TTRIED & TESTEDRIED & TESTED WWatering cansatering cans Watering … · 2011. 7. 20. · TRIED & TESTED Watering cans Heritage Indoor Can, Haws This one litre, injection-molded plastic

SEPTEMBER 2010 More from Your Garden66

TRIED & TESTEDTRIED & TESTED Watering cansWatering cans

Watering - it’s Watering is something of an essential gardening task – especially with the lovely hot, but also rather dry, summer we have been enjoying. Here we take a look at some of the cans currently on the marketASSESSMENT: SUI KEE LEE PHOTOS: STEVE STONER

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Watering cans are a feature of almost every patio and garden and are used most days in the height of the gardening season. With parts of the country already under a

hosepipe ban this year and a very dry summer for many parts of the UK, the use of a can has been necessary in keeping our plants hydrated. There are many available on the market. They all perform the same basic function but it would be a mistake to think they are all the same!

Cans come in a range of shapes, sizes and colours. As well as being decorative they more importantly need to be functional. When choosing a can consider what you want to use it for – watering under cover or indoors, for pots on the patio or for watering beds in the garden? This will affect the size and reach you need. What material would you prefer? Plastic tends to be lighter and cheaper whilst metal cans are inevitably heavier and may be subject to rust. Here we test some of the different cans available.

in the can




Heritage Indoor Can, HawsThis one litre, injection-molded plastic can from Haws is in a ‘Heritage style’ with a lattice hatch pattern on the sides and comes supplied with a round brass-faced rose. It’s an attractive design and a bit different to the other indoor cans available out there. The spray is very fi ne and it has a relatively long and upright spout – you have to tip it quite far to get a decent fl ow from the rose. Because of this it was not as easy to use in confi ned spaces – for example, when getting to the back of shelving in the grow house. However, the rose is removable and there’s a handy knob on the spout to keep it on whilst it’s not in use. It feels like a well-made can and is available in 11 different colours.

Capacity: One litre Price: £5.95 Verdict: ●●●●●●

One Litre Indoor Can, SankeyThis is a basic but solid design. It’s very easy to use and doesn’t need a great deal of tipping for the water to come out of its long-reach spout. This makes it very handy for getting to harder to reach spaces, between shelving and to pots at the back of staging. The spout also meant it was very easy to accurately direct the water to the pot needed. The fi lling hole, however, was very small, but then it isn’t exactly a large can! The one we tested doesn’t have a rose attachment but there is a two litre can available in the same design which does come with a brass rose.

Capacity: One litre Price: £2.48 Verdict: ●●●●●●●●

1.5 Litre Indoor Can, Burgon & BallThis powder-coated indoor can comes with a removable, screw-on stainless steel rose and a top handle that folds down. With half a litre greater capacity than the other two indoor cans tested it feels that bit more substantial. The spray from the rose is coarser and wider than the indoor Haws can we tested, so for a greenhouse or on the patio rather than inside the house. Without the rose, the spout is very short with limited reach. Available in three pastel colours, we found our pink one had faded noticeably after two weeks in the sun and that the fi nish to the ends of the metal handles was quite rough – with some very sharp edges.

Indoor Cans

Features to consider:Material: Metal or plastic? This will affect the appearance, weight and possible durability of the can.

Weight: Choose a can you can easily handle. You want to be able to lift, carry and pour it comfortably when it is full.

Balance: Look for a can that feels well balanced. Consider also whether you want a can with two handles (one at the top and one at the back) or with one long curve handle.

Rose: Brass roses are arguably better quality. Choose a can with a detachable rose for fl exibility and ease of cleaning.

Filling hole: Choose a can with a practical and accessible fi lling hole – both in size and position. A hole to the back of the can is also preferable to prevent spillage when pouring.

Spout: Consider the length and angle of the spout and rose as this will affect reach and the stream of water.

Capacity: 1.5 litres Price: £9.95 Verdict: ●●●●


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▲Key to scoring ●●●●●●●●●● A great buy, full marks ●●●●●●●● Strong performer ●●● ●●● Works as expected ●●●● Does the job – just! ● Not recommended

Eight Litre Slimcan, HawsThis steel, hot-dip zinc-galvanised eight litre can has a single large handle curving from front to back. The can is oval shaped and comes with a removable all-brass rose. It feels well made with a high quality fi nish and it’s well-balanced which made it just as easy to use with one hand as with two – and that coming from someone of slight build! Its balance and handle that wraps all the way down the back meant that reaching the back of beds was a doddle. This isn’t the cheapest option but, if you are able to splurge, you get what you pay for – an attractive, quality can which we found a pleasure to use. The Slimcan comes in four colours and is also available in a smaller fi ve litre version.

Pink Five Litre Watering Can, Greenfi ngersThis galvanised pink can has two handles – one on top and one on the back. It also comes with a detachable screw-on rose. Very similar in design to the pastel pink indoors Burgon & Ball can. It wasn’t the most high-performing or comfortable to use but it did the job. The capacity is not as large as some of the other cans we tested and it was not too heavy to use. However, the metal handle wasn’t the most comfortable on the hands. Its short spout also means it is more suited for watering containers on the patio rather than deep beds. It’s a bright, modern, attractive can – if you are partial to hot pink.

Capacity: Five litres Price: £17.99 Verdict: ●●●●●●Twist It Watering Can, SankeyAn innovative looking design, this 10 litre can is purportedly designed to reduce/minimise the effort of watering. It has a hinged upper handle which swivels and also has an adjustable rose which, when twisted 180 degrees, allows either a rose-effect sprinkle or a pouring/drenching water fl ow – without having to remove the rose. Unlike all the other cans tested the fi lling hole sits to one side of the can. Whilst it has a large 10 litre capacity it doesn’t feel particularly bulky and is very light to use. However, it wasn’t the easiest can for reaching the back of beds as the position of the rose is quite downward-facing when it is in sprinkle mode and the handle stops a bit short down the back of the can which also restricts the reach.

Capacity: 10 litres Price: £11.98 Verdict: ●●●●●●●●

Galvanised Nine Litre Water-Fall Can, Burgon & BallA sturdy can made from heavy gauge steel and hot-dip galvanised. It comes with a removable rose, which is very large with coarse holes. Similar in design to the Haws Slimcan this too has a single handle and oval shape, but it isn’t quite as refi ned in its execution. It’s a litre larger in capacity but feels considerably heavier and chunkier. It also feels a bit too spout heavy – perhaps a feature of the ‘can that pours itself’ claim. However, it feels a very robust can, designed to last the distance – a bit of a work horse, which I suspect would last for a very long time. If you are into the trend for the antique shabby-chic look that is so fashionable right now then this can would fi t right in.

Capacity: Nine litres Price: £39.95 Verdict: ●●●●●●

Capacity: Eight litres Price: £39.99 Verdict: ●●●●●●●●●●

Outdoor Cans




Key to scoring ●●●●●●●●●● A great buy, full marks ●●●●●●●● Strong performer ●●● ●●● Works as expected ●●●● Does the job – just! ● Not recommended

Active Products Six Litre Watering Can, B&QA bright, light, plastic can made from 100% recycled material which comes with a fl at plastic rose. It’s quite comfortable to carry but that’s about the only good point I could fi nd. The hole for fi lling, which sits towards the front of the can, is very small. Plus it’s not a very balanced design. The can has a tendency to topple over – even on level ground. It also has a more annoying tendency for the water to come pouring out the fi lling hole when the can is being used. Not a can I would really recommend buying although its cheap price, bright colour and light weight might be attractive for children. Also comes in pink.

Capacity: Six litres Price: £4.48 Verdict: ●

Harcostar Starcan, CrocusA slimline, 10 litre watering can that has two handles – one at the top and one at the back. It comes with a detachable brass-faced rose and has a handy knob on the spout for keeping the rose on. It’s a good, simple but sturdy design. The slim shape means it doesn’t feel at all bulky for its large 10 litre capacity. It also has a good reach – with a long spout and a good handle that reaches all the way down its back. Although it is a plastic can it feels nice and solid – good quality. This would be my choice for a great value, budget buy. It doesn’t have the largest fi lling hole but it’s access is unrestricted and it’s slightly angled for easier fi lling.

Capacity: 10 litres Price: £9.99 Verdict: ●●●●●●●●

Ward Watering Can, WilkinsonThis nine litre plastic can from Wilkinson was the cheapest of all the cans we tested and, for it’s price, it really wasn’t too bad. It has a plain round design – so doesn’t feel as slimline as some of the other designs – and a ‘comfort grip’ handle. It also comes with a detachable round plastic rose. Negative points would be that the handle sits quite low over the can so the fi lling hole isn’t the most accessible. The short handle and short spout also means that the reach of the can isn’t great. But hey, at this price who’s complaining?

Capacity: Nine litres Price: £2.47 Verdict: ●●●●●●

ContactsB&Q – 0845 609 6688, DIY.com Burgon & Ball – 0114 233 8262, Burgonandball.comCrocus – 0844 557 2233, Crocus.co.ukGreenfi ngers – 0845 345 0728, Greenfi ngers.comHaws – 0121 420 2494, Haws.co.ukSankey – 0115 927 7335, Rsankey.comWilkinson – 08456 08 08 07, Wilkinsonplus.com


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TTRIED & TESTEDRIED & TESTED WWatering cansatering cans Watering … · 2011. 7. 20. · TRIED & TESTED Watering cans Heritage Indoor Can, Haws This one litre, injection-molded plastic