How to Water a Garden Without Running Water: 12 Creative Solutions

by

You can water a garden very well without a hosepipe. Practice now and you’ll be well prepared for a hosepipe ban.

I wince at seeing the way many gardeners overuse their hosepipes. Sprinklers spray a wasteful curve and even spray guns encourage overuse of our precious water resources. A can is a great way to water a garden, and it doesn’t take much longer than a hosepipe. This blog will explain why.

Over a number of years, I’ve had to learn good ways to water my garden and save water. This is something I’m happy to do for the environment, but I also have to do it because I have a big garden. At 2 acres there is no way I can water everywhere. I am sure I use less water now than when I had a small courtyard garden. Back then I sprayed water around with insouciance, now I’m much more careful.

Here are some smart ways to water your garden that will save you time, water, and make sure your plants grow well.

A thriving vegetable or flower garden requires regular watering, especially during the hot, dry months of summer. But what if you don’t have the convenience of turning on a hose or sprinkler? Lack of running water or electricity shouldn’t deter you from growing a beautiful garden. With some creativity and strategic planning, you can absolutely water your garden without running water.

Here are 12 clever ways to irrigate your garden when you don’t have access to spigots hoses or automatic sprinklers

1. Watering Can

The humble watering can is a timeless, low-tech way to water plants. Fill up multiple cans from a rain barrel or other water source and make the rounds to thirsty plants. Target the water at soil level rather than spraying leaves. Carrying cans builds strength and gets you up close to tend to each plant.

2. Rose Watering Can Attachment

A rose attachment fastened to your watering can disperses water over a wider area, perfect for gently watering delicate seedlings or closely spaced plants. Less suitable for larger veggie plants, but great for ornamentals, herbs, and flowers.

3. Drip Irrigation

A gravity-fed drip irrigation system transports water directly to roots through a network of tubing and emitters It’s easy to set up without power and uses water very efficiently Run the main supply line from your water source to garden beds,

4. Ollas

Ollas are unglazed, porous clay vessels partly buried near plants to slowly seep water into the soil. Fill them as needed for a constant supply right to the roots. Group ollas among closely spaced plants.

5. Plastic Bottles

Cut the bottom off plastic bottles and bury them neck-down next to plants Fill occasionally and the water will steadily diffuse outward, Or pierce caps with small holes and push upside down bottles into soil as mini reservoirs

6. Milk Jugs

Poke a small drainage hole in the bottom of a plastic milk jug. Submerge the jug in a water source to fill then invert and bury it beside plants. The water will gradually drain into the soil. Refill as needed.

7. Wicking Beds

Plant thirsty crops like tomatoes in deep beds lined with absorbent cloth. Keep one end sitting in a water source. The wicking cloth will draw water along the entire length of the bed.

8. Soaker Hoses

Soaker hoses seep water through tiny pores over their entire length. Lay the hose beside garden rows and connect it to your water supply. The gentle seep irrigation keeps foliage dry.

9. Rain Barrels

Install rain barrels under gutter downspouts to collect free roof runoff. Use the water to manually fill cans and irrigate plants right from the garden. Add a soaker hose for convenience.

10. Hand Watering

It’s low-tech but hand watering with a hose or wand works fine, especially for smaller gardens. Water slowly and deeply at soil level. Avoid watering midday to reduce evaporation.

11. Sprinklers

Oscillating or rotating sprinklers cover a wider area than spraying by hand. Use a timer to automate watering durations. Be sure to adjust sprinklers to avoid watering paths and structures.

12. Mulch

Spreading organic mulch over soil retains moisture and prevents evaporation. Replenish the mulch layer each season to reduce water needs and give plants a healthy boost.

With a little ingenuity, lack of running water doesn’t need to limit your gardening success. Set up an efficient system using one or more of these techniques and you’ll save time and effort while keeping your garden well hydrated all season long.

How to water the garden with watering cans

  • Have two cans ready. Fill up one while you water with the other. Making sure you’re done watering before the second one fills up can become a game, but it does speed things up, and you can change the tap to fill more slowly if you need to.
  • If you need to water a lot of seedlings or small plants, don’t use a rose to spread the water out.
  • For bigger plants, use the spout to send a strong stream of water straight to the roots.
  • Use a diluted liquid tomato feed or liquid seaweed to feed your plants while you water them. You’ll save time and have done two things at once. You can buy feed attachments for hoses, but they’re pricey and hard to use.
  • Check on your plants often. If you use a can, you have to get just a little closer to them, which makes it easier to see problems like pests or good things like buds taking shape.

5 good reasons why it’s OK to ditch the hosepipe

While most people think that using a hose to water a garden saves time, I really don’t think that’s always the case. Here’s why.

  • Weeds need water too. If you aim the water from a hose at the roots of a plant you want to grow, it will do well while the weeds around it die off. If you run a sprinkler in a wide circle over a large area, the weeds will come up. It will save a lot of time and effort to water with a can for a few extra minutes. It’s a rational decision.
  • Plants do better with a deeper root run. Deep roots are encouraged through parsimonious watering. When you plant each plant, give it a good drink. After that, only give it as much water as it needs to stay alive. Its roots will be pushed to go deeper in search of water. If you give a plant lots of shallow waterings at first, the roots will stay near the surface, which will be bad in the long run.
  • Not all plants need regular watering. When you walk around the garden with a hose, you might want to water everything, even if it doesn’t need it. You should only water plants that are actually dying. If you watch them and act when they start to wilt, you will save water. Over time, you’ll learn which plants need more water and which ones can handle a drought just fine with a little bit of water here and there. Then you can water your plants more efficiently because you’ll know which ones need to be watered every day, every week, and never.
  • Hoses stop you investing in water saving devices and techniques. If you have a hosepipe, you’re not as likely to buy water-saving tools, store water in butts and tanks, or choose plants that will do well in your yard. A few simple, low-cost things you can do when you plant will save you time and money in the long run. See below for some water-saving ideas.
  • When the hosepipe ban finally comes, you won’t know what to do. You will be mad at the weather or the water company instead of enjoying a garden that will grow no matter what.

How To Build A FREE DIY Garden DIP IRRIGATION System With Milk Jugs!

FAQ

What is the best way to self water a garden?

If you don’t have a rain barrel, you can create your own self-watering system with recycled plastic bottles. Remove the caps from a few empty soda bottles and use a nail to poke a tiny hole in each. Or, simply replace the caps with funnel-shaped spikes, available at your local garden center.

What can I use instead of a hose?

Using poly tubing instead of a garden hose allows you to get the most out of your system and maximize your existing resources – such as the flow rate from the hose bibb.

What can I use instead of a watering can?

A large jug without a handle will work just as well as a milk jug with a handle. You can even use a regular water bottle! Clean out the bottle. Fill the bottle with water, then close the cap tightly.

Can I water my garden without an outside tap?

When it comes to watering your garden without an outside tap, there are a few techniques you can use to get the job done. In this section, we’ll explore three popular methods: drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and bottle irrigation. Drip irrigation is a great option for watering your garden without an outside tap.

What is the easiest way to water your garden?

The easiest way but most costly to water your garden with the least amount of effort on your part is an automatic irrigation system. There are many to choose from, but a drip irrigation system is perfect for a backyard garden and sprinklers for your lawn. There are many types of controllers and timers.

How do I Keep my watering system healthy?

Regardless, there are a number of tools and do-it-yourself methods that will put your watering systems on autopilot whether or not you’re at home. Drip irrigation, soaker hoses, rain barrels, sprinklers, plastic bottles, water baths, and water wicking are seven passive irrigation systems that will contribute to a healthier garden.

How do you water a garden without a spray nozzle?

Using a plain garden hose (with or without a spray nozzle) is a classic way to water your garden. Some nozzle attachments have multiple settings, including: Soaker – this setting allows you to water without using a strong spray of water (so you can avoid washing away dirt and exposing the roots of plants).

Leave a Comment