My H2OWISER Review

I Love to Water My Garden

Seriously.... Its kinda a point of frustration around here since I spend a lot of time buzzing around like a bee with the hose watering this and that in my garden.  I check on the plants, give a little water here, little bit there.....and before I know it, 30 minutes or more have past.

A lot of time this task is focused on new seedlings that I know need a bit of help to get started, but occasionally its dealing with something more established.  My rapidly spreading raspberry bramble comes to mind, which has outgrown the drip systems I added last year.  Or, perhaps that spot in the lawn that needed to be reseeded and now needs a bit of water every day until it gets established.  

I was wondering if there was perhaps a better way when this ad came through this blog and it caught my attention.  The H2OWiser sprinkler system.  After a quick read and a couple short video's I found myself filling out the form for a free sample.  I was happy to receive a reply within days and after a couple email exchanges my system was on its way. 

The unit arrived within a few days.  Assembly couldn't be simpler.  Within minutes I had it put together.  I attached a hose end sprayer to one end, and the hose to the other and we were hand watering within seconds.  The sprayer that I chose had an adjustable built in ball valve, but you could facilitate the same thing with a brass ball valve if necessary to control water flow.  The unit is solid and well built.  The base is heavy enough to keep it from moving and you can easily raise the height of the spray with a simple twist to loosen the built in set screw.  

We moved it around the garden that afternoon, and I got my hand watering done while playing in the yard with my daughters. I'd just run over to the garden now and then and hit a different spot that I wanted to have some extra water.  Between the ball valve on the sprayer and the height adjustments on the H2OWiser I could always get the water right where I wanted it. 

Is it just me, or have you found yourself holding a hose from time to time to make sure that your plants survive whatever heat spell you dealing with, or any short comings in your water system.  Perhaps you just like to make sure things are staying hydrated with some extra spot watering from time to time.  No mater the reason, this tool is a nice addition to your resource list.  I haven't seen anything like it on the market. Its simplicity allows for a pile of variations. 

For now I have lots of ideas I want to try.  We have had so much rain that I haven't had a reason to hook up an impact sprinkler to it yet, but I want to try that for a few spots in the yard that I know will need it.  I am also wondering about loading a hose end fertilizer with some compost tea and letting this system rain down some good diluted fertilizer.  There really is a huge list of potential options given the simple nature of this system.

If you're interested, check out the H2OWiser at their website.  Its an interesting resource that you just might find frees up a bit of your time to focus on something other than holding a hose.

Full disclosure... I am not an affiliate for this product, or receive any benefit finical or otherwise from the folks at H2OWiser for this post.  I am just sharing my experience with a product that I found via this blog and found interesting and useful.  If and when I get signed up for affiliate programs I will be sure to let you all know.

May Garden Update

The Seven Day Difference

We have had some unseasonably cool weather here lately.  A huge wave of moisture has been blasting the north west and were right in the middle of it.  Fortunately I have a significant amount of things planted already in the garden and they have been loving the added moisture.  And, since I have been using deep mulches of wood chips in my walking paths, I have been enjoying the garden space, completely free of mud.  Its a great system. 

For this post I wanted to try and share with everyone just what a difference seven days can make in the garden.  Many of us who have been gardening for years know this sudden boost all to well.  Your transplanted plants have finally started to take root, and they are now fully accessing the amazing soil you have been building..... and then boom!  They just take off.  Its such a fun thing to see.  Here are some pictures taken last Monday on May 13th, followed by the same growing space now, just seven days later. 

These are the results that I get using a no till approach to gardening here in the arid, high deserts of eastern Oregon.  Full disclosure that cool temperatures and steady rain for days have helped spur this growth explosion, but it has been so fun to watch it all unfold.  

I don't grow plants..... or perhaps I should say that my main focus isn't on growing plants, as much as it is on growing healthy, living soil.  These beds, these paths, the mulches I use, the compost that is added, all contribute to the regeneration and building of soil.  The plants just do what they are supposed to.....kinda my own field of dreams I guess.....If you build it (soil), they will come (happy, healthy fruits and veggies!)