How to water more efficiently with Harvst

With summers getting hotter by the year and droughts occurring more in the UK, it’s more important than ever to review how you use water in the garden and on the allotment. By reducing water wastage and keeping your plants as hydrated as they need to be, drip irrigation systems are a fantastic way to water more efficiently. Take a look at Harvst’s expert advice to find out how you could be watering smarter next season.

Beginner, intermediate or professional gardener, getting the watering right for your plants can be hard. At Harvst, we know that using a drip irrigation system on a timed schedule can be the difference between strong, successful plants and weak, pest-ridden ones.

Watering isn’t a one-size-fits-all operation, as different plants have different watering needs. Larger plants need more water, as do newly planted ones. Vegetables, bedding plants and perennials have shallow root systems and therefore also require more frequent watering, some daily — especially in temperatures over 29°C.

It’s not often we hit 29°C in England for a prolonged period of time, but it’s very easy for a greenhouse or polytunnel to shoot up in temperature. In this instance, an automatic watering system can save you time, water and money by drip watering your plants.

An automatic watering system will help you reduce water waste, as it only puts water where it needs to be, and applies it at a slow enough rate that none is lost to evaporation or runoff. In areas where water is scarce or use is restricted, drip systems make the best use of a garden’s water allowance. Plus, you’re allowed to use a drip irrigation system in a hosepipe ban! Great for the heat waves we’re now experiencing in the UK summer.

What is the Harvst WaterMate?

Harvst WaterMate is an automatic irrigation system that helps you spend less time watering, whilst using less water than any other standard timer. Designed based on what we’ve learnt when developing our Mini-Greenhouses, our WaterMate uses the same control system, sensors, and water valves – with a more powerful pump designed for irrigating a larger area with longer watering cycles.

The WaterMate waters for you, using a combination of timer and environmental data to give your plants the right amount of irrigation. Out with the watering can and in with the hose, nozzles and drippers! WaterMate comes in two ready-to-fit kits, the mini for small greenhouses, and the pro for larger greenhouses and polytunnels. Both of our WaterMate products can also be used across your garden, flower beds and pots, too, if you prefer!

Take a look at the main benefits of the Harvst WaterMate:

● Dual watering zones for versatility and extra capacity

● Pipes, hose, drippers and sprayers included, so you can get going straight away

● Smart, sensor-based watering with remote management and monitoring through our web-app

● Solar powered so you can install it anywhere – and it’s good for the environment (we do offer mains, though, if you prefer!)

● Email alerts to keep you informed

It doesn’t really matter if you hand-water or use an irrigation system like our WaterMate to get the job done – you just need to be consistent in your watering schedule to watch your plants flourish!

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