

   

• Spike sprinklers are pushed down into the earth and therefore are ideal if your garden is on uneven or sloping ground.

   

Water butts

A water butt is a tank connected to the downpipe of your house and collects rainwater via this pipe. By collecting rainwater, a water butt can save you money on your water bills, reduce your impact on the environment and allow you to keep your garden growing during periods of drought.

Not sure where to start when it comes to water butts? We have a great guide to help you pick and fit one with ease.

For more water saving tips, take a look at the helpful video below:

Automatic watering systems

If you’ve a large garden, an automatic system is the perfect solution. They use a network of small tubes to carry water straight from the tap or water butt right to where it’s needed, keeping water wastage to a minimum and your plants and flowers looking great all year round. You can even use a timer to make sure your garden is watered regularly without you having to lift a hand.

These automatic systems are also available with different nozzles, making them perfect for a variety of jobs – adjustable droppers drip water at root level, while micro jets will send a fine spray through foliage. Mini sprinklers are simply a smaller version of a lawn sprinkler, while misters are great for using in greenhouses.

Automatic systems

Top tips:

• When choosing a hosepipe make sure you don’t buy one that’s too long – the longer the length of the pipe, the lower the flow rate of the water stream.

   

• When the weather is hot do not water your plants in the middle of the day. Make sure you only water either in the morning or evening when the air is cooler.