Summer means a lot of watering, deadheading and feeding, but spending endless hours untangling kinked hosepipes to water pots, flower borders and vegetable plots, can seem a thankless task.
But there are garden watering systems, self-watering containers, water-saving devices and smart gadgets that can help make light work of this daily summer chore.
Garden watering systems and gadgets
Here are some of the products that may help ease your watering load…
1. HydroVeg kit, from £355, hydroveg.co.uk
If you want to grow plenty of veg but don’t want to be a slave to the watering can, HydroVeg kits may be the answer – they use 70% less water than normal gardening, and your plants are thought to grow 30% faster.
The kit looks a bit like enclosed guttering and winds down to different levels, housing small pots for veg. They’re watered via a water box (reservoir and pump) at the side of the frame, that channels water so just the roots get all they need.
Available in two sizes, the Maxi has space to grow up to 120 plants, while the Midi can grow up to 72. The kit includes the frame, pipes, water box, pump, 41 or 24 pots, clay balls and nine months worth of nutrients, a how to and maintenance guide, and seedlings advice. The only thing you need to provide is water, and electricity.
2. Sarah Raven self-extendable hose in a bag with hanger, £59.95, sarahraven.com
For the stylish gardener, this self-extendable lightweight hose can stretch from 8.5m to 25m, with three jet settings, so is ideal for small gardens. When you’ve finished, it can be put back in the bag to hang up neatly, and it also comes in sage green.
3. Bosch GardenPump 18 Cordless Rainwater Pump, including 2.5Ah battery and charger
This battery-operated pump from Bosch is ideal for people who want to save time filling watering cans from their water butt. The pump, which sits inside your rainwater tank, is operated by an 18V battery that remains in a splash-proof control unit you can affix to a nearby wall, or over the outside of the tank.
With a suitable tap for standard garden hose couplings, just attach your regular hose and water up to a range of 25m. There’s power enough to water hanging baskets too, at heights of up to 2m.
The battery is compatible with many other Bosch tools, so could save you money as well if you already have one. It’ll give you 30 minutes’ runtime and will take around two-and-a-half hours to charge from empty.
- Use with different water tanks: Suitable for a wide range of open-top rainwater tanks and those covered with safety lids
- Range of rainwater tank locations: Mount the pump on a wall or on the tank thanks to the included wall and tank attachments
- Versatile use: Use the pump with sprinklers or irrigation systems due to its timer function with three settings. Run time maximum: 30 minutes
Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4. Ergrownomics self-watering raised planter, from £150, ergrownomics.co.uk
Designed by a soil scientist with 30 years of gardening experience, these RHS award-winning planters are a sustainable alternative to buying supermarket veg, and are ideal for growing in small spaces, or on terraces and balconies.
The raised planters come with a drip irrigation system – all you need to do is connect your hose to the attachment on the side of the planter, so watering is easy. Alternatively, you can invest in an Ergrownomics automatic irrigation system.
The models come in five sizes, six container colours (including one made from 100% recycled polymer), two frame finishes and three leg heights.
Consider too Cole & Mason Self-Watering Potted Herb Planter
- The Cole & Mason Self-Watering Triple Potted Herb Keeper, is an attractive and highly functional tool for keeping fresh herbs alive for longer. Economical, easy to use, innovative.
- No-need to repot - simply place your potted herbs into the container. Suitable for 3 x pots (up to 85 mm in diameter).
- Hydro-felt pad(s) will allow herbs to draw water as desired. Pads are washable, estimate 3 month duration per pad.
Last update on 2024-04-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5. Kärcher SensoTimer ST 6 ECOLOGIC, £99.99, kaercher.com/uk
This clever watering system has a humidity control sensor on a spike placed in the soil which measures the soil’s moisture level. Choose from five moisture levels and the sensor will make sure your garden sticks at that level.
You can pre-set up to two watering times a day, for 90 minutes max – but you can still water manually whenever you like. The ecologic function gives you the option of delaying watering up to a week too – helpful if it’s been raining or you’re off on holiday.
The unit is also compatible with Karcher irrigation kits, but you’ll need to buy those separately.
6. Irrigatia SOL-C12 Weather Responsive Solar Automatic Watering System
If solar power is the way you’d rather go, the Irrigatia C12 and C24 offer a complete solar powered watering kit designed to water your plants from your rain barrel. It waters every three hours during the day and automatically adjusts the watering according to the weather.
With a five-step adjustment for different sizes of plants, it’s great for tomatoes and other veg in your greenhouse, hanging baskets (up to 5m high) and the pots on your patio.
- The more sun, the more it waters – waters every 3 hrs
- Saves plants from drought and waters when on holiday
- Automatic watering for up to 12 Irrigation Units (e.g. 5 large hanging baskets or 12 x 20 litre pots)
Last update on 2024-04-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
7. Tuffhoze
This new hybrid hose comes with a whopping 30 year guarantee. With a PVC inner core and ‘Tuff-fibre’ woven fibre exterior, it’s up to 50% lighter than traditional hoses, is easy to manoeuvre, super tough and doesn’t kink, the makers say.
Tuffhoze can also be used with a pressure washer system, ideal for outdoor cleaning tasks such as washing the car or blitzing the driveway. And it can be wound on to a regular reel or cart for storage.
- Easy to use
- Value for money
- Durable & Design
Last update on 2024-04-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best-selling garden hoses
Stuck for inspiration? Check out our list of best-selling Amazon products!
- Expanding Garden Water Hose： It is made of revolutionary durable latex & 600D Polyester Webbing with No leakege :Anti-burst & Anti-water leakage that ensures the hose a longer lifespan.
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- 7 Function Spray Gun : the head has lots of different settings: SHOWER - FLAT - CNETER - CONE - FULL - MIST - JET, Suitable for /Gardening/Washing Car/ Watering Flower/s Vegetables/ Cleaning Windows/...
- 10 Adjustable Pattern Spray Nozzle: The rubberized outer coating is non-slip and comfortable. 10 watering patterns for every watering need. This heavy duty nozzle has easy to use thumb control design,...
- Expanding Garden Hose Pipe : Garden hose is non kink garden hose and aluminium end ducting create an ability that is 3 times expansion length in use(extending from 33ft to 100ft length), and it...
- High-Quality Expandable Hose - The water hose is made of high-density 3-layer latex core and extra strength 3750D fabric to prevent leakage and breakage. This flexible garden hose is endurance-tested...
- 𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐋 – Our hose pipe reel is perfect for gardens, patios, watering pots, balconies and roof terraces. The hose reel is ten metres (32 Feet) of...
- 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 – The compact hose reel comes with a ½” quick connector. The quick-connect male connector allows simple connection for over 95% of European taps,...
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- 【3 Times Expanding Flexible Design】:After adding water to the garden hose pipe, it can expand to 3 times its original length in a few seconds under the action of water pressure; the 100FT length...
- 【Selected high-quality materials】:The hose is made of high-quality TPE plastic and wrapped with polyester fiber cloth, which can effectively prevent the hosepipe from being damaged due to direct...
- 【10 function spray gun nozzle designs】The expandable garden hose is designed with a multi-functional spray nozzle. It has 10 different water dispensing modes to choose from and is very easy to...
- Can be wall mounted or used as a free standing reel
- Enclosed casing for added protection from wear and tear.
- Large winding handle for hassle free manual rewinding.
Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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