Tag Archives: watering

Pure Rain

close up of the irrigation distribution for pure rain
When the time comes to reconnect the hose (hard to imagine at the moment) I will be trialling the new Handheld Gun Plus from Pure Rain, which rather cleverly oxygenates the water by adding millions of minute bubbles to the water, emulating what happens when raindrops gather oxygen as they fall through the air. Apparently the extra oxygen helps the plants to absorb nutrients faster and more efficiently, which is why plants look so perky after a shower. This also helps them to grow stronger and be more resistant to disease. I save as much rainwater as I can in waterbutts, but it’s never enough, so it’s good to know that there’s a simple way to improve tap water so that when I do need to use it, it isn’t second best. The Pure Rain range, including handheld guns, a watering wand and a water station, is available from RRP £19.99. You can find stockist details and more information about the products at www.purerain.co.uk.

Precision Watering

B&Q’s 7 function metal spray gun for the garden hose is brilliant.  With a simple twist you can get every variation you could wish for when doing your watering – from fine mist for your seedlings  to  a powerful jet which comes close to transforming  your hose into a power washer. £14.98 or £16.98 with 3 connectors.  Use water butts wherever you can, but if you do need to use as hose, this head means you are far less wasteful as it directs the water to precisely where it is needed.

Spring Forward

After weeks of feeling that spring would never arrive it’s here with a vengeance.  Within days I’ve gone from worrying that even some of the hardy plants were looking a bit chilled to watering my containers of cut-and-come-again salads twice day.  But I’m definitely not complaining.

In the greenhouse in December 2009

In the greenhouse: I’m holding off doing any watering right now, even if some plants are a bit dry – if we do have a really bitter spell, they are more likely to survive if their roots aren’t surrounded by damp compost.

Timely Advice

Mulch all the borders to suppress weeds and conserve moisture.

Put gravel-filled saucers under containers to reduce watering.

Tie in sweet peas and other climbers to stop them flopping.

Collect and sow seed of helleborus orientalis.

Remove runners from strawberries to direct energy to fruit production.