What do you do about watering your gardens when you are off on a jaunt???? (1 Viewer)

[Larrynwin]

Timed watering doesn't work too well in practice.
You don't get an even distribution, so it can take a long time to set up (each time you alter one section, it affects another). I've used the water sensing devices to prevent over-watering but have not been convinced that they work.
The best method I've found is to water into very large trays, into which you stand pots. Watering is more even that way and serious overwatering less likely.

I would contradict that as my system as posted above with careful set up and maintenance worked perfectly for many years watering no less than twenty patio pots large and small.

 

[berni109]

waterirrigation.co.uk
Have everything u need and u can read up about what u need on their site. Bear in mind your water pressure if u have a large garden might need multiple timers operating at different times
Much cheaper than anyone else. (Not connected to them in any way)

 

[Ivory55]

If it’s a big garden would it be better to have a tank as a buffer if the pressure is low ? No idea as we don’t water anything.

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[Despicable]

Successfully used a Hozelock timer system for a couple of years; then the timer detached itself from the tap. Luckily we weren't away at the time. so only had a slightly flooded garden. Not sure what caused the failure, it may have been a cheapo (non-Hozelock) connector on the tap. Anyway, the experience made my wallet paranoid about leaving the tap on in the garden whilst away, so now the plants have to rely on the weather, which is quite good at keeping things moist in South Somerset.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Successfully used a Hozelock timer system for a couple of years; then the timer detached itself from the tap. Luckily we weren't away at the time. so only had a slightly flooded garden. Not sure what caused the failure, it may have been a cheapo (non-Hozelock) connector on the tap. Anyway, the experience made my wallet paranoid about leaving the tap on in the garden whilst away, so now the plants have to rely on the weather, which is quite good at keeping things moist in South Somerset.

That's why I don't do it now, we're on a water meter. I did set up an experimental system with a tank, water pump and moisture sensor but after a couple of failed attempts I lost interest.

 

[BillyKontiki]

Leave it to the gardener.

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[Trevor Wbm]

Hozelock timers, with a mix of porous hose, sprinklers and dribblers on at sunset and sunrise for 2 minutes. Also a ball cock valve for the pond.

 

[bobnick]

Our Butler waters it, cause we sacked the gardener for growing weed..............well actually sacked him for not sharing it

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We use a freeby system ,not very reliable but works 3 or 4 times a week.

RAIN

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[simbadog]

I just thought id ask as you are all obviously experienced at getting out and about, how do you water your plants ,hanging baskets, fruit and veg etc,when you are off on your travels?(obviously this is aimed at people who have a garden) when we had motorhomes we just didnt do much gardening ,and block paving and lawn was about all we had, we have since got carried away with borders,pots, tubs, and hanging baskets,thinking we would be at home,(plugs of bedding plants in conservatory waiting to get pottedwhen weather improves, but the otherday i impulsively booked a flight to spain,for july, and am now thinking what i can do about my plants? i cant ask anyone to do it for me , and ive been looking at irrigation systems ,like hozelock ,has anyone any recomendations please? Thankyou pampam
and before you say it
this is when a fulltimer could park on your drive lol

Surely one get's ones gardener to do it?

 

[Vipar]

Got the best ever neighbours they do it every other day

 

[Ridgeway]

Daughter who lives upstairs: feed the cat, fish, pigs, rabbits, hens etc and also water the window boxes and baskets which need a daily/evening soak (Petunias).

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[Spriddler]

I get the local dog walker to pop in and do mine for a fiver a visit. Ten minute job.

 

[Cheshirecat57]

I just thought id ask as you are all obviously experienced at getting out and about, how do you water your plants ,hanging baskets, fruit and veg etc,when you are off on your travels?(obviously this is aimed at people who have a garden) when we had motorhomes we just didnt do much gardening ,and block paving and lawn was about all we had, we have since got carried away with borders,pots, tubs, and hanging baskets,thinking we would be at home,(plugs of bedding plants in conservatory waiting to get pottedwhen weather improves, but the otherday i impulsively booked a flight to spain,for july, and am now thinking what i can do about my plants? i cant ask anyone to do it for me , and ive been looking at irrigation systems ,like hozelock ,has anyone any recomendations please? Thankyou pampam
and before you say it
this is when a fulltimer could park on your drive lol

Not sure’ but I think one of the staff does it.

 

[Old Barrian]

When we rook an extended holiday a few years ago, I invested in a water timer and a couple of oscillating sprinklers from Screwfix. With a bit of trial and error I managed to get the sprinklers to cover virtually all of the garden. The timer was set to come on at about 2 a.m. (so that there was no risk of the neighbours being caught by a freak wind while they were out in their own gardens) for about 30 minutes. Worked perfectly and not very expensive.

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[irnbru]

We get so much rain we have a good water table so rarely have to think about "Whose going to water the plants"

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Normally pay someone local to do it and someone else to cut the grass. Did offer free MH parking in 1.5 acres with EHU and toilet facilities to anyone that wanted to stay for a couple of weeks in Cornwall as long as they did the watering which takes about 45 minutes a day by hose. Problem is how do you know you can trust whoever accepts the offer to do the job?

 

[maison]

Our teenage grandson does ours and keeps the lawns under control. We pay him a pocket money amount for doing so. He also checks mail for us.

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[Caggsie1]

ooops wrong thread, soz.

 

[DerryW]

Gardena micro bore timer system. Neighbour or Son keeps an eye on things.

 

[Offagain]

Timed watering doesn't work too well in practice.
You don't get an even distribution, so it can take a long time to set up (each time you alter one section, it affects another). I've used the water sensing devices to prevent over-watering but have not been convinced that they work.
The best method I've found is to water into very large trays, into which you stand pots. Watering is more even that way and serious overwatering less likely.

We have used timed watering for many years with success. It does take a while to set up but as long as nobody fiddles with it - one of our girls came round while we were away once and disconnect the timer from the tap so she could wash her car - it works fine. We now have dedicated taps for the timers - one for the front garden and one for the back - and another for everything else. The timers are set so they come on at different times so the water pressure isn’t lowered by trying to run both zones concurrently.

Successfully used a Hozelock timer system for a couple of years; then the timer detached itself from the tap. Luckily we weren't away at the time. so only had a slightly flooded garden. Not sure what caused the failure, it may have been a cheapo (non-Hozelock) connector on the tap. Anyway, the experience made my wallet paranoid about leaving the tap on in the garden whilst away, so now the plants have to rely on the weather, which is quite good at keeping things moist in South Somerset

also, if the batteries go flat out they fail “on”. I have recent experience of this in a holiday cottage . The guests became concerned when the water was running down the path and onto the road. Fortunately I was only 5 minutes away so went over and disconnected it.

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[Jewellbags]

We use a combo of bribery (next doors teenage son ) , blackmail (daughter who like to use the moho ) and clever gardening . Raised beds lined with damp proof course , our own compost which holds moisture lovely , mulch with grit or from Apsley farms in Andover , planting so that we create some shade and we also cross fingers

 

[Shrimp]

Garden?
Watering plants?
The whole world is our garden and we have millions of gardeners never have to worry about watering, weeds nor re-planting!

 

[L' Hobo]

Last year I contacted Anglia Water about their save water promotion. They very kindly sent me a box of goodies which contained, amongst others things, a packet of small jelly like particle for the hanging baskets BUT I found they work just as well in my larger, floor based, pots. When one waters, or it rains, they mixed in the soil, absorb the water and expands and then slowly release the water over the next couple of weeks. Not foolproof but seems to works and being free is a bonus, try your water company, they might do something similar?

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[Lenny HB]

As I said eairler when we get our daughter to water them we normally come back to dead plants.
Before this trip Mi put a request on the local Facebook page offering to pay and a nice lady volunteered to do it & didn't want any payment. We will of course take here back something, would have been wine but she doesn't drink.

 

[L' Hobo]

As I said eairler when we get our daughter to water them we normally come back to dead plants.
Before this trip Mi put a request on the local Facebook page offering to pay and a nice lady volunteered to do it & didn't want any payment. We will of course take here back something, would have been wine but she doesn't drink.

Flowers or produce from your garden, while your away, is always acceptable.

 

[G-RMPS]

We had 130 pots that needed watering regularly - daily when it was dry. It all became too difficult. We now live in a flat

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[BillyKontiki]

Don’t have the problem in the west coast of Scotland.

 

[GirlyVanGirly]

Our neighbours will keep an eye on our garden and greenhouse, and they are welcome to harvest any veg that's ready, we do the same for them. Their runner beans were lovely this year! better than ours. We share excess seedlings, cuttings etc. too.

 

[Langtoftlad]

If you have a watering system, and a water meter... contact your utility company to get a discount on your sewerage charge...

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