Safefertilizer’s Weblog

For success in your natural gardening venture, you need to have the right tools.  The basic place to start is by examining your watering tools.  You may be thinking “Of course I need a hose and a sprinkler.  I already know that.”  First of all, you do not need a sprinkler.  Sprinklers are a super way to waste water.  Second, you do need a hose, but what kind?  Third, in order to deliver water most efficiently, and beneficially to plants, you need a watering wand with a breaker on the end.  The breaker breaks up the solid stream of water from the hose, turning the stream into something like raindrops, reducing the chance for runoff of the water you hope will reach your plant roots.  A breaker also does not spray water in forceful streams like a water “gun.” 

For everyday watering, I prefer a passive breaker, such as the one pictured, rather than an attachment with different settings. To reach plants far back in flower beds, you need a watering wand to attach between the breaker and the hose. 

The newest trend in watering wands is a “touch and flow wand,” however, I like the plain old metal pipe with a breaker attached, pictured.  Anything that requires me to squeeze a handle while watering for an hour or two at a time is not something that works long-term for me. The want allows me to reach the roots of the plant without bending over or sending a harsh, damaging spray.  Sometimes the most simple tool is the best.

So, why a wand and hose instead of a sprinkler? 

For diverse plantings with mulch in between, a wand makes sense.  You put the water exactly where it needs to go—near the plant—instead of watering yards of mulch.  You use less water when you hand water.  You also spend less time watering because you can water deeply, stimulating roots to grow deeper and lessen the frequency of waterings.