The watering can is one of the most useful items in any gardener’s tool shed. While a hose, sprinkler, and in-ground system can all cover wider areas of the garden faster, a watering can is inexpensive, efficient, functional and perfect for watering small areas and container gardens. As with all gardening tools, proper maintenance and storage are needed to keep your watering can in good shape. If you have been keeping water in your watering can, you might be inviting up storage problems.
The top reason to avoid leaving water in your watering can
You may not be aware of this common mistake, but most gardeners are guilty of keeping water in watering cans when not in use. It won’t take long for problems to start building up, whether from disease, cold damage, or potential injury to visiting wildlife. These are a few reasons to avoid leaving any water in the watering cans:
1. Minerals build up
One of the major reasons to always empty and rinse your watering can is that it can develop a mineral crust on the inside over time. Minerals that build up over time can cause damage to your plants. Water from the tap contains minerals. Although not bad, the minerals can build up on the inside of the can over time, stockpiling another problem for you and your plants.
2. Stagnant water breeds unhealthy growth
Your garden is for growing, and you want your garden to grow the best plants always. Stagnant, still water can be a breeding ground for all kinds of unwanted growth, and that can be harmful. Standing water in your watering cans may bring mosquitoes, which carry diseases that can affect you, your family, and lay eggs in the water. Standing water in the watering can also promote the growth of algae and mould, which might be harmful to your plants.
3. Rusting
Stagnant water is particularly a problem for metal watering cans. If you have a metal watering can, rust is an obvious issue. Leaving water too long and too often in your metal watering can will cause rust and will eventually become harmful to your plants.
Image Credit: Unsplash
This handy gardening tool can and will last for years if you take care of it. Part of that care is never leaving water standing in it when your watering can is in regular use.
First compiled by Garden & Home
Compiled by Chumasande Matiwane
Also see: Creative ways to use sea salt in your garden for healthy plants
