Watering is one of those areas that perplex and sometimes even scare home gardeners. Did I water enough? Too much, or maybe I water too often or not enough when I do water?
No matter what you read, there is no one easy answer. Each garden and growing environment is unique, and your plants’ needs may differ from mine.
But the right tools and some general principles can help guide you.
- Plants do not want the root system to sit in constant wet as it needs air or oxygen to develop
- You want moist but not wet soil
- If unsure, water more when you do water, but water less often
- Seeds should never dry out
- For mature plants, a mild dry-out is better than soaking wet soil
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Tools we use to keep our plants watered
Manual pressure pump sprayer
Indispensable when you have more than a couple of plants to spray daily. Regular one-pump-per-spray bottles are great, but my hands get tired, and having that manual pump to build up pressure and then just be ready to go for several minutes is a blessing.
Necessary? Not until you wake up to a full-on attack of aphids across several tomato or pepper plants. One of my better investments.
This model is great for close-up spray action. Look below if you need a model with further reach.
If you have experienced a full-on aphids attack, you know that spraying by hand does get tiring.
Instead, we use a manual pump-action pressure pump. There are electric pressure pumps, but manually building up the pressure is easy.
For me, a manual-action pressure pump is the better value option.
- Safety pressure valve
- Adjustable brass nozzle
- Good size (0,5 gallon/2 liters)
- There are electric pressure pumps
Far-reaching garden pressure pump sprayer
Great when you need to spray plants that are growing tall or when you need to reach deep.
I use mine specifically for indeterminate tomato varieties. Great if you need to spray those mature beefsteak tomato plants.
Easy to use for those hard-to-reach areas in the garden. Give it a few pumps, adjust the nozzle, and you are ready to go.
Comes in different sizes. I prefer the 2-gallon (7,6 liters) tank as I sometimes need it but have the option to only fill the tank with what I need for the job.
For me, it is a great tool for general garden use but also to fight pests and fungal diseases on larger plants like bushy peppers and indeterminate tomato plants.
- Adjustable cone nozzle
- Anti-clog filter
- Allows spraying with reach and precision
- Great for plant care and fertilizers
- 2-gallon / 7.6 liter version can get heavy to carry
Watering can with sprinkler head
I am sure you already own at least one, but it is impossible to omit this gardening classic.
I like that it comes in different colors. I always used to get confused about which watering I last used for water with liquid fertilizer. Nowadays, green watering can equal nutrients.
Watering can for both indoor plants and garden watering. The detachable shower head and long stem allow for controlled, focused watering. There are bigger sizes but this one is big enough for me and it is easy to carry around the garden.
- Detachable shower nozzle
- Pick your favorite color
- Proven design and function
- If you are strong you may prefer a bigger size
Classic spray bottles for misting
Can it get more classic than a manual one-pump-one-spray water bottle? Mine are primarily used when I start seeds and need a little bit of water and a lot of control.
But as long as you have strong hands, this is truly the only spray bottle you will ever need.
This is a must-have. Whether you are misting seeds in starter pots, spraying plants to get rid of aphids or other pests or need to mist the leaves of a plant - spray bottles are the go-to tool.
Bottles come in different colors to help you remember which bottle contains what.
- Set of 3 in different colors
- Attractive price for standard product
- You may need more than 3?
Garden hose nozzle sprayer
Some spring and summer, there are a lot of thirsty plants in the garden. And carrying water cans is only fun for so long.
I get the hose out, hook up my hose nozzle sprayer, and I am as happy as can be. It is easy to adjust water intensity and spray pattern to avoid dislocating plants and soil.
If you are looking for a nozzle sprayer with further reach for those low-growing plants, please see below.
Walking through the garden and watering our plants is a luxury for most home gardeners. We do not see it as a burden - we are checking up on our green friends.
A good quality Garden hose nozzle sprayer will let you move between plants and apply the appropriate water pressure for all your plants' watering needs.
Is it necessary? Of course not, but it is oh-so helpful.
- Made from 100% heavy duty metal
- 8 different spray patterns
- Thumb controller for on/off & water pressure
- There are cheaper alternatives
Long-reach garden hose nozzle sprayer
If you are a regular reader, you already know that I make and use grow bags for many of my plants and vegetables. And if you have read my articles, you know that we never want to wet the leaves when watering plants.
And as it does get tiresome to bend down to water plants at soil level, a long-reach garden hose nozzle sprayer is truly a lifesaver for my back. I could honestly not do without it.
You always want to water vegetables, tomatoes, and peppers at the base of the plant to avoid leaves getting wet. And with a long nozzle sprayer want you can do just that without hurting your knees or back.
- Perfect for watering at the base without hurting back
- Adjustable length 36”-60” (ca 90 - 150 cm)
- 7 different spray patterns
Soaker hoses
Nice but not necessary, but oh so nice on a hot summer day when life gets in the way of gardening.
I place mine around my tomato plants and connect it to a timer for those hot days when I know my tomato plants will need water, and I am away. And no, while I have lovely neighbors, I would not trust them with my tomato plants.
Soaker hoses are perfect for watering vegetable gardens and raised garden beds on those hot summer days. Well, they are great all season long, but for me, they are a lifesaver in July and August when the weather is really hot.
Leave it on to water your plants and carry on sipping that cool iced tea.
I prefer the round soaker hoses, but there are also flat models.
- Perfect time saver on hot days
- Heavy-duty recycled rubber
- 7 year warranty
- Some may prefer a flat hose
Hose carts
The true workhorse of the garden. I have 2 of these, and they live on opposite sides of our house.
Reliable, easy-to-use, durable – I feel like I could go on, but my Gardena hose carts are great. The optional hose guide is a nice feature, and it makes a big difference, especially when rolling back the hose.
Gardena is one of my favorite brands, and they have never let me down. This hose cart is a complete set and is one of our true workhorses for the outdoor growing season.
The frostproof feature does help, as we never learn and tend to get surprised every year.
This is an investment in your gardening and you will not regret buying a Gardena brand gardening tool.
- Durable and solid construction
- Hose guide option is a great feature
- Kickstand prevents the cart from falling over
- There are cheaper alternatives
