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Friday Favorite: Watering Cans

July 13th, 2012

Up until four or five years ago, I’d never found a watering can I liked. I kinda felt like Goldilocks, they were all: too small, not balanced properly, water sloshed out while walking, or they just weren’t quite right. Then I found this one. I ordered one from I purchased a watering can from Gardener’s Supply after reading all the glowing reviews and fell in love.


I proceeded to order another one for myself and a few to give as gifts to my mom and a few gardening friends. Sadly this watering can is no longer available so I don’t know what I’m going to do when mine crack (they are plastic after all). I certainly wish I could have purchased these in galvanized metal so they would have lasted the rest of my life.

I LOVE this watering can because:

  • It’s perfectly balanced, seriously – you can barely tell you’re carrying 25 lbs of water!
  • Holds 3 gallons of water, reducing the need for extra trip and builds nice biceps in the process. I carry two at once which allows me to water a fairly large area with one trip.
  • Easy to fill, easy to carry, easy to use, easy to clean.
  • The crown comes apart for easy cleaning, which let’s face it, needs to happen often, especially if you harvested use rain water!


From what I hear, Haws watering cans are nice, but pricey. Perhaps when these finally give up the ghost I’ll spring for a Haws to see if they’re all they’re cracked up to be.  So now I’ve got you wanting this watering can that you can’t find any more.  Perhaps if enough people ask, Gardener’s Supply will start carrying them again.  If they do, I’ll be buying a few!

How many different watering cans have you tried? Do you have one you like that you’d like to recommend?

15 Comments to “Friday Favorite: Watering Cans”
  1. daisy on July 13, 2012 at 5:28 am

    I agree about the galvanized cans being best. I’m still on the lookout for a used one. Maybe Gardener’s Supply could even round up a company that manufactures them and offer them instead of the plastic ones! Love that the spout is removeable on this one.

    Reply to daisy's comment

    • Susy on July 13, 2012 at 8:19 am

      This one is so easy to clean because the spout comes off and the crown comes off the spout so you can scrub it and get all the little bits of stuff out.

      Wonder if I can find a metal artist that could make me a couple?

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Liz J on July 13, 2012 at 7:11 am

    I am so sorry to hear they don’t sell them anymore at Gardener’s Supply. I have one also and love it! I’ll have to scour the web and if I find any, I’ll let you know.

    Reply to Liz J's comment

  3. Andrea Duke on July 13, 2012 at 7:34 am

    I have a small brown one I like and use for potted plants on the porch and patio, but have to fill it up several times to do the job.

    A few years ago I was at a Smith & Hawken store in NC and purchased a beautiful (and expensive) Haws can. I loved it so much that I just let it sit on the porch and look pretty, but the paint started to chip, which really surprised me. I would like to think paying $70 for a watering can that doesn’t even get wet would stay nice for awhile. So I use it now along with a few 2 gallon plastic ones from Lowe’s

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

  4. Sherri on July 13, 2012 at 8:42 am

    Oh – a good watering can is such a joy to use! Mine is TERRIBLE and I seriously need to get a few new ones. Thanks for the tip!

    Reply to Sherri's comment

  5. K.B. on July 13, 2012 at 9:08 am

    I used Haws watering cans at my previous job – and watering a greenhouse full of plants once (or more times) a day, 5-7 days a week, for 10+ years – that’s a lot of watering! And I loved the Haws. We used the plastic ones, but if I was going to buy one for my own use, I’d save up for the metal.

    My current watering can is HORRIBLE – that’s the problem with buying a “cheap” one to do for now :)

    Reply to K.B.'s comment

  6. Donna B. on July 13, 2012 at 10:10 am

    I ended up picking up a galvanized watering can from a big box [the link to it is my “url”. It’s a 2.75gal bucket, not a 1.5gal like the site shows.] It’s functional and looks nice! I did opt for the red… it meshes in nicely with the gardens when not in use.
    I know that I do want to go for a nicer type since with the one I have only the nozzle comes off, although I can imagine it may get hard to clean if crud get’s in there… like japanese beetles. Muahaha.
    I’ve been hunting at estate and yard sales… Keeping an eye out for a new watering can!

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

  7. Peggy on July 13, 2012 at 10:13 am

    Oh and here I was hoping you were offering up a good source for watering cans.. :) But at least now I know who to start pestering, Gardener’s Supply… because our watering can is atrocious! It leaks, it splashes water on the carrier, and it is miserable to carry around. My old, old galvanized watering can is not longer functional as it had already lasted someone else’s lifetime when I found it an an estate sale 20 years ago. Maybe I’ll use some silicon to fill up the leaks and then go back to using it in the interim.

    Have a wonderful day!!

    Reply to Peggy's comment

  8. Joan on July 13, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    I have two galvanized ones – one I love and one I hate. Of course I can’t find another one like the one I love no matter how hard I look. It’s well balanced, the nozzle comes off, and it has a nice foam covering on the handle to make it easier to carry. Let us know if you find a good source for them!

    Reply to Joan's comment

  9. Chicago Mike on July 13, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    I have one that is galvanized, but the rose has come off. Its harsh, but its what I use. Have you trolled the yard sales?

    Reply to Chicago Mike's comment

  10. Janet Anderson on July 13, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    I love my Hawes plastic can http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=10411&cat=2,2280,42608&ap=1

    I don’t think it is too pricy at $30 Cdn and it is sturdy despite the fact it is plastic. It holds over a gallon of water and is easy to carry with a long spout for reaching between pots or into beds.

    I like the one you bought too – too bad it isn;t available!

    Janet

    Reply to Janet Anderson's comment

  11. KimH on July 13, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    I only have a 1 gal watering can I use for my house plants. I got it at Marc’s of all places. I rolled my eyes when I picked it up, and started to put it down, but dang, it felt pretty good in my hand. I almost got 2. Wish I had now. Should go see if they have more. It’d at least save me several trips to get water when Im watering house plants. I love them but I really get tired of making trips to get more water.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  12. Loree on July 13, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    My favorite is my old, old Smith & Hawkin galvanized. It also has a spout that comes off. I think it was expensive, nothing I would have bought myself but my now husband bought it for me for a birthday gift :)

    Reply to Loree's comment

  13. Karen on March 1, 2014 at 8:09 pm

    I have one of the old blue French watering cans from Gardeners supply (the one they don’t carry anymore) and have used it happily for years. Seriously there is a SERIOUS hole in the watering can market. There needs to be a reasonably priced, comfortable can that holds 3 gal. Of water for the serious gardener.

    Reply to Karen's comment

  14. Connie on June 11, 2015 at 1:14 am

    Alas, I just went online to Gardner’s Supply to buy a second French (I had the blue one, too) watering can only to find out they don’t carry their exclusive anymore. Came across this thread in my hope that something similar was out there. I so agree, I love the 3 gallon, ease of use and it is so pretty.
    I just wrote to GS asking them to bring it back!

    Reply to Connie's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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