BackyardStyle Lawn, Garden and Pond » Watering Supplies

Never Over Water Your Yard Again!

msuwriter — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 21:48:08 +0000

If you are like many people, you probably use hose end sprinklers to water many areas of your lawn. The huge problem with sprinklers is that you have to constantly watch your lawn to make sure your yard is not getting over watered. Just like how your sprinkler system has a water timer, you can purchase a water timer for hose end sprinklers. Although these water times are very small, they are very technologically advanced. Each water timer contains a small computer system that controls the duration of watering. The best part about water timers is that you do not have to plug them in anywhere. All you have to do is attach one end to the faucet, and the other end to the end of a hose.

One of my favorite water timers is Electronic Aqua Timer, pictured to the right. This water time is very advanced, but is easy to use because of its digital display. The Electronic Aqua Timer has 6 different watering cycles. One great feature is called the “intermittent” cycle. This feature delivers water on an and off cycle. You can control the length of each “on” and “off” cycle (for example, you can water for 5 minutes on and 5 minutes off). You can also control when the intermittent cycle ends (for example, you can water your lawn intermittently for 2 hours). The best part about intermittent watering is that your lawn will absorb more water and will lose less due to evaporation.

If you are looking for a more simple water timer, I would recommend the Melnor 3010 Real Time Automatic Water Timer. This water timer has a dial timer that you can crank to the time that you will like your yard to be watered for. The Melnor 3010 Real Time Automatic Water Timer will automatically shut off when the time is up. It can be hooked up to low pressure drip hoses and soaker hoses. This water time measures time, not water pressure.

If you want a water timer to measure water pressure, you can look at the Flowmeter Water Timer. It is known as a “flowmeter” because it measures exactly how much water is being released. You can set how many gallons or liters you want your yard to have, and then it will automatically shut off once that number of gallons or liters has been released.

You will never over water your lawn again if you have a water timer!

Hose-End Sprinklers are Great for Watering Your Yard

msuwriter — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:55:34 +0000

You may not have built in sprinkler to water your lawn, but you probably have a hose! There are a variety of hose-end sprinklers to choose from that you can use to keep your lawn green and healthy. These sprinklers attach to any standard hose. You can place them in any areas of your yard and the immediate surrounding area will be watered! There are a plethora of designs that will do a great job watering your yard. Here are some of your options:

Whirling Sprinklers: Whirling sprinklers provide water in a circular pattern. There is a spring loaded arm that shoots water out as the sprinklers revolve. The Colorstorm Whirling Sprinkler is a popular whirlybird sprinkler that has 3 arms. The base has wheels on one side so it is easy to take it anywhere in your lawn. Use it on flowerbeds or your grass!

Rain Tower: The rain tower is an impulse sprinkler that is elevated on a tripod. Similar to the whirling sprinkler, it waters in a circle pattern. It is great for watering tall plants, such as your vegetable garden. The rain tower sprinkler that I suggest you try is the Rainpulse Impulse Spike Sprinkler. It has a plastic head and a metal spike base. The height of this sprinkler is adjustable, and also wind resistant.

Oscillating Sprinkler: The oscillating sprinkler head is probably the most common type of sprinkler head. They water your lawn in a rectangle shape. They can spray water from left to right in a half circle motion, or they can be set to a stationary position. I would recommend that you buy a more expensive type. You will be using this sprinkler head often, and you will want it to last you a long time! The most expensive types also have more settings than the cheaper ones. The type I use is the Melnor 3200H Classic Oscillator Sprinkler, pictured above. It can water an area of up to 3200 square feet. It is made of specially finished metal that will last a long time!

Traveling Sprinkler: A traveling sprinkler, like the Raintrain Traveling Sprinkler, is the most high-tech (and expensive) of all of the sprinkler heads I have mentioned. It travels across your lawn on its own, while a sprinkler head on top shoots water of at least 16 feet. This sprinkler truly ensures that no part of your lawn goes unwatered!

Putting Your Hose to Good Use With Different Nozzle Heads!

msuwriter — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:32:42 +0000

Nearly every one has a garden hose, which can be an excellent source of water for your garden or lawn. However, your hose itself may not be an ideal watering source, as it has the ability to drown your plants. A good idea is to add a nozzle to your hose, where you can control the stream and amount of water that comes out. There are a variety of uses for a variety of nozzles:

Watering Wand: This nozzle is perfect for watering hard to reach places. For example, you can use it on hanging baskets or deep flowerbeds. This wand releases water gently, so you will not drown your plants. Colorstorm Touch N Flow Wands are popular watering wands that come in either a 16 inch or 30 inch length, depending on your needs. These watering wands are also useful for watering newly planted seeds, as the seed will not be disrupted from too much water pressure. You control the release of water by a valve that is directly on the wand, so you will not waste water like you would with a regular hose.

Jet-Spray Nozzle: This nozzle sprays a hard, stiff stream of water, which can be useful for getting dirt of tools, boots, decks, driveways, and walkways.

Adjustable Round Nozzle: Similar to the jet-spray nozzle, this nozzle can spray a stiff stream of water, but you can twist the head to control the strength of the stream. An example of an adjustable round nozzle is the Ergo Firemans Nozzle Garden. It has a comfort grip, so you will feel comfortable holding it for long watering sessions.

Pistol Grip Nozzle: The Metal Pistol-Grip Garden Hose Nozzle is a type of pistol grip nozzle. It is made of rust resistant metal. The trigger in the back controls the intensity of the spray, so you will be able to use it for a variety of tasks.

Fan Head: This is a popular nozzle for bigger gardens and lawns. The fan head sprays a wide stream of water because of its broom-like shaped head. Colorstorm Fan Hand Held Spray Nozzles come in a case of 12 and in a variety of colors.

Multiple Head Nozzle: This is just one nozzle, but it has a variety of stream settings. Select-A-Spray Pistol Grip, shown above, is an incredibly popular nozzle because it comes with 7 spray patterns. This means you can have a mist, gentle, jet, sharp, or full action cone streams. The nozzle also has a clip that allows for a continuous spray. It is made of rust resistant stainless steel, so it will last a long time!

Choose the nozzle that best fits your garden and lawn’s needs!

Use a Rain Barrel in the Spring to Catch Water for Your Summer Garden

WildBirds — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:44:27 +0000

Spring rain is ideal for starting a beautiful garden in your yard that lasts all summer long. Save your spring rain water for your garden in the summer by using a rain barrel. A rain barrel is great for catching rain water from your downspout and storing it for use in the summertime. You will find many uses for the water stored in your rain barrel and it is easy to hook up to a hose for watering your lawn and flower beds or hosing off your house or your driveway. This economical way of watering your lawn and gardens is great for the environment too!

Rain barrels are available in a variety of colors that coordinate wall with most house colors and blend in well with the surroundings. The Rain Wizard Rain Water Barrel by Good Ideas comes in a variety of classic, earth-tone colors that will blend in well with nature and look great against any home. This rain barrel is designed to fit most down spouts and easily catches the rain water that collects on your roof when it rains. It has a brass spigot for easy hook up to a garden hose and it also has an overflow to direct the rain water away from your house. The back side of this rain barrel is flat, so that it has a snug fit against your home and it will not tip over. It also has a base that is sold separately to help keep it off of the ground.

Another great rain barrel for an avid gardener is the Rain Catcher Barrel by Achla Designs. This rain barrel has a deep green color that blends in well in the yard and comes with a screen to catch debris and helps to prevent it from sitting in the water. It is perfect for use in any yard and comes with a four foot long attached hose. It is ideal for helping you to save you money when watering your flowers or vegetables.

Fun and Colorful Indoor Watering Cans

WildBirds — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:59:02 +0000

Watering your indoor houseplants can seem to be a chore, but a fun, colorful watering can can make the chore seem more enjoyable. When choosing an indoor watering can, think about the size of the can that you will need and how much weight you can carry. It is important to choose a watering can that is comfortable to hold and easy to carry around when filled up with water.

A fun, unique indoor watering can to use is the Pink Piglet Watering Can by Novelty Manufacturing Co. This great watering can has a fun, pig shape and is made of 100% recycled plastic material that is lightweight. It holds about 2 gallons of water and makes watering your plants lots of fun. It is easy to fill up and carry around filled with water. You can use this watering can indoors or outdoors all year long.

A beautiful and colorful indoor watering can for any gardening to use is the Colorful 1 gal. Watering Can by Gardman. This stylish indoor watering can is great for watering a variety of indoor houseplants, including plants that are in small containers or plants that are in tight spaces with its long watering spot. It is made of durable galvanized steel and has a powder coated finish in a variety of brightly painted colors. It also includes a rose that attaches to the spout for watering larger house plants.

The Classic Watering Can by Akro-Mils is available in two beautiful, earth-tone colors and is constructed of durable plastic that makes it lightweight for you to carry around, even when filled with water. This watering can is great for use indoors or outdoors. Use this indoor watering can to water large or medium size houseplants. The rose on the spout provides a gentle and thorough rain shower on a variety of your houseplants.

Money Saving Tips for Watering Your Outdoor Plants and Lawn

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Many families today are looking for new ways to save money and a great way to save money this summer is to lower the amount spent on water consumption. For many families, watering the lawn and garden during the summer can make up as much as 40% of your family’s water usage. To lower this amount, you may want to consider investing in the following items: a rain barrel, a water timer, and a rain check timer.

A rain barrel is a great way to conserve both money and water used for watering your outdoor plants and lawn. The idea of a rain barrel is collect the rain that runs off your roof and down the drain spout. The barrel should be placed at the end of the spout to catch the water. During a heavy rain, your barrel will fill up quickly and the water may used during hot droughts when your plants need water most. A rain barrel is also great for watering your lawn during a drought. Use the rain barrel year after year to save money spent on water.

Another great device for saving on water usage is a water timer. A water timer automatically shuts off your water like a faucet, so you don’t use more water than what is needed. The Electronic AquaTimer by Melnor is ideal for programming your lawn’s watering needs. This water timer is easy to program and shuts off the water when you want it to. No more forgetting that the water is still on and wasting water and money!

A rain check monitor works with the automatic water timer and can detect when it has rained to prevent the water timer from turning on and using water. This clever device by Melnor is perfect for preventing over-watering and helps you to save money and water. It also doesn’t require any batteries!

All three of this devices may be used year and year to save you money and water. All are great for the environment and your wallet. Check out these great water saving items and more at Backyard Style.

Garden “Green” – Save Water with Eco Friendly Hose & More Tips

admin — Sun, 04 May 2008 04:00:00 +0000

Our featured Eco-Friendly Tip helps save a ton of water! The Swan Soaker Hose saves up to 70% of precious, costly water and is manufactured of 65% recycled rubber.

Instead of ammonia-based cleaners, use vinegar and water or baking soda and water.
Don’t use electric tools and appliances when hand-operated ones will do the job.
Plant trees. Strategically located, trees can reduce hearing and cooling bills, help prevent soil erosion and reduce air pollution.
Water lawns at night to limit evaporation.
Compost your leaves and yard waste. You’ll improve your garden’s soil.
Minimize the use of garden chemicals by weeding.
Don’t pour oil and gasoline into the sewer system or on the ground. Take to your local collection site.
Tick/fly spray: Combine 2 C white vinegar, 1 C water, 1 C Avon “Skin-So- Soft” bath oil and 1 T eucalyptus oil.
Create your own Roach killer: mix baking soda and powdered sugar. (Keep away from children and pets.)
Ant killer: Use chili powder to hinder entry.
Start an organic garden! – Start with Espoma Organic Products

And Finally a word about Summer Vacations:

Think a road trip is not exactly eco-friendly? Well it may not be perfect, but according to Terrapass, a family of four heading from NYC to LA in their gas-guzzling 2007 Ford Explorer (4WD) would save 20,462 tons of CO2 over that same trip by air. Of course they may not be sane when they get there, but they’ll certainly have done their part to help cool the planet!

Breast Cancer Awareness – Pink Ergonomic Watering Can

admin — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0000

Two Shades of Pink and a Prayer for the Cure!

Before I talk about our new pink watering cans (perfect for Mom) – I wanted to share the latest in breast cancer research:

New studies from a team of researchers from the Research Institute of the MUHC and McGill University show that the environment surrounding breast cancer cells plays a crucial role in determining whether tumor cells grow and migrate or whether they fade away.

Their study is the first to identify the genes behind this environmental control and correlate them with patient outcome.

Their findings are published in this week’s issue of Nature Medicine.

And now a bit about our new Raspberry and Hyacinth colored watering cans for your plants. Celebrate life and the everyday incremental growth in knowledge about the most dreaded cancer that women face – breast cancer.

Water a plant, smile and support the cause! Pink represents the bonding that all women feel as we continually find out a bit each day in our path to rid the world of this disease.