So I decided I needed a better watering can for my garden. My old plastic one cracked last season, and lugging around the big 5-gallon one gave me backaches. Started researching online for something around 1 gallon – light enough to carry but holds decent water.
The Hunt Begins
First went to local hardware stores. Checked their gardening sections. Most cans were either tiny or huge, no Goldilocks zone. Saw a cheap plastic one but remembered how my last plastic can snapped. Passed. Found an expensive copper one – looked pretty but cost more than my tomato seedlings. Nah.
Hopped online next. Read tons of reviews until my eyes crossed. Wanted:
- Sturdy material (metal preferred)
- Comfortable handle
- Detachable rose head
- Balanced weight when full
Zoomed in on three 1-gallon metal cans: Brand A with curved spout, Brand B claiming “ergonomic grip”, and Brand C with super-fine mesh rose.
Testing Time
Ordered all three. Felt ridiculous having three watering cans arrive. Tested each with water from my rain barrel:
Brand A: Poured smoothly but the handle dug into my palm after two rounds. Returned it.
Brand B: Grip was comfy but the rose head clogged instantly with sediment. Couldn’t detach it for cleaning. Big fail.
Brand C: Handle felt like shaking hands with an old friend. Rose head unscrewed with one twist. Drenched my ferns perfectly without muddy splashes. Yes!
Garden Duty
Now use Brand C daily. Fills easily under the faucet. Carries like a purse to my thirsty hydrangeas. When rose head gets gunky, I pop it off and scrub with an old toothbrush. Even my neighbor borrowed it and said, “Where’d you get this unicorn?”
Pro tip: Sits level when full on uneven ground. Last month’s hailstorm dented the side – still works fine. Just wish it came in green instead of dull metal gray.
Final verdict? Perfect for small gardens if your arms aren’t tree trunks. Saved my back and my petunias. Now if only roses deadheaded themselves…
