Invest in a quality watering can
We are officially done buying cheap, plastic “Made in China” watering cans that are available at all the big box stores. The "Curse of the Cheap Watering Can" is over. We have gone through at least six watering cans in less than a decade. What was the problem? The watering can started to leak after less than two years of use, or the rose chipped and cracked, and it is impossible to find a replacement rose. Rather, the stores force you to buy a whole new watering can.
At the average cost of $10 each, plus tax, that’s $60 that we don’t have any more. And $60 worth of plastic that may be sitting in some recycling depot, somewhere. Or, sitting in a landfill, forever. The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
We recently invested in an old-fashioned Haws galvanized metal watering can, with a brass rose. It’s made in the U.K. Ours was a lucky find at HomeSense, but you can buy the same one on Amazon.ca. Click here. Haws is believed to be the oldest manufacturer of watering cans in the world. The company was founded in 1886.
Garden tools that you use every day should be good quality. A watering can definitely falls into this category. So, you want a watering can that is sturdy, not too heavy, is galvanized so it won’t rust or leak, and produces a fine spray so you won’t wash out seeds or seedlings.
At the end of the gardening season, merely store your watering can upside down in your garage or shed, to prevent water freezing in it. This way, it won’t get damaged and will give you many happy years of service.
