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Plants in containers need to be checked and watered regularly. Many fruit, vegetable and salad crops benefit from regular watering to ensure a good crop; see our guide to watering vegetables and fruit.  

New plants also need watering straight after planting and during dry spells until they are well established. If chosen well to naturally thrive in their location, established trees, shrubs and perennials should not need watering.

Use a watering can wherever possible for precise, sustainable watering. Use a hose when physical effort or the size of the area makes a can impractical.

Watering cans

A watering can is usually the better choice for most garden watering, especially containers.

• Water efficiency: you can see exactly how much you’re applying, which helps prevent overwatering or underwatering
• Sustainability: metal cans are the most durable and environmentally friendly option
• Rainwater use: they fit easily under a water butt tap, making it simple to use stored rainwater
• Precision: without a sprinkler attachment (rose), you can direct water straight to the base of plants, keeping the surrounding soil drier. This reduces weed growth and ensures the water reaches the roots

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Hoses can be helpful when lifting and carrying cans is difficult, or when watering large areas of new plants or lawn. However, hoses can be less efficient, as they don’t indicate how much water you’re using. When using one, take extra care to water the root zone (the soil around the stem) rather than surrounding soil or foliage.

• Lighter to use: good for those who can’t manage heavier watering cans – but lifting or pulling hoses can still be heavy work
• Coverage: useful for borders or large planting areas

Using a hose to water new planting is useful when the plants are far from a water butt or tap

A hose can be useful for a large area, where a watering can is not practical. Newly planted borders will need watering, and you may find that stored water butt water is not enough during hot, dry weather.  

Seep hoses or drip lines can be very effective and, if used carefully, are water efficient. They can be hidden beneath soil or mulch

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.

, which helps to reduce evaporation. There are pros and cons to each. 

Drip lines are tubing with equally spaced holes fitted with either internal or external emitters, which can deliver water slowly and directly to plants’ root zones.

Pros:

• Offer precise, pressure‑regulated, customisable watering for long runs and varied terrain, while targeted irrigation keeps the soil surface drier to help reduce weed growth
• They are calibrated to deliver specific amounts of water, for example, two litres per hour per dripper
• They are long-lasting
• Drip line systems are usually made from food-grade plastics like LDPE (low density polyethylene) or PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and they are considered safe for watering edible plants

Cons:

•  Higher setup costs
• They are still plastics that are hard to recycle and can break down to microplastics

Seep hoses/leaky hoses release water along their entire length. Seep hoses can be useful for establishing a new border. They use water more efficiently when covered with a layer of mulch

Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings.

to reduce evaporation.

A leaky hose was used to water a begonia trial at RHS Garden Hyde Hall

Choose food-grade PU (polyurethane), PE (polyethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene) or LDPE (low-density polyethylene), as these materials are formulated not to leach harmful pollutants. However, they are difficult to recycle and can break down into microplastics. Avoid soaker hoses made from porous rubber as it breaks down to leave contaminants, potentially including heavy metals.

Water doesn’t move sideways much from seep hoses. Therefore, the hose needs to be positioned across plant root systems, such as going under a shrub, or lengths of hose placed 30-45cm (12-18in) apart in denser plantings.  

Pros:

• Relatively cheap and easy to install for small/flat areas
• Deliver water accurately to established plants
  

  Established plants have been in their current location for two or three years and so have well-developed root systems able to support strong growth with healthy foliage and flowers.

  and plants in rows
• They work best on heavy soil
  

  Also known as clay soil. It is dense and slightly sticky, made of fine clay particles, and can be heavy and difficult to dig. It often drains poorly after rain and warms up slowly in spring, but is usually fertile and holds water well.

  where the water spreads further sideways than on lighter soils

Cons:

•  Susceptible to clogging up with minerals found in hard water
• Rubber‑based porous soaker hoses are generally less durable and tend to break down more quickly than drip hoses
• Although the risk is low, it’s safest to avoid using hoses made from recycled tyres when watering edible crops, particularly those eaten raw
• Uneven watering on slopes because they are not pressure regulated 

Pros:

• Drip or soaker hose irrigation systems can be automated
• They save time and labour on bigger or more water-demanding areas such as fruit and veg plots
• Many systems can be operated on timers and complemented with rain sensors. You can control some of these from your smartphone

Cons:

• Too much water can leach nutrients
  

  To grow well, plants need a wide range of nutrients in various amounts, depending on the individual plant and its stage of growth. The three key nutrients usually taken up from the soil are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Plants also need carbon, oxygen and hydrogen to make carbohydrates — their main energy source. Carbon and oxygen come from the air as carbon dioxide, while hydrogen is drawn from water absorbed by the roots. Other important soil nutrients include magnesium, calcium and sulphur. Most garden soils contain enough of these nutrients to support healthy plant growth.

  into deeper layers of soil, so always check that just the root zone is damp. Water beyond this depth will be inaccessible to most plant roots

The timing, pressure and coverage of automated irrigation systems can be adjusted to meet plants' needs

Due to their high water use and high water loss through evaporation, sprinklers are only acceptable in very limited circumstances, such as watering a newly sown or turfed lawn. Where possible, schedule jobs that may lead to sprinkler use in autumn, as this cooler time of year will reduce the water demand considerably.  

Cons:

• Sprinklers can use as much water in an hour as a family of four people would normally use in two days
• A lot of water is wasted through evaporation and runoff
• Water doesn’t always reach the roots, wetting leaves and hard surfaces instead
• Frequent use can encourage shallow root growth
• Not particularly effective on clay or compacted soils, as water tends to run off rather than seep into the soil