The 5 Best Tools For Watering Your Plants
Part of the necessary maintenance practices for plants in the garden or pots is ensuring they get enough to drink. To adequately deliver water to your plants, you must use the right equipment to simplify your work. However, most budding gardeners fail to realize that not every tool is made the same. Garden watering tools are available at different prices and quality ranges, and you should only go for highly rated equipment that will give you long service. It is also worth mentioning that with plenty of watering tools, deciding on the right one for your garden can be daunting.
One of the critical factors you should consider when thinking about the right equipment to irrigate your plants is the size of the garden, via The Architect's Diary. Usually, a smaller garden will require handheld watering tools, while a larger garden might need an automated system for irrigation. Nonetheless, let's look at some of the basic tools that should make watering plants in your garden a breeze.
1. A long garden hose
A garden hose is among the essential tools you will need for your garden. These long pipes give you a movable watering source to irrigate plants at different locations in the yard without having to carry around a water container. For garden hoses, you have to be careful about the quality. For a home garden where you need to drag the hose around the different corners of the yard, you need an option that can stand up to the friction. Another important factor you need to consider when getting this tool for your garden is the length.
According to Lesso, a regular 15-foot hose is often ideal for a smaller garden; however, there is always the option of attaching another hose for extra length. A good garden hose should also be light in weight to allow you to move it around quickly. Remember, if the hose is heavy, there is a chance that it will destroy the fragile plants in your garden if you accidentally drag it over a flower bed. A rule of thumb is to consider a weather-resistant hose that will serve you during the cold winter.
2. A multipurpose hose nozzle
A garden hose alone is not enough to effectively water the plants in the garden. You will need a tool to attach to one end of the hose to control the water flow. While you can control the water flow using your thumb, let's face it, using a tool is more efficient and less tiring. The primary purpose of a hose and a nozzle might be watering your plant, but also, keep in mind the other aspects of life that these tools might also help out. For this reason, it is necessary that you carefully consider the type of work or chores you intend to use the hose and nozzle for.
A good, multipurpose hose nozzle should have a couple of pressure settings to accommodate different uses, whether simple irrigation, spraying the house exterior, or even washing your dog on a sunny afternoon. According to The Gardening Products Review, the most versatile hose nozzle is the fireman's nozzle. This tool delivers water in different pressure settings that can adapt to the different tasks in a regular household. A suitable hose nozzle must be durable and simple enough to operate for everyday use.
3. Watering can
Although not the most efficient watering tool, a good watering can is a must-have, especially for smaller gardens. You should know that the ultimate goal is delivering water to plants whenever necessary, and sometimes using a watering can is the easiest method. Fortunately, the overall design of watering cans remains quite the same, so you don't have to scratch your head trying to figure out which one is more functional. While this is true, you also must realize that watering cans are not all the same in material and size. The correct watering can is the one that is durable and easy to use, which is different for everyone.
Plastic watering cans are generally lightweight in contrast to their metallic counterparts, mentions Platt Hill Nursery. On the other hand, metallic cans are often more expensive but are known to handle random knocks on rocks reasonably well. Before buying just any other watering can, you need to be critical of the size. This is particularly so if you need to moisten hanging plants as they require you to raise and hold the watering can up in the air.
4. Rain barrel
As it is, the water bill for an average household of four averages $72.93 per month, according to data provided by Statista. Now, if you want to consider watering plants in your small garden, you should also expect an increase in water bills. In fact, during the hotter summer months, you will need to water your plants more often, which will spike the bill even more. However, you can save a lot of money annually by harvesting and using rainwater to irrigate your plants. To harvest water, you will need to buy a rain barrel that will store rainwater for later. Usually, rain barrels are inexpensive, but this entirely depends on the specific material the barrel is made from.
Before buying a rain barrel, you need to be aware that this water container will spend a lot of time outside combating the different weather elements. Therefore, it is necessary to go for barrels made of solid materials to allow them to be functional for longer. The Watershed mentions that rain barrels made of heavy-duty plastics do pretty well against weather elements. Before investing in other garden tools, be sure to buy a rain barrel that will save you money in the long run.
5. Plant watering stakes
A watering stake is a tool used to deliver water right to the roots where it matters. The plant will grow deeper into the soil by providing water directly to the roots, allowing a stronger and healthier species via Deep Drip. This tool is even more special because you can fill it with water that will be released to the plant over a couple of days without needing your physical presence. This is quite beneficial, especially for individuals who are not available every single day to tend to the watering needs of their plants.
Also, using watering stakes is one way of conserving water and saving yourself a couple of bucks every month. Some water is lost through surface runoff and evaporation when utilizing a hose. However, watering stakes releases water slowly according to the requirement of the plant. Don't purchase the biggest size available when choosing the watering stakes for your garden. Consider the size of your garden and how close the plants are; you don't want to overcrowd them and inhibit proper growth. Finally, some stakes come in different colors that can contribute to the garden's aesthetics.