Irrigation ToolsBest Watering Tools for the Sedum and Succulent NurserySome tools in the nursery and greenhouse are more important than others – here are a few irrigation tools that I find indispensable:I like my plastic Hawes watering cans. They have two different ends, one a rose which can be put on with the holes facing up to make a gentle rain shower, and the other is a spout to water hanging baskets or other pots. These are kept handy on ports right on the watering can, so they never get lost. Pump sprayer for sprinkling seeds once planted, or for very small germinating plants. Hoses are the one of the most essential irrigation tools in any nursery. I’ve spent lots of money on hoses over the years. My best hose at the time is a rubber hose, even though the guarantee promised it would never kink. It’s been a little disappointing, in that regard. I have hoses leading from my rain barrels to other water storage containers or my pond when there is a lot of rainfall. Hose ends - I always try and have on hand a couple of extra hose ends so I can cut a hose in half or cut off a puncture or leak. No leaky hose goes to waste in my nursery! ‘Y’ connectors so I can use more than one hose at a time, or not have to move the hose too far. That way I can set up sprinklers to custom water several areas, either in sequence or at the same time with soaker hoses. Water breakers, or hose end sprayers that can be adjusted for different spray patterns are useful too. I have at least three that see a lot of use, you’ll figure out which are your favorites. I don’t like any that leak all over you when you shut them off, so I always have extra hose gaskets. Sometimes you need two on a given hose to make them seal properly, and sometimes different kinds work better. They come in a flat type, or round profile, so have some of each on hand. I prefer to stock up on this type of thing so production doesn’t come to a standstill just for lack of a hose gasket. Good quality irrigation tools, like all other tools are not just a luxury; they’re essential to keep my nursery running smoothly. Caring for your Irrigation ToolsAs fall approaches, that is the time to take some steps to protect your hoses from damage. Empty them of any water that may still be in them, draining them over a fence, or down a hill. I coil them up, and then screw the hose ends into each other to keep them clean. Store them laid flat on a greenhouse bench to prevent them from cracking in the cold if you're in a cold winter area. Sprayers and nozzles should never be allowed to touch the ground - microbes, yeasts and fungus can be easily transferred by dirty irrigation tools. The occasional dipping into a 10% bleach solution during the growing season will keep diseases in check. If you buy the best quality irrigation tools you can afford, you’ll find that taking good care of them actually saves time, aggravation and wasted water in the long term.
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Xeriscaping - Landscaping with Less Water
Gardening with a Light Hand on the Land
The focus is on landscaping with easy care drought tolerant plants like Sedum, Sempervivum and thyme and using natural materials to build rock retaining walls and it's easy to see why.
It used to be that once in a while these kinds of plants would come to the fore, and successfully maneuver dry summers, but now it's obvious that these are the most suited to what is becoming the norm.
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Seeing how beautiful these unique landscapes are and how well they perform in challenging conditions will encourage others to find unique plants to use in their own xeric garden.
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