Waterbutts & Rain Diverters

Most water barrels are pretty ugly, (green or black plastic) and are fine if you can hide them away. If you can't there are now some clever options. I used to have a real Oak Barrel (former sherry barrel)  which was lovely looking but very heavy and rotted away after about 4 years. The problem was not the oak but the iron rings holding it together which rusted away so the barrel leaked then fell apart. As a sherry barrel it was designed to hold alcohol and not water, which rusts metal.

A new option is this waterbutt shown opposite which looks like a traditional Oak barrel but is actual made from a high grade plastic. This should last many years with no maintenance  and although I generally don't like plastic - especially in the garden, this is one product that I think is practical and looks good too.

If you are buying a water butt I do recommend that you buy a proper stand for it as they are designed to enable you to get your watering can close to the tap. I have used Sankey and Harcoster waterbutts for many years and am happy to recommend both makes.

click to see Harcoster of waterbutts and equipment from a Fredshed recommended supplier

click to see more details on this waterbutt

UNDER TESTING
 

THE NEW CLICK & DRIP WATERBUTT IRRIGATION KIT

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Rain Water Diverters

A good idea but a pain in the Butt?

Collecting rainwater from your roof to use it for watering and reduce your bills is a very good idea and a number of companies produce rain diverting products to enable you to do this.

Sadly some of them are dreadful  and fitting them can be a real "pain in  the butt" . Nearly all the kits come with the minimum of fittings and they either charge you more for "accessories" or just leave you scratching  your head at the plumbing counter  while you try and work out which diameter of hose,  pipe or connector you need to connect the dam thing to your butt. (that's a barrel for Americans)

For example the most popular (and the original) device is the Rainsava which comes supplied with a small white plastic pipe to connect to your barrel.

This is fine if your barrel has straight sides (which many don't) then you will need to purchase an extra flexible pipe kit (which most shops don't stock)

If you cut your drainpipe to fit a Rainsava then you will probably need to buy and fit drainpipe clips to hold it securely. If not you may get soaked in stinky water when you try and take it apart to unblock it, or your drainpipe will leak and damage the fabric of your house.

These overpriced "easy fit" plastic gadgets, with inadequate instructions  are the sort of thing that annoy me intensely and is a good reason why so many people visit Fredshed.com for honest advice.

Rain diverters are  prone to blocking and cleaning them out is not as simple as the instructions make out as many are made from poor quality plastic that is hard to fit together or take apart.

Once your device is fitted you will need to check it regularly for blockages,

Forget to clean and empty any rainwater diverter and you could cause some serious damage to your walls.

(Fredshed tells you the pros and cons of products not just the good bits mentioned on the box)

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I am currently using 3 different types, and have used many others

Under Testing -1,  Droughtbuster Rainwater Diverter, Also known as the Universal Rainwater Diverter

Made in the UK, Has a simple lever to switch to bypass mode for winter use

2 Guttermate - with removable crud basket

3 Sankey Rain Diverter - simple and the cheapest

Use links opposite to buy from a Fredshed partner and to support this site

Guttermate Rain Water Diverter with Debris Collection.

The "Guttermate" has a removable basket that collects the moss, leaves and other debris from your roof.

It also can switched it to winter bypass mode but you will need to take it apart to do this.

The "Droughbuster," or Universal Rainwater Diverter uses a simpler approach where a large disc is rotated by a lever.

It seems to work very well, has an overflow and any collected debris can be easily flushed down the pipe by turning the lever.

I would say that this simple Uk made device is best if you fit it in a location that you have easy access to. It is also the easiest to de-activate in the winter months, and the easiest to clear if blocked. The downside is that is does not collect all the water going down the pipe so will only collect when there is plenty of rainfall. There seems to be a trade off with these devices between collecting the maximum amount of water and not blocking up.

click to buy the Guttermate from a Fredshed recommended supplier

Beat the hosepipe ban with the Hozelock Water Butt pump

If you collect water from your roof you can pump it from your water butt through your hosepipe.

This pump is also useful for emptying swimming pools and ponds. It is mains powered and comes with a long lead. You need to place 2 bricks in the bottom of your tank and place the pump on it to avoid sucking in debris from the bottom. It is helpful if you have arms like a Gibbon or you can hang the pump form a rope and guess the depth. If you suck in any muck the pump will stop and is easy to clean out as it has a filter. The pump takes a while to work as it needs to prime itself to start. Once it is going - Bob's your Uncle!

The RainPerfect

Solar Powered Water Butt Pump

This new invention arrived at my shed at the end of October and is undergoing tests in the Fredshed garden.

From initial inspection it appears to be very well made with strong plastic mouldings, a large solar panel and excellent connectors.

The unit containing the 12v rechargeable Nimh batteries sits on the top of your water barrel and a hose drops down inside.

To install the Rainperfect all you need to do is cut a 2 inch hole in the lid of your barrel, screw down the unit and then fit the solar panel to a nearby sunny wall.

The on/off button is located on top of the green unit which also houses the Hozelock style connector for your pipe.

Water Barrel Pumps - Mains and Solar Powered Water Pumps

My Old Draper Water butt pump saved many plants during the hosepipe bans and at other times cut my water bills considerably.

Collecting rainwater is easy but lugging it around in watering cans is not.

But now I have a solar powered unit that uses a small 12v battery and produces a decent rate of flow from a standard hosepipe

The RainPerfect Solar Powered Water Butt Pump

New For 2011

Fredshed watersaving tips

In hot spells I keep a watering can near my shower and fill it up with the cold water that comes out before the hot comes through.

Also I use the water from my vegetable steamer to water plants - they love the nutrients too.

A soaker hose is one of the most efficient and easy to use irrigation systems. it is less prone to failure than separate drippers and sprayers and wont wash away your soil.

There are some very cheap and shonky soaker hoses being sold so to be on the safe side I recommend buying the UK made Hozelock soaker hose.

UK made Hozelock Soaker hoses.

I think retractable hose reels are one of the best innovations in gardening equipment and really help to keep your garden tidy and well watered.

The one featured right is the Australian made hose that was around many years before the Hozelock versions.

 I have used one of these for many years and am very impressed by the quality. I have found that plastic products made in Australia tend to be very durable as they are designed to cope with massive amounts of UV light.

The bad news is the price - around 200,  but you get a 5 year warranty and a product that  really will last and not annoy you buy getting stuck.

Redashe and Sealey Professional Hose Reels

A cheaper alternative retractable hose reel

This hose reel is a more recent introduction from Hozelock, based in Buckinghamshire.

It is very similar but does not have the 5 year warranty. It is also available in various sizes, from around £35.

The auto reel has a big spring in it that pulls the hose back when you tug and let go, (mostly). There is also a lever to lock it or release it.

The fast reel is more basic and reliable as you turn the handle to wind it in. It is also longer at 40m against the auto reel at 20m

I use both makes and types and find them indispensable.

Redashe also make a budget version of their original "Retracta hose" and can be contacted on 01252 785010

Auto reel or Fast reel, (wind it back with a lever, more reliable and longer)

 see the largest range of Hozelock and other quality hose-reels from fredshed partner

Nucan Pinpoint  - for children, conservatories and style gurus!

Push Button Watering Can

This stylish small watering can is not only aesthetically pleasing it is also VERY practical. Water  can be accurately released  when you press the button and the filling hole has a sliding cover to prevent spillage.

The pinpoint is also designed to sit nicely on your windowsill where the sun can warm the water to the right temperature for your delicate house plants.

This can was invented by my friend Paul and has been featured on Fredshed since it was first produced. I have used one at home for the last 6 years and often buy them as presents.

I absolutely love this watering can and am 100% sure you will too, it makes a lovely present for gardener or plant lover.

Best General Purpose Plastic Watering Can

I have studied and tested dozens of watering cans in my work over the last 15 years and prefer the flat sided ones as you can carry them nearer to your body and cause less strain on your spine. There are a number of makes using this modern design and one of the best I have found is this one from Bosmere, as it has a unique rose holding feature.

If you're like me you have probably lost or mislaid a few watering can roses when you take them off to pour water. The new (UK made) Bosmere cans have a little holding lug where you can clip the rose on when not using it. I love little features like this that make life easier. The cans are available in 2 size (5 and 10 litre) and a range of colours.

Traditional Metal Watering Cans

Whilst plastic watering cans have the advantage on weight they don't have the durability of metal watering cans and this is proven by the amount of old fashioned galvanised steels can that are still being used today after being passed down from a generation or two of gardeners. A good quality plastic can may last a very long time but the majority of plastic cans sold today are cheap and nasty.

The traditional British metal watering was galvanised to stop it rusting,  grey in colour, with a copper rose. Being round, and bulky these cans caused a fair few bruises on my legs when I lugged one around as a youngster - many moons ago.  This style of can is still available but the coating is now titanium coloured galva-gaurd, which looks similar.

Modern British made metal watering cans come in a range of sizes and now you can get the slimmer profile ones that are easier on your legs and back.

click here for traditional metal watering cans

The Pinpoint -  A Stylish New Push Button Watering Can

 Golden Shed Award Winner

use links below for best standard plastic watercan

Copper Metal Watering Cans

This is my old Haws copper watering can that has been made in a factory in Birmingham for decades.

Copper is extremely light and does not rust so makes fantastic cans. Sadly copper is extremely expensive so copper watering cans tend to be the smaller type for conservatories and widow sills. You can still buy a hand made 1litre version of my old can that is made in Brum using the link below.

It makes a lovely present and also helps keep traditional British garden tool making alive.

Modern Haws Watering Cans

These are my 2 modern Haws watering cans that I use in my garden in Oxford.

The silver one is metal and has a slimline profile that is easy to carry. It is galvanised steel so it wont rust and looks totally natural in a garden.

The green one is made from top quality plastic so it is very light to carry. It has 2 little spigots that are used to keep the rose and another small spout safe and always at hand when you need it.

All of the Haws watering cans are available in a range of colours and 2 sizes.

I have tested many gadgets and giszmos over the last 15 years that claim to water your plants when you go away. I have lost a lot of plants as a result! The 2 gadgets below are the most reliable I know.

Bottle Top Watering Spikes

These self regulating spikes use air temperature to dictate the amount of water released. Therefore they water more when the weather is hot and the plants need it. Each Kit comes with a small 650mm container but you can change this and add your own bottle.

 buy drinks bottle watering spike

fits bottles up to 2 litres

These Aqua balance bottle top watering spikes lasted about 4 years in the fredshed test and saved a lot of plants.

(There are cheap copies of these that don't work and are a total waste of money)

Hanging Basket Watering Solution

These amazing little pads swell up with water and retain it so that it is released into your hanging basket or pot slowly and carefully. As they dry they shrink back but then swell again with watering.

These slices are made from a new environmentally friendly material unlike some of the old swell gel type products that came out around 10 years ago.

The water slice is also very durable and is like a sponge. I have dried them out and left them for weeks before dehydrating and they survived this test.

These big water swollen gel slices are for hanging baskets but can also go in the bottom of pots

New Product -The Polanter self watering wall hung basket

One of the most promising new products for 2010 at a recent trade show was this 100% recycled,  self watering plant basket.

The ingenious design makes good use of wall space and should save you lots of time with watering  as it has a built in seep hose. I will be testing the Polanter soon and will report here, watch this space

COMING SOON

This superb long handled watering lance has an adjustable head that can produce a shower like drenching pattern or a fine delicate mist.

Ideal for ferns, seedlings and wet T shirt competitions.

If you have hanging baskets or deep borders with delicate plants then a telescopic lance will be best. Rehau are a German company who make a wide range of good quality watering equipment including the excellent telescopic lance I use. If you want a cheaper version then Draper is a suitable option.

If you don't need a telescopic lance the short 18 inch one is very handy and takes up less shed space too.

Hydroponics - Growing cuttings in Water

At first I was a bit dubious about the need to use hi-tech to grow cuttings. I seem to do ok just sticking them down the side of a path or in a pot with a shower cap over it but it does take ages and sometimes totally fails. The Hydropod is a way of getting plants from cuttings very quickly and reliably. You can go from cutting to replanting in as little as 14 days.

The cuttings in the Hydropod are placed in small rockwool discs that are then bathed in a water/nutrient solution in a deep propagator. The product is made in the UK and well supported for replenishments by a company called Greenhouse Sensation, based in Lancashire. I was really impressed how well this worked and if you are short of space or going into space this is an ideal way to create new plants from your existing stock.

Hydropod

Going into space? or just into hi-tech growing

try the Hydropod for fast cuttings

I have owned or tried a number of lawn sprinklers over the years and often found them hard to set up right.

The Gardena Aquazoom impressed me the most as it is very easy to adjust and like all German made Gardena products - it is a quality product that lasts.

If you want a cheap simple version (UK made too) then the Hozelock Aquastorm will do the job.

If you dont like plastic in your garden then German manufacturer Rehau do metal models too.

Available in a range of sizes, one model even has a built in timer.!

This elegant device looks like a piece of garden sculpture but is actually a very practical garden sprinkler.

 It is particularly good for people who have trouble bending as you can attach the hose and place the sprinkler from a standing position.

The two copper circles spin in opposite directions and create an attractive and hypnotising effect.

Sadly I cannot find a supplier of the one shown which was beautiful and effective.

So far I have only found smaller ones that have a single circular sprinkler

I will be looking so watch this space, in the meantime.......

click to see similar ornamental sprinklers

These handy little plastic gadgets let you convert an old pop bottle into the most convenient watering can.

The slim size is ideal for sitting on narrow shelves and heating up to room temperature in the sun.

You can use a variety of sizes of pop bottle including coloured ones that look nicer on a window sill.

The bottle top waterers are so handy and so popular with my readers that in 2002 I awarded them a coveted Golden Shed Award.

Bottle Top Watering Caps make ideal gifts for any plant lover.

The packet includes 4 mini bottle top sprinklers

 click to buy bottle top watering pack

Fred's Recommended Hosepipe Kits

You cant really go wrong buying a Hozelock hose as the company has  been making hoses in the Uk for donkeys years and also have top class technical help and warranty support. They offer a range of qualities and lengths to suit your garden. The anti kink hose can be useful but it is not 100% unstoppable.

If you want some really high performance top quality hose then take a look at Gardena

remember when buying  plastic products! Buy  cheap - buy twice !

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Featured right are some of  the most popular plastic hose connectors in the UK.

I tested Gardena, Hozelock and Draper and Rehau.

After 15 years of extensive testing I have come to the conclusion that Gardena are the best closely followed by Hozelock and Rehau. Draper is a good budget brand and widely available. Mostly you will be able to mix and match but it is better to stick to one system.

 My personal favorite is the Gardena system as it has the best ergonomic grip for use by wet or arthritic hands, and seems to be the least affected by UV (sunlight) and frost. It is also the most expensive and not as easily available in the UK as the  brand leader - Hozelock.

Gardena and Hozelock both make a more expensive metal (partly) connector.

buy all Draper, Hozelock and Reahu Plastic garden watering connectors online

The latest Hozelock and Garden metal/plastic connectors.

Beware of really cheap watering connectors, they will undoubtedly leak and break up after a couple of seasons. Also they tend to get stuck or leak which is even more annoying

The connectors shown are known as female connectors and are the ones that you fit your spray gun into, (ooh la la)

A more advanced version is the water stop connector which as the name suggests, stops the water coming out when you disconnect whatever was fixed to it. This is very useful if you often change from a spray gun to a lawn sprinkler for instance.

The waterstop connector will save you going back to the tap to turn it off and also stop you getting a soaking!

Gardena and Hozelock both make a more expensive metal  connector. Whilst these connectors do contain metal parts and should last longer than the all plastic connectors please be aware that they still contain plastic parts , which if broken , will render the connector useless.

If you want hosepipe connectors that are really strong and ones you can park your car on then check out the solid brass ones below.

Whatever type of connector you buy you will find that over time they will stiffen up and become hard to use. Even the brass ones have plastic inside them so it is a good idea to have a can of silicon lubricant to keep them nice and slippery for easy use. Silicon spray is like oil for plastic so having a can in your shed is essential in my opinion.

Brass Hose Connectors - Are they the best hosepipe connectors?

For the ultimate in durability brass is definitely the best. The range of fittings equals that of the plastic type and are only slightly more expensive than premium plastic connectors.

The twin manifold (shown right) is handy for running a hosepipe down the garden and also leaving a short length for filling cans, or washing the car..

When buying brass connectors be aware that they come in 2 sizes, 1/2 and 3/4 inch so check your hosepipe diameter.

I recommend buying brass fittings from  reliable long term manufacturers such as Darlac,  CK, Rehau and Draper. This way you can add to your system without compatibility problems.

 see the widest range of brass garden watering fittings

TOP FREDSHED TIP FOR WATERING SYSTEMS

Don't forget to disconnect and/or open manifolds in winter otherwise ice will crack them up!

Hozelock Water Manifold for connecting multiple watering systems

Place it anywhere !

I have used one of these excellent gadgets for over 12 years now and although it has faded a bit in the sun it still works well and is one of the most useful pieces of equipment in my garden.

Whilst there are many 2,3 and 4 branch manifolds that fit directly onto your tap the Hozelock one has the versatility to be placed away from the tap in a more convenient location.

It can be used with or without a timer and is simple to set up.

buy this superb 4 way tap connector

My  watering system is powered by the sun- strange but true and due to my Gardena "profi solar"  water timer.  This superb gadget is easily programmed and the programming module pulled on  and off so that you don't have to bend down to the tap.

This top of the range water computer cost about £80 but  has all the functions  including manual override and can be connected to a rain or soil moisture sensor.  Sadly the Gardena solar timer is no longer available. However my friends at Darlac have launched a cheaper solar powered water timer will also cope with the low pressure from a water butt. It does not have a pull off front but does have simple dial settings.

One important thing to remember when using automatic watering systems and timers is that as the plants grow the watering requirements will change. Therefore it is a good idea to buy a timer that you can easily alter, because you are likely to be doing it often.

Some plants may need individual attention so try to fit adjustable drippers to these areas so you can adjust the flow to one plant without effecting all the others.

When it comes to buying water timers the leading brand in the UK is Hozelock. (which is also made in the UK)  The Hozelock timers are well designed but they are at the cheaper end of the market and sadly seem prone to leaking. My preferred brand is Gardena and I still have some very old timers running perfectly.

use link below to compare prices and see more models

 buy a simple Hozelock water timer

AUTOMATIC WATERING SYSTEMS

FREDSHED TOP TIP!

If you go away on holiday and leave an automatic system set up do get a neighbour or someone to check on it occasionally. Birds and small animals may disconnect pipes or blockages may occur. I once arrived home smuggly from a trip expecting to see a bumper crop of tomatoes only to find them dead and a new pond in another part of my garden!

Watering can be a pain in the butt! aha get the pun?  Not watering can be expensive if your new plants wither and die whilst you are away for the weekend. This year I have been using a new watering system from Gardena that is the best I have ever tried.

This new micro-drip system has metal clips that enable you to quickly and easily pull the tubes apart to replace or move drippers. Hozelock also make very similar watering systems which are cheaper and more widely available . The Hozeleock version does not have the quick release clips which is ok if your system will not need changing much, fitting adjustable nozzles will also help.

click here to buy complete automatic watering kits from a Fredshed recommended supplier

Coiled Hose Watering Device

Coiled hoses save space and time as they stretch quickly to 50ft and then spring back to virtually nothing. As with most good inventions there are many cheap copies about being sold by unscrupulous people.

I have sourced a good quality one from a UK based supplier I have worked with for years and who is known for reliable value for money garden products.

A superb little spray gun is included and the fittings are all compatible with Hozelock and Gardena.

 best priced 20m recoil hose and spraygun

 Still can't find the tool you are looking for?
 

For free expert advice - on buying tools, (on and off-line) mail me at
fred@fredshed.com 

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