.. but they do have a fantastic range of purposes!
They are great for the summer holidays where you want to spend time in your garden relaxing.

(Not standing up, holding a hose or watering can!)

Owning a sprinkler enables you to keep the lawn/garden alive and watered and at the same time you can sit and enjoy the weather!

They also make great fun on hot days for children and dogs!

Here is a quick summary of our top picks for the best garden sprinkler, you can read more detailed and in-depth reviews further down.

Hozelock Rectangular Sprinkler

• Price: ££
• Coverage: 180-260m
• Weight: 358g
• High quality with a range of settings

See Price

Hozelock Round Sprinkler

• Price: ££
• Coverage: 254m²
• Weight: 259g
• With its range of settings suits all your needs

See Price

Silverline Sprinkler

• Price: £
• Coverage: 3m²
• Weight: 154g
• For small gardens or patios

See Price

Karcher Sprinkler

• Price: £££
• Coverage: 320m²
• Weight: 954g
• A very high quality piece of kit by reputable brand

See Price

Best Garden Sprinklers

1. Hozelock Round Garden Sprinkler Plus 254m² / 314m²

What does it do?

The Hozelock Garden Sprinkler Plus has four arms that rotate and either spray as a jet for watering turf and established plants or a delicate mist spray for young plants or seedlings.

There are two jets and the unit has a ‘sled’ base so it will be stable sitting on any surface.

The second most expensive sprinkler in our list, for the extra money you are getting a lot of functionality.

• Coverage: 254m² (up to 18m total diameter) but can also be bought to cover 314m squared for a little more money.
• Dimensions: 20 x 10 x 23 cm
• Weight: 259g

See Price on Amazon

2. Hozelock Rectangular Garden Sprinkler Plus 180m² / 200m² / 260m²

What does it do?

The Hozelock Rectangular Sprinkler Plus is a great little gadget that comes in three sizes.

To suit all garden sizes.

The 180m², 200m² and the 260m²  Hozelock sprinklers are specially design to give powerful and even water coverage.

(It doesn’t matter what the water pressure is.)

You will still get an excellent flow thanks to the water powered gear drive motor.

There are 15 jets and the unit has a ‘sled’ base so it will be stable sitting on any surface.

There is no fine spray feature.
The Hozelock plus sprinkler shape is a rectangle, which could be more useful for standard square or rectangle lawns

(Area of coverage can be adjusted via the simple red lever.)

• Coverage: 180m², 200m² or 260m²
• Dimensions: The smallest sprinkler is measures 9 x 12 x 41.5 cm
• Weight: 358g

See Price on Amazon

3. Silverline Impulse Garden Sprinkler

What does it do?

A classic looking garden sprinkler from Silverline.

It has the ability to cover up to 520m².
An affordable sprinkler that pokes into the ground, so it wont blow away.

The only downside is that the spike is not as robust as you would probably like it to be.

(So you need to be a bit gentle with it.)
It takes a bit of getting used to – the instruction card is not the most informative.

But when you have worked it out it is a fantastic little gadget.
You are able to set the spray angle at 90, 180, 270 or 360 degrees, which is super useful.

Especially if you are wanting to be in one area of the garden whilst the sprinkler is in use (and not get soaked!)
The water flow is good, regardless of the water pressure.

You can also use your regular Hozelock connectors with it.

• Coverage: up to 520m²
• Dimensions: 33.3 x 11.9 x 6.6 cm
• Weight: 306g

See Price on Amazon

4. Wisdomwell Garden 3 Arm Sprinkler

What does it do?

A super simple and to the point sprinkler.

No fancy features or calibration needed.

Just plug in and go, you can use standard Hozelock connectors with the Bradas garden sprinkler.
It works very well even with low pressure water and is super small so easy to store.
It is the cheapest sprinkler in our list and the most basic.

But if you have never owned a lawn sprinkler before and only want to spend a few pounds to try one out then perhaps give it a go.
Its spray diameter is perfect for most gardens, and can easily be moved if you want to use in different areas.

One thing to bare in mind is that the unit is very light so could easily be blown or tipped up.

Maximum 4 bar pressure, if you have higher pressure, the sprinkler will leak.

This sprinkler can also be bought in a slightly larger size for bigger gardens, for just a couple of pounds more.

See Price on Amazon

5. Kärcher Premium Oscillating Sprinkler – OS 5.320SV

What does it do?

The most premium water sprinkler in our 10 picks.

This really is a wonderful, well though out product.

If you’re a proud gardener is the perfect accessory to fill you with joy every time you use it.
It’s a robust and well made beautiful device.

The oscillating sprinklers ensure a great, even coverage.

This garden sprinkler guarantees stability with a strong base and two fold out anchor spikes for extra stability.

(Ensuring it will stay put, even on the most uneven ground.)
We love the adjustable spray patterns and the individual turn off buttons.

(You can tailor the coverage perfectly to your garden.)
It has a huge area coverage of up to 320m² and has a long life.

The Kärcher Premium has a robust and durable gear system with a water flow regulator so you can fully customise the volume of water used.
Bonus features include a rotating spray guard, that flips over a portion of the nozzles so you don’t get soaked when making adjustments.

As part of the sturdy base, there is a hanging hook for easy storage and an integrated pin so you can clean the nozzles if any become blocked.

(This is hidden away and can be accessed by turning a dial.)
It can be used with your regular Kärcher / Hozelock hose connectors.

• Coverage: up to 320m²
• Dimensions: 54.6 x 16 x 8.8 cm
• Weight: 971g

See Price on Amazon

6. Gardena Premium Full or Part Circle Pulse Sprinkler

What does it do?

The Oasis Ahead sprinkler gives pulsating water coverage with up to 360 degrees rotation.

This sprinkler comfortable covers the largest area in our comparison list.

Ranging from 490m² depending on your water pressure.

You can easily set the distance you want the water to reach using the large adjusting knob.
It can be used, like most other water sprinklers, for simply watering your lawn or flower beds, for lawns or for just plain old Summer water fun.

Or as part of an irrigation system, or as a fun summer splashing activity for children or water loving dogs.
One great little features is the ‘connector thread’ on the unit, which allow you to connect multiple sprinklers onto the same loop.
The base unit is a robust and heard wearing, plastic sled with integrated metal inserts.

Being a Gardena product, it is definitely high quality, you have the ability for precise fine adjustment of the flow control. the metal hammer and precision nozzle are made of quality materials to endure years of use.

The cost of this sprinkler is significantly more than some of the other ones in this list, however, just like the Karcher sprinkler, the added quality, level of control and longevity of use is worth the extra upfront cost.

There is a 5 year warranty with this sprinkler also. If is cared for properly, it will likely last a lot longer though.

See Price on Amazon

7. Hozelock Round Sprinkler Pro 314m²

What does it do?

A great all rounder from Hozelock.

The sled design ensures stability on uneven ground and in borders, Although plastic can give off a ‘cheap’ vibe, actually, when it comes to water, having a plastic tool can ofter be better as there is no chance of rust.

The Hozelock loud sprinkler can water a full or part circle.
The coverage is up to 314m², which means up to 20m in diameter.

Much like the other Hozelock, this one also has two spray patterns, jet spray for lawns or fine spray for delicate seeds.

There are 5 jets, which give a great amount of water flow, regardless of the water pressure. It can be used with water pressure from 1 – 10 bar. This is good news are some of the sprinklers leak if you have the tap open too much and the water pressure is too high, they just can’t take it and leaks or break.

We like this one because it is quiet too.

So you can be peacefully reading at one end of the garden whilst hands free watering the garden at the other end!

• Coverage: up to 314m²
• Weight: 227g
• Can be bought with a sled base or a spike base

See Price on Amazon

8. Silverline 8-Pattern Dial Sprinkler

What does it do?

The Silverline, considering its very budget appeal, is packed with quite a few features.

How long it will last is another question.

But at the end of the day, if you’re only after a cheap sprinkler to keep your grass alive through the short British summer.

And the sprinkler you buy will most likely end up ‘somewhere’ in the shed over winter… this one might be just be for you!

• It can be used with Hozelock fittings
• Has 8 patterns
• 360 degree rotation

Pretty impressive!

The spray patterns are:

• single jet
• double jet
• small circle mist
• large circle spray
• large circle mist
• large circle spray
• small semi circle
• large semi circle

That all sounds pretty confusing but if you look at the top of the sprinkler, there is a convenient little symbol code for each setting, that logical describes the setting.

It is not going to be the very best sprinkler in the world at this price.

But will certainly keep you amused for a while playing with all the different settings.

It doesn’t cover a huge area, so if you have the patience to pull it around the garden every now and again then you will be well away.

• Coverage: around 3m²
• Dimensions: Very small and round.
• Weight: 154g

See Price on Amazon

9. Greenkey Metal Base Pulsating Sprinkler

What does it do?

The Greenkey sprinkler looks high quality straight away thanks to its robust looking solid metal base.
It is kind of vintage looking, like an old piece of farm machinery.

Which is always a bonus.

It feels luxurious and is heavy. The components feel durable and resilient to knocks.

The upside: there’s no spike that goes into the ground that could snap.

The downside: If you accidentally kick it with bare feet you will regret it!!
It covers a circle of up to 25 metre diameter and needs 2 bar water pressure for the most effective operation.

(The water bar pressure scale goes from 1 – 10).
The head in made of zinc and the hose connector is brass for a long lasting life.

In terms of dispersing the water, it uses a traditional pulsating head to spray the water evenly.

This works very effectively.

An all round great addition to the garden.

• Coverage: circle of up to 25 metre diameter
• Weight: 862g

See Price on Amazon

10. GRÜNTEK Garden Oscillating Sprinkler System

What does it do?

A cheap and cheerful oscillating sprinkler. It costs less than half of the Karcher and Gardena similar alternatives.

The sprinkler comes with quick adaptor screws to fit your hose and covers up to 336m², with a blasting width of up to 21 x 25m.
It has 16 nozzles and oscillates (the nozzles move back and forth in a regular rhythm) for even water distribution.

This water sprinkler has been designed with garden life in mind, with a sturdy frame to withstand dogs, kids, weather and even accidental drops.

According the the manufacturer, this sprinkler can easily withstand the weight of an adult male standing on it, (as proven in their pictures of the product). So if you accidentally tread on it, not looking where you’re going in the garden, you won’t have to buy a replacement sprinkler.

It is designed for rectangular lawns ideally, If you have large circular lawn, you may be frustrated that it doesn’t cover your entire grass area.

You need a fairly good water pressure to make the most if this water sprinkler.

It has universal connections so can be used with your Hozelock hose for example. there is also a hidden pin inside the sprinkler unit- the pin is to help you unblock any heads than become clogged.

• Coverage: up to 336m²
• Weight: 298g

See Price on Amazon

Are Garden Sprinklers Good for the Environment?

Garden sprinklers are popular tools for maintaining lush, healthy lawns and gardens. They also provide hours of fun for children in the garden.

However, when considering their impact on the environment, it’s important to assess their benefits and potential drawbacks. Let’s explore whether garden sprinklers are truly good for the environment.

Water Conservation

One of the key concerns regarding garden sprinklers is water usage.

While it’s true that sprinklers consume water, modern sprinklers are designed with water conservation in mind. Many models feature adjustable settings, allowing you to control the water flow, duration, and coverage area.

By customising these settings to match your garden’s needs, you can minimise water wastage and promote efficient water usage.

Targeted Watering

Unlike traditional methods such as hose watering, garden sprinklers offer targeted watering capabilities.

By directing water precisely where it’s needed, you can avoid overwatering non-garden areas, reducing runoff and water waste.

Additionally, some sprinklers feature mechanisms that prevent water loss due to wind or evaporation, further enhancing water efficiency.

Timing & Automation

Garden sprinkler systems sometimes come with programmable timers, allowing you to schedule watering sessions during optimal times of the day.

By avoiding peak sunlight hours, you can minimise water loss through evaporation.

Automated systems also eliminate the risk of human error, ensuring consistent and efficient watering, even when you’re not available to manually operate the sprinklers.

If you are buying a basic sprinkler that attaches to your hose, you can opt to pair it with a hose timer that will ensure it only comes on when you want it to.

Drought Resistance

In regions prone to drought or water scarcity, garden sprinklers can be beneficial.

These systems help maintain the health of lawns and plants, reducing the risk of plant stress or death during dry spells.

By providing controlled and targeted watering, garden sprinklers assist in preserving green spaces and supporting biodiversity, even in water-restricted areas.

Reduced Pesticide Usage

When used correctly, garden sprinklers can reduce the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

Proper watering techniques promote healthy plant growth, making plants more resilient to pests and diseases.

With a well-maintained lawn or garden, you may find yourself relying less on synthetic chemicals, contributing to a healthier ecosystem.

Erosion Prevention

Garden sprinklers play a vital role in preventing soil erosion.

By providing consistent moisture to the soil, they help stabilize the ground, reducing the risk of runoff during heavy rain.

This helps maintain soil structure, prevents nutrient loss, and protects nearby water bodies from sediment contamination.

Environmental Responsibilities

It is essential to use garden sprinklers responsibly to ensure their environmental impact remains positive:

1. Water Conservation Practices: While garden sprinklers are designed for efficiency, responsible water conservation practices are still crucial. Avoid watering during periods where water is restricted such as during a hose pipe ban, adjust settings according to the specific needs of your garden, and regularly check for leaks or malfunctions that could lead to water wastage.
2. Native Plant Selection: Consider incorporating native plants into your garden, as they are better adapted to local conditions and require less water. Native plants often have deeper root systems, making them more resilient to drought and reducing the need for excessive watering.
3. Regular Maintenance: Keep your sprinkler properly maintained to ensure optimal efficiency. Check for clogged nozzles, damaged pipes, or misaligned sprinkler heads, as these can lead to water waste or inefficient watering.

By employing these practices, you can maximize the benefits of garden sprinklers while minimizing their potential drawbacks.

Garden sprinklers can be environmentally friendly when used responsibly.

Through water conservation practices, targeted watering, and proper maintenance, garden sprinklers help promote efficient water usage, reduce chemical reliance, prevent soil erosion, and support healthy plant growth.

By considering the specific needs of your garden and employing responsible watering practices.

Pros of Garden Sprinklers:

1. Efficient Watering: Garden sprinklers provide even and controlled water distribution, ensuring that plants receive adequate moisture without wasting water. They allow for targeted watering, reducing runoff and evaporation.
2. Time-Saving: With a garden sprinkler system, you can automate the watering process, saving you time and effort. You can set timers to water your garden at specific intervals, even when you’re not available.
3. Consistent Watering: Sprinklers offer consistent and regular watering, which is beneficial for plant health. They eliminate the risk of forgetting to water or underwatering your plants.
4. Coverage Area: Garden sprinklers can cover large areas, making them suitable for lawns and expansive gardens. They provide comprehensive coverage, ensuring that all plants receive the necessary water.
5. Versatility: There are various types of garden sprinklers available, including oscillating, rotary, and impact sprinklers. This variety allows you to choose a sprinkler type that best suits your garden size and layout.

Cons of Garden Sprinklers:

1. Water Waste: Improper use or malfunctioning sprinklers can lead to water waste. Overwatering or leaks can result in water runoff or excessive water usage.
2. Inefficient Watering in Windy Conditions: Wind can affect the efficiency of sprinklers, causing water to disperse unevenly or drift away from the intended target areas. This can lead to inefficient watering and water waste.
3. Limited Customisation: While some sprinklers offer adjustable settings, others may have limitations in terms of spray radius, water flow rate, or coverage area. It’s important to choose a sprinkler that suits your specific garden needs.
4. Potential Damage to Delicate Plants: Certain plants, such as delicate flowers or foliage, may be sensitive to direct water spray. Sprinklers that produce a strong spray or water droplets can damage or dislodge these plants.
5. Maintenance Requirements: Sprinkler systems require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance. This includes cleaning or replacing clogged nozzles, checking for leaks, and adjusting sprinkler heads as needed.

It’s important to weigh these pros and cons based on your specific garden requirements, climate conditions, and water availability.

Additionally, proper installation, regular maintenance, and responsible water usage practices can help mitigate some of the drawbacks associated with garden sprinklers.

The post 10 Best Garden Sprinklers UK 2023 (Tried & Tested) appeared first on Best Hose.

Check out our picks for the best Water Butt below:

Be Green 100l Rainsaver

• Price: £
• Capacity: 100L
• Material: Recycled
• Affordable standard water butt

See Price

120L Oak Effect Water Butt

• Price: ££
• Capacity: 120L
• Material: Recycled
• Wonderful Water Butt that will blend into your garden

See Price

Jacobean Dark Oak Ale Barrel

• Price: £££
• Capacity: 238L
• Material: Polymer
• Indestructable - very realistic wood effect

See Price

Terractotta Effect Water Butt

• Price: ££
• Capacity: 150L
• Material: Recycled
• Unique and attractive garden water butt

See Price

1. Be Green 100L Capacity Mini Rainsaver Water Butt

Contains everything you need to get going.

The water butt is made from recycled plastic and is packaged in simple plastic sheeting.

So not too much wastage there.

The connector pipe and tap are included and fairly easy to apply if you just follow the instructions carefully.

The lid is a firm fit and quite difficult to get off…

..(which from past experiences, is definitely a good thing!)

Its a slimline, tall water butt with 100L capacity – so perfect for light garden watering.

The 3 part stand is also a particularly study and will not buckle under the weight as it is strengthened with angled stiffeners.

The tap is also hosepipe connector compatible.

Includes:

• 100L Water butt
• Strong Lid
• Stand
• Connector Pipe / Diverter
• Tap

See Price on Amazon

2. Dawsons 210L Water Butt & Complete Kit Including Watering Can

If you’re looking for a butt with a large water capacity, this one has it at 210L.

Complete with a very sturdy stand, tap and downpipe filler.

The lid is also a little more advanced with a tightly fitting lockable lid.

I am impressed that this set comes with the appropriate stand. Some other water butts retail at the same price as this one but do not include a stand.

This Dawsons set also comes with a convenient 6.5 litre watering can for free. You may already have a watering can, but from experiences of how long it can take to fill a can from a water butt, having a second watering can is very useful. You can leave one can filling up whilst emptying another other one.

The feeder kit from the drain pipe is also included, so all in all, a good beginners kit.

See Price on Amazon

3. Cloudburst Water Butt Kit 200L 

An excellent quality all round water butt.

With a huge 200L capacity it will certainly save on your water bills.

As with the others, everything you need to set it up is included.

Just take you time and get the feeder hose at the right height on the drain pipe to ensure maximum water collection.
This water butt has a unique barrel wood grain effect in the other plastic to make it more visually acceptable in a garden.

Its made of recycled plastic which is good to hear.

The lid is also child safe – even better!!

The unique shape is slightly wider at the top than the bottom for better space saving.

The widest point at the top is about 70cm diameter.

Includes:

• Everything you need to set up
• Stand
• Diverter Kit
• Tap

See Price on Amazon

4. Wooden Barrel Effect Water Butt 50L / 120L / 240L

This style of water butt is much more attractive that the traditional green plastic water butt.

The task effect barrel blends into your garden and creates a feature instead of being a necessary but unattractive garden object.

The barrels are available in a variety of sizes and styles on Amazon, I have listed the options below with links to each product option instead of adding images of each and overcrowding this article with too many images.

• A single barrel 50L water butt
• A pack of two 50L barrel water butts
• One 120L Oak effect water butt
• One 240L Oak effect water butt

Regardless of size, each water butt barrel is made from the same durable PE plastic which is high quality, thick, long lasting and weatherproof.

The nice thing about it being plastic is that it will not split, like a wooden barrel would eventually if it was left outside in the elements all year long.

Each water butt also comes with a tap and child safe lid.

The one downside to these water butts is that none of them come with a stand. – Some people make a stand from slabs, wood or another strong material.

(You can use a basic black plastic one like the ones that come with most standard water butts. But you don’t have to.)

However if you want a stand that is in keeping with the design of the oak barrel, there is one available.

The matching oak barrel effect water butt stand is available on Amazon in a 50L stand and a 120L stand. There isn’t currently one for the 240L water butt.

You can view the matching water butt stands here.

With the 240L water butt, the width at the top is quite large, it is possible to dip the whole watering can into the butt for quicker filling like a dunk bucket, depending on the size of your watering can of course.

(Perfect for the impatient gardener.)

There is no rain diverter kit and one tap included but these can be bought for not a lot of money, there is this complete down pipe diverter kit for example on Amazon for less that £10 with free delivery for example.

See Price on Amazon

5. GRAF 300L Amphora Terracotta Effect Water Butt

An extremely unique shaped terracotta effect water butt.

But this water butt looks so unique I think we can forgive it for the significantly higher cost than other water butts.

There is no stand included, but it could look great of a raised platform of bricks or a wooden frame.

The water butt can be used on any stand capable of holding the 300L weight (you won’t find that many) or you own custom built stand.

If you didn’t want to use a stand you could away have the water butt standing on the ground as the tap hole is a little way off the ground anyway. Enough to get a watering can underneath. (As seen in the image below.)

The tap is supplied and is a good quality brass tap.

However you will need to purchase the water butt filler down pipe attachment separately. (These are very cheap to purchase.)
It is a little top heavy when empty, and couple risk falling over, however, once there is some water inside, it becomes very heavy and definitely sturdy.

This water butt is weather resistant and shatterproof thanks to the durable plastic.
At 300L you are not compromising capacity for design features. you will definitely have enough water to do your whole garden.

This makes the GRAF a great water butt to integrate into any garden to start saving money on water bills!

It also acts as a decorative feature of the garden.

It blends in like a terracotta pot, instead of standing out like a big green monster.

A nice focal feature in the garden. I really like this water butt, but it would take some consideration regarding the price as to whether I could part with this much money for a water butt.

See Price on Amazon

6. Ensure Organics 180 Litre Water Butt Premium Rainwater Collection

Another great looking premium water butt!

It’s so nice water that someone has thought about water butts in more detail and redesigned a collection of them to compliment and become a feature of the garden.

This is much preferred to a green plastic tank!

As they are such a key part of most peoples gardens, the design features really make a difference.

This Ecosure water butt is available in a range of colours and styles, from grey, to terracotta effect to black, orange and even bright blue!

They are probably the most expensive water butt, priced for lite capacity. It holds 180 litres of water and costs just over £200.

You may have gasped when you saw the price, I know I did! However, when I sat and contemplated it for a few minutes, I started to accept that this was the price to pay for a very nice looking, large capacity water butt that is combined to be a planter on top.

It comes as seen in the first picture with the addition of an easy twist brass tap.

The only downside to this attractive water butt is that it doesn’t come with a stand, and you may want to raise it off the ground. (This could be a home made brick stand or a regular black plastic stand which can be bought for around £15.)

However, you could also use it placed directly on the ground, the tap height is raised from the bottom and therefore you can fit a watering can underneath the tap. Even if the water butt is standing on the ground.

Also, the down pipe filer kit is not included and the holes are not pre drilled for one. You may see this as a positive or a negative.

(On one hand this is a good thing because you can customise where the hole is placed to suit your garden, but on the other hand, it requires a little DIY job to get it set up to use.)

This isn’t exactly an impulse purchase and costs a lot more than your standard green plastic water butt. However, it does give the effect of a very expensive terracotta or marble planter and fits right into your garden as an attractive feature, especially if you can have some greenery in the top planter section.

See Price on Amazon

The post Water Butt Reviews – Best Water Butts for 2023 appeared first on Best Hose.

Constant trips with a spray gun and hose are not only time-consuming but also lead to water wastage.

The best irrigation system for greenhouses results in a healthier growing environment for your crops. Not only do you control the temperature and humidity, but you ensure they get the exact amount of water, when and wherever they need it.

Watering with a standard garden hose uses anywhere between 9 and 30-gallons of water per minute. Not only is this expensive, but a lot of that water goes to waste, i.e. it falls to the ground, unused.

Using an irrigation system in greenhouse targets the exact areas where water is needed, slowly drip-feeding the roots and freeing up time to concentrate on other tasks.

Our reviews of the best irrigation systems for greenhouses discuss in depth the design, ease of installation, quality, and size of each product.

We cover the best of varying styles; including hose systems, drip-feeders with adjustable nozzles, and those having reservoir tanks.

Hozelock 20 Pot Watering Kit

The best way to keep up to 20 pots well-watered, whether they’re in the greenhouse, on a patio, or hanging, is with the Hozelock kit.

Everything is supplied in the box to give total control of your watering regime, even if you’re away from home for any length of time.

Installation is straightforward; the only tool required is a Stanley knife, or scissors if you prefer. Cut the 15m hose at intervals above each pot, and attach the included T-connectors and dripper with the stake.

Sink the dripper into the soil so that the flow goes directly to the root.

Use one of the provided connectors to attach the hose to the outdoor tap. If you want a second feed for occasional hose use, fit an inexpensive double connector above the timer.

The system should take less than an hour to install, and each seal will be reliable and leak-free.

Our favourite feature of the system is the timer. It is simple to operate and has multiple settings that automatically start the water flow at your desired times. It might be once a week or 4-times daily, depending on the needs of your crop.

Go on holiday without concern or having to rely on anyone else.

The timer also houses dusk ’til dawn feature. One twist of the dial ensures the kit irrigates your plants at sunrise and sunset, for whichever predetermined amount of time you set.

Pros

• Easy to operate timer
• 13- preset programmes
• Manual use possible
• Uncomplicated installation
• Compatible with greenhouse, borders, patios, and baskets
• Runs off 2 ‘C’ batteries

Cons

• The hose is quite difficult to bend.

Hiveseen 45M Micro Drip Irrigation System Kit

You might think that fitting an irrigation system requires a great deal of digging and a modicum of plumbing skills. In the case of the Hiveseen kit, you couldn’t be more wrong.

It requires no tools, other than a pair of scissors, and takes less than an hour to install. In some cases, a lot less.

Let’s begin with our favourite feature; the components. There is so much kit included that you can make multiple configurations, especially as there is 45m of tubing.

There are 10 x orange nozzles for spraying and misting while the 10 x blue nozzles are fully adjustable for dripping.

There are multiple connectors, some T-style, some single, and some double. It is even supplied with a roll of PTFE tape should you require it.

The hose itself is robust, ensuring that the system is leak-free. It is UV and weather-resistant, so not only is it ideal for greenhouse irrigation; it also suits flower beds and vegetable patches.

Fitting it to your tap of choice is a breeze as there are multiple connectors, including a universal fit one. Once secured in place, it is simple to increase or decrease the drip flow by twisting the head. If you prefer to mist into the air and not directly to the root, use the orange nozzles. They are also adjustable with a twist of the head.

There are multiple options, including micro and slow drip, trickle, and steady spray.

The user powers the system by turning the tap on and off. Although not included, it is possible to add a timer to this system. One of our favourites is the Hozelock Automatic Water Timer and is available here;

This is an excellent irrigation system for greenhouses and gardens. It is durable, reliable, and once in situ, will perform well for many years.

Pros

• Fits all taps
• Multiple components to suit any configuration
• Includes stakes for drip-feeding and nozzles for misting
• Extra-long tubes
• Weather and UV-resistant
• Fully adjustable water flow

Cons

• Can only be manually operated (timer available separately)

Hozelock 25m Porous Soaker Hose

A soaker hose looks like a normal garden hosepipe but is made from a porous material that allows water to seep out gradually.

It is possible to dig the hose into the soil or to place it along the ground in beds and borders to keep thirsty crops refreshed.

If you have large greenhouses, glasshouses, or poly-tunnels, the Hozelock soaker hose is ideal to run through their length to save time and energy on daily watering.

Instead of jets or droplets of water, the material allows it to seep evenly along its length, with the tap on just a half turn.

Our favourite feature is the included connectors to adjoin two hoses to double the length. If you prefer, it is a simple task to cut the hose and join it in a ‘y’ formation, depending on the layout of your greenhouse or garden.

The hose is robust; if you don’t exceed the water pressure instructions, it will last for many years. The kit contains an end cap, 2-types of connector, and a regulator valve. It is easy to operate and is responsive, immediately increasing or decreasing the flow rate.

It is a time and energy-saving way of watering your crops and plants. Hozelock is a trusted brand, and, as such, the soaker hose is high-quality, durable, and provides an even, reliable flow from the tap to the tip.

Landrip DIY Automatic Drip Irrigation Kit

For small greenhouses or for those gardeners that don’t want to runs hoses permanently from an outdoor tap, this system is worthy of consideration.

The Landrip irrigation system includes enough kit to slowly drip-feed up to 10 pots simultaneously. Installation shouldn’t take too long and only requires a pair of scissors.

Each connector fits snugly into the tube ensuring no leaks.                                                        

Instead of a direct connection to an outdoor tap, the feeder tube should be immersed into a water source, a filled bucket should suffice. Without the water filter fitted, the system drips 250ml every 30 secs.                                                                        

The timer has a bright, back-lit LCD screen with an easy-to-read display. It is simple to set the watering duration and frequency, from a range of 15-99 seconds, up to 15 times per day. It is programmable for between 1 and 30 days, enough to cover the longest holiday.

There is a manual function; press the button for instant additional water, without conflicting any of the settings.

The timer requires 4 x AA or a micro USB cable. Should there be an issue the batteries automatically kick into action to prevent any disruption in supply.

Our favourite feature is the memory function. Any frequencies and timings programmed remain stored in the memory, even after power cuts or battery changes.   

It is a very cost and time-effective system; it uses 70% less water than traditional spray or drip heads while targeting the plants at their roots.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Pros

• No outside tap required.
• Useful for greenhouses, conservatories, and indoor pots
• Battery and USB power
• Easy to set-up and programme
• A 10-pot system
• Manual override and memory functions

Cons

• Position plants and filter higher than the water tank to avoid the siphoning effect
• The water tank needs regular topping up.

Cherioll Plant Watering Devices

If you only have a few pots in the greenhouse and are regularly refilling a watering can or connecting a hosepipe seems far too time-consuming, the individual watering spikes are the ideal option.

They are suitable for indoor and outdoor use, so perfect for the garden, home, or office, in fact, anywhere with plants that need regular irrigation.

The kit contains 12 stakes; 4 x orange, 4 x green, 4 x blue. Each stake is 16.6cm tall and at its widest point, 5.5cm across.

Fill any plastic bottle with water; soft drinks ones are ideal, the neck needs to be 0.8 – 1.2″. Insert the tight-fitting plug end of the stake into the bottle and twist to seal the connection.

Adjust the drip feed to your flow preference, choose from microdroplets through to a slow trickle. It may take some trial and error to decide upon the moisture levels that each plant requires.

Insert the spike into the soil and walk away – it is that simple. No tools are needed; you can rest safe knowing that all of your plants remain adequately hydrated.

Our favourite feature is that depending on the bottle size and the flow setting, the reservoir should last for at least 20 days. That is almost 3 weeks to go on holiday without the need for the neighbours to water the plants.

Unlike many irrigation systems where all of the drippers flow equally, the Cherioll kit suits all different plants and their individual watering needs.

It is a convenient, versatile system that is very easy for anyone to use.

Pros

• Enough stakes for 12 pots
• Possible to set individual flow rates
• Manual explains all settings clearly.
• It is possible to add liquid plant food to each bottle
• Indoor and outdoor use
• Not limited by bottle size
• Practical and economical

Cons

• The flow is continual; unlike intermittent drip systems with timers.
• The bottles are in view, not the most discreet system.

What to look for in the best irrigation system for greenhouses

Once you have set your budget, there are several factors to consider when buying a garden irrigation system.

Ease of installation

None of our featured systems requires any specialist tools to assemble or install them. Arm yourself with a strong pair of scissors, the instruction manual, some patience, and your system will be good to go in less than an hour.

Timer operation

Some systems have a timer included. It is a system that allows the user to set the frequency and duration of each watering application.

It is ideally suited to those who spend time away from the garden and have concerns about the welfare of their plants.

Separate timers are available to attach to many styles of system. Unfortunately, they only work with those that connect to mains water via a tap.

Power

The reviewed irrigation systems either work by water pressure alone, battery, or USB connection.

Kits that have both battery and USB power are generally more reliable, as if one supply cuts out, the other cuts in, preventing a break in your watering schedule.

Size

The length of the hose and the number of drip heads or sprinklers that it houses is paramount.

The hose should reach all parts of the greenhouse/garden, ensuring every plant receives adequate water.

Adjustable heads

The ability to adjust the velocity of the water flow from the heads is advantageous; particularly if each head works independently of the others.

This results in accurate water flow for each species with differing needs.

Final thoughts

The need to constantly move sprinklers, drag hoses around, or just to stand with a hosepipe is often laborious and time-consuming.

Let an ingenious watering system take the hard work out of keeping your garden and greenhouse irrigated.

With a variety of methods to choose from, that include drip and spray systems, with timers or reservoirs, there is sure to be an option for you.

Let the irrigation system do all of the hard work while you tend to your garden.

The post Best irrigation System For A Greenhouse appeared first on Best Hose.

Will watering grass make it greener, and are there any other ways to improve the health of lawns, are just some of the questions that we hope to answer.

Watering grass does improve the quality and colour of a fading lawn. The frequency and amount of watering impact its condition, as does the time of day.

Establishing a watering regime is rewarded with consistently green and luscious grass all summer long. Combining good supplementary watering with other lawn care practices results in green and luscious grass all YEAR long.

Why grass needs water

Water transports vital nutrients and dissolved sugars from the soil, through each blade of grass.

Without the proper balance of water, grass becomes malnourished, droops, and fades.

Conversely, too much water drowns the roots, causing them to rot.

The best watering practices for greener grass

Rainfall alone is usually enough for grass to survive. But if you want consistently green grass, then you’re going to have to do some additional watering.

What time of day is best to water your garden?

When the sun is off the garden, early morning is best, but if that isn’t possible, then wait until evening.

If the sun has been beating down and you have a sprinkler on a timer, set it somewhere between 10 pm and 6 am; less water gets lost to evaporation in the cooler night air.

How much water does my lawn need?

It depends on the climate, the age of the lawn, and the type of soil. Sandy soil drains quicker than clay; overwatering clay will leave you with a water-logged, soggy mess.

As a general rule of thumb, lawns need 1-2” of water weekly.

It is better to water deeply and less often to prevent drowning the roots and creating rot or disease.

Watering twice-weekly encourages strong, deep roots, promoting lush, healthy grass.

Leave a container beneath the flow of your sprinkler and measure frequently until the water reaches 1″. You should get a rough idea as to how long to leave the sprinkler running. A more accurate method involves the peak water flow of your sprinkler and the area of lawn.

Will watering a well-established lawn make the grass green?

Following a watering regime as detailed above will improve the colour, health, and quality of any lawn; when done in conjunction with other best practises for green grass.

Newly-laid turf is an exception to the rule. To encourage new roots to grow deep and bond with the soil, it is advised to water twice daily for the first week. Reducing the frequency over the next month should result in lush, green grass.

Other ways to make the grass greener

Grass needs a combination of things to keep it in tip-top condition; a regular water supply is just one of them. Sunlight, nutrients, and good-quality soil also encourage a lawn to thrive.

Sunlight – Healthy grass needs at least 4-5 hours of sun a day to grow. Although this is mostly beyond our control, when laying a new lawn, avoid shaded areas.

Cutting techniques – Cut lawns regularly, but only when they’re dry to avoid clumping and clogging. Maintain a sharp blade; avoid hacking at the grass, and travel in varying directions. These methods prevent the grass from leaning and encourages healthy, upright growth.

Be wary of cutting the grass too short; weeds struggle to germinate or grow beneath the shade of slightly longer grass.

Aeration – Poking a series of tiny holes in the lawn loosens the soil, which, in turn, allows nutrients, oxygen, and water to reach the roots faster, giving your grass the best opportunity of staying green all year round.

Weedkillers and fertiliser – avoid over-fertilising your lawn, the grass becomes forced and reduced quality. Instead, fertilise annually, autumn is best. If the grass needs further treatment, the second application in spring is advisable.

Buy the appropriate product for your lawn and soil type and look for natural a fertiliser, they’re better for the grass, and the environment.

Finally

There is no quick-fix to heal a dry lawn, but given time, regular watering will make the grass green and healthy.

Spending time perfecting watering techniques is worthwhile, particularly when you become the envy of your neighbours with the healthiest, greenest grass, all year long.

The post Will Watering Grass Make It Greener appeared first on Best Hose.

Some are just ways of expanding the hose pipes abilities, but others can turn your simple hosepipe into a fully functional irrigation machine!

Here are a selection of our favourites and more detailed reviews below:

Hozelock Multi Spray Gun Pro

• Price: ££
• Guarantee: 3 years
• Material: Zinc Alloy
• A feature rich garden hose accessory

See Price

Hozelock Sensor Controller Plus

• Price: ££
• Guarantee: 2 years
• Requires: 2 x AA Batteries
• The ultimate garden hose toy! Exceptional!

See Price

Hozelock Easy Drip Kit

• Price: £££
• Coverage: 10m²
• Delivers: 0-40 litres per hour
• Excellent for raised beds

See Price

Hozelock 3 Way Tap Connector

• Price: ££
• Connectors: 3
• Weight: 322g
• Turn your single tap into 3!

See Price

5. Hozelock Hose Hanger A cheap and cheerful little gadget. It will save a huge pile of mess in your garden if your hose doesn’t come with reel. (The starter Hozelock set for example, is just the hose and the connectors and nozzle.) The hose holder slots onto two screws that you need to drill into the wall. (It can be removed over winter along with the hose.) The hose hander can hold up to 30m of 12.5mm hose and can be used with any regular hose, not just Hozelock. The benefit is no more tangled hose mess on the floor to trip over and no winding of a handle to get the hose back onto a reel. See Price on Amazon

8. Hozelock Sensor Controller Plus The Hozelock Sensor Controller require minimal effort and takes over watering your garden for you. It allows you set up your sprinkler(s) or water drip kits and leave the rest to the device! This clever little gadget has a daylight sensor and auto adjusts to water at sunrise and sunset. So as not to scorch your grass and plants in the hot daytime sun. Once you have programmed it for the first time, it will auto adjust to coincide with daylight as the seasons change. You can select a number of minutes to water From 2 minutes, right up to 60 minutes! In order for your to easily adjust to changing weather conditions, you can quickly change the days to water from everyday, to every 2 days, 3 days, every 5 days or once a week. (The days of the weeks feature is only available with the Sensor Controller Plus version.) – There is a slightly cheaper standard version that doesn’t allow you to select the days to water. (This is the only difference between the two devices.) There us also a convenient ‘water now’ button so you can water for a 60 minute period instantly. You can press the button again to cancel the 60 minutes for a short burst of watering. Whats more, it is super easy to install. The unit takes 2 AA batteries which should last for the whole year, maybe longer. With the helpful instruction manual, setting up your personal watering schedule is a doddle with no complex programming required. It can be used on a multi 2 / 3 way tap connector, to give you access to the tap for washing the car/ filling watering cans, or it can be fitted straight to the tap and doesn’t need a tap adaptor to fit. It comes with the same adaptors as the Metal Threaded Connector above. See Price on Amazon

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Yes, obviously it’s a lovely treat to sit in the garden with a glass of wine in one hand, my book in the other and relax in the evening sun. But what about the evenings when I’m fed up of the football on the TV or when my other half is just generally getting under my feet and on my last nerve?

Those are the times when I relish hearing the words, “I’m just nipping out to water the garden”

Bliss. Half an hour of peace for me and if I’m not mistaken, half an hour of peace for him too!

However, we have recently noticed that our neighbour’s lawn is much more vibrant and lush than ours.

Does the fact that he doesn’t water nightly have any bearing on this?

Absolutely!! When it comes to matters of lawn irrigation, for the best possible grass you should remember the mantra

DEEPLY AND INFREQUENTLY

Daily watering makes your grass roots become reliant, they realise that they don’t need to search deep in the soil for moisture as the daily soaking will soon be along. Shallow roots mean poor quality grass that easily becomes diseased.

Do not water daily. Just don’t.

You should give your lawns around an inch of water, which is all they need. Obviously, there are mitigating circumstances such as rainfall and temperature.

It is much better to water once a week for around an hour or so.

Let’s get down to the grass roots

Great lawn care will repay you by producing a great lawn! To achieve this you need to be regularly mowing, feeding and watering your lawn.

Nature wonderfully designed grass roots to seek out moisture in soil, and to use it effectively.

Roots will search deeper into the soil for moisture, as they elongate they become more able to gain nutrients and oxygen.

This lovely long, strong root system equates to a naturally heathier lawn.

 If your soil becomes too saturated, the roots get stifled, they need air to breathe and oxygen to grow, too much water blocks this process. You will in effect, drown them.

This is how your lawn becomes more prone to fungus and disease.

How much is too much?

As a rule of thumb, your lawn should need around one inch of water each time you irrigate it. This could be rainwater, water from a sprinkler or a combination of both.

A well-established lawn that has dried out, would feel wet 6-8 inches down a short while after it had 1 inch of water.

Another way to measure is to use a tub, as long as it has straight sides and a flat bottom, it will suit. An empty margarine tub or jam jar will do.

Turn a sprinkler on and place your dish in the line of spray, and leave it for around 30 minutes.

At that point, you need to dip a piece of wood into the harvested water and measure how high up the wood is wet. If it is already at an inch, then you know that your sprinkler sprays out at an inch per half an hour, if it has only reached half an inch then you know you’re going to need to leave it for an extra half an hour. It should be relatively simple to calculate how long you need to leave it running.

If your sprinkler system covers your entire lawn surface then that’s perfect, if not you will need to move it around after each cycle to ensure the whole lawn gets a sufficient drink.

Let’s get technical

Meteorologists create weather data for individual regions, precipitation charts give us a clear of indication of how much rain has fallen and how much the soil will have evaporated.

This is called evapotranspiration.

The chart might show that on a given week, the rainfall will have evaporated by one quarter of an inch each day, meaning that on the fifth day it will be ready to water one inch again.

However, during those 4 days it may have rained half an inch, so you would need to wait another couple of rain free days before needing to water again!

Now, if you’re anything like me and really couldn’t be bothered to study charts and get your calculator out, then a very, very simple guide is to wait until spring when the weather turns dry and warm and water your lawns well, once a week.

When summer arrives, providing we’ve had no thunderstorms and torrential downpours, then water every 4 or 5 days.

If we are lucky enough to have an Indian summer that runs well into September and even October, then once a week should do it.

Other than this, we all know that we can rely on the good old British weather to irrigate our lawns!

What time of day is best to water the lawn?

I Remember my partner right back at the beginning, out in the evening, watching his sprinkler system? Well he could not have got it more wrong!

Watering your lawn at night is a definite no-no, the air is cooler which means the soil stays too wet for too long. This just encourages disease and fungus!

Watering in the heat of the afternoon sun is also not a good idea; the water evaporates too quickly meaning the roots will get a decreased amount of moisture.

Perfect watering time is between 6 a.m and 10 a.m.

If this is impossible, how about trying to move your watering routine to weekends or investing in a timer switch on your sprinkler system?

In conclusion

To care for your lawn well, cut it on your lawnmowers highest setting so not to stress the grass, feed it routinely and irrigate it well.

Remember, never water it daily, if your grass seems a little brown, dry and looks like it is dormant, if you have treated it well, it will always bounce back.

By filling the soil to its maximum profile level, usually that one inch, deeply and infrequently, you will have a beautiful, lush lawn just like my neighbour’s is!

I can only hope that my other half pops round there to admire it every evening this summer!!

The post How often should I water my lawn? appeared first on Best Hose.

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The answer to the question could be a few different things:

Lack of water

The obvious reason! A rare occurance in the UK – sometimes we can have periods of warmer weather when there is very little rainfall.

This causes the grass to naturally start dying, as any plant or weed would if it didn’t have access to water.

Grass roots don’t go as far down as larger plants or tree roots (or invasive weeds!) so cannot find water from very far down if the first few inches of the ground dries up.

The solution to this is to give the lawn a good watering in really dry weather for it to maintain its luxury green look.

Letting it get too long

I have been guilty of letting the lawn get too long – especially for that “first cut” after the winter!

When you then cut the long grass back, it can start to get a bit patchy and yellow. The bottom of long grass doesn’t get much sun and this can naturally look “not green” when cut or even a few hours after cutting.

The key factor here is to mow your lawn fairly regularly and not let it get too long and then keep mowing it.

Animal Urine

If you own a dog who urinates on your grass, this will cause yellow patches – the urine burns the grass causing it to die.
The surrounding grass will grow longer though as the urine helps to feed the grass (but kill the grass that takes the direct impact!)

I have also found that other animal urine will cause yellow patches. In my old house, there were hedgehogs, rabbits, foxes and the occasional badger appearing on my lawn – one of these was definitely responsible for yellow patches! There were no dogs or cats around!

Too much shade from trees

If you have large trees that cast a shadow over your lawn, they could be the culprit for yellowing, poor growth or even no grass at all.

Take those large conifers for example, you quite often see a completely brown patch of soil surrounding the base.

They block the sunlight and the roots also drain the soil around them of all water.

The post Why is my Lawn Yellow? appeared first on Best Hose.

Yes and no… The manufacturers guidelines stipulate that you shouldn’t use the XHose product with a pressure washer.

However, many people online have reported that they have used their Xhose with a pressure washer without any problems!

A few have said that the hose “exploded” or came detached quickly from the pressure washer itself. Others have had to go out and buy special attachments to get it to work with their pressure washer.

Due to the unique nature and design of the Xhose, my advice would be to not use it with a pressure washer – especially as the manufacturer of the product advises you not to!

An Xhose is a unique hose designed for compact storage and large amounts of length and anti-kink properties. Using it with a pressure washer is inadvisible.

I would purchase a short and cheap length of hosepipe – possibly like this one – that can be attached safely and efficiently to a pressure washer rather than risk breaking your Xhose or Pressure Washer.

The post Can Xhose be used with Pressure Washer? appeared first on Best Hose.

The short answer is no, they aren’t!

In fact, if you try to recycle your garden hose you may end up causing some serious damage.  A garden hose can clog recycling machinery by wrapping around various cogs and mechanisms.

They are made of semi-recyclable materials, but the overall composition and structure of a hose pipe means that it is not recyclable. You would have to break down each individual component in the structure of the hose to recycle it properly – an impossible task.

There are alternatives to simply throwing it in the bin though, you can do many things with an old hose pipe that you have no use for – if it isn’t recyclable with your recycling collection or at your local recycling centre, try out these alternatives:

Fix it!

If you have a traditional hose pipe, you may have a few leaks along the hose itself, these can be fixed with some really strong glue or tape.
You could even cut the leaking portion of the hose pipe out of the length, and then reattach the ends together using a hose pipe connector!

This is great if you have a particularly expensive or high quality hose – I myself accidentally ran over my Hozelock hose with my car and the hose developed a leak where it had been pushed into some gravel. A bit of waterproof tape did the job perfectly!

If your hose is literally falling apart and cannot be saved, there are still more things you could do.

Crafts

Cutting it up could give you plenty of little lengths of rubber that could be used in arts and crafts by yourself or children – it could be used to make a fun piece of garden artwork!

A Soaker Hose

If you have a hose that has cost you £20-£30 that has holes in it, you could put even MORE holes in it and create a soaker hose!

Soaker hoses themselves cost £20-£30 or even more!

This is especially useful if you have a large garden or greenhouse – a soaker hose has lots of holes in it and when you turn on the tap, the water is released gently through the small holes along the length of the hose. So you can simply leave the water on gently for a bit during really hot weather and give everything a good soaking.

Supports

You can cut off lengths of hose to use as plant supports. This is especially good for larger plants, if you use rope or string it could dig into the trunk or stem and cause serious damage to the plant if it is very windy or the plant grows suddenly. A length of hose will support the plant and be more “cushioning” to the trunk and stems.

Or, you could just put it in the bin – then it would end up in landfill and that would be a real shame!

The post Are Garden Hoses Recyclable? appeared first on Best Hose.

Patio Area

Perfect for dining outside on a an outdoor dining table and chairs. Sit securely on string and durable slabs. A beautiful and neat patio area can really set off the garden line the edges with pots of a pretty fence and you can create a segregated and private area that wont get muddy or messy easily. It is also great to have a patio that is gated off from the rest of the garden if you have a dog. This means they can still go outside at any time of year and not come back into the house with muddy and soaking wet paws!

Grass Area

Great to relax ad play on, set up a sprinkle in the summer months to keep you lawn in tip top condition. The best thing about grass is that it is brightens up the garden and provides a base for so many outdoor activities. No garden would be complete without even just a little grass. 

You can even by artificial grass now, and the technology is ever improving, making it look and feel more like real grass all the time.

The only downside is that a grass area requires more maintenance and upkeep – cutting regularly and sometimes weeding and feeding. 

Gravel

There are a huge number of ways to cover the ground in your garden. One of the most obvious choices being gravel. It comes in hundreds of different styles and sizes. The cheapest gravel is around £40 per 1 tonne bag and it is a mixed size and colour style. It resembles the look of a pebble beach with greys, whites and browns and the odd purple hint. 

Gravel is a great versatile material to use in your garden, if you apply a good layer of weed stopping fabric, you will have the gravel looking tip top for a very long time. It tends to be more expensive than other options but in the long run, with the longevity and lack of maintenance needed, it pays for itself. 

The benefits of large gravel are that its more sturdy, particularly if you are needed to park a car on the gravel or place other heavy objects on it. 

It also looks better, more defined and you can get a greater variety of styles, from recycled glass gravel to white gravel to pebbles, to slate.

The downside is that these are usually more expensive and require more hard work. Also, it takes a lot more gravel to cover the same amount of area if you want a good layer of coverage. Because each stone is quite large, it creates gaps where the gravel sits on top of each other. If you have black weed stopper fabric below the gravel it may be visible unless you have a thick layer of gravel.

Also, even the tiniest gaps between the gravel pieces allow light to get in, making it much easier for weeds to grow!

The small gravel is often called pea gravel and each piece is around the size of a pea.

Small gravel, like pea gravel has it advantages and disadvantages too. 

On the plus side, it is easier to spread as it is lighter and smaller, this also means that it covers more ground quickly and you can get away with a thinner spread of gravel to achieve even coverage. (Than if you used large gravel.)

This type of small gravel is more noisy than large gravel when you are walking on it. It is impossible to walk ow without the crunching sounds. On one hand this is good for safety, you can hear anyone walking around outside before you see them. On the other hand, it can be annoying to hear the constant sound of gravel under your feet and it moves around more meaning you might have to sweep it back into place. 

Whichever gravel you choose just be sure to do some epic weed killing first. Otherwise they will find their way up through the gravel no matter how thick it is. The black fabric is best because it still allows moisture to soak through, you are not going to create drainage problems by using this underneath your gravel. If you can, apply it with double thickness, the friction on the fabric from the gravel over time can wear the fabric out creating patches. Better to future proof by applying a double layer of fabric now sooner than later!

Woodchip

This is an unusual look for the garden and can have a great natural look and texture. It doesn’t last as long as gravel or other substrates as the sun can make it fade and it becomes dry and dull. For shaded areas, the wood chip / bark is ideal and will stay better looking for longer. Just beware that the wood chip if often really smelly for a few days after being put down fresh. You probably down want to put fresh back chipping down and then invite your family or friends around for a bbq!

Decking

The timeless classic, ever popular and sought after, so popular for dining and relaxing areas. It creates a raised platform off the ground, adding height and a unique look to your garden.

The downside to decking is that is can become very expensive and then you need a professional to install it. It can also become slippery when wet, so it is a good idea to have to extra grip added to the surface.

Crazy paving

This term can be used very broadly, describing everything from tradition crazy paving that creates a free flowing pattern across the garden. Or you can be creative and smash up your own slabs to create your own shapes. You could also add other elements that are not slabs as such. Incorporating a cobbled effect with raised or textured elements. It takes a bit of work to get the crazy paving installed and level but once it is established, quickly become part of the look of your garden.

The post Garden Design – Best Ground Surface Ideas For Your Garden appeared first on Best Hose.