Haws Watering Can

In the days before in-ground irrigation systems, everything -- from family garden patches to rows and rows of commercial produce -- needed to be hand-watered. Responding to the need for variety, John Haws honed the watering can to specifications fit for a professional. In 1885, Haws filed a patent for an improved watering can, selling to glasshouse nurseries and sprawling country estates.

The basic design behind the Haws watering can has changed little since. For a watering can, proportion and balance are key, and from spout to base, Haws cans are designed to tilt easily without spilling. Water is heavy, and the long, single handle running front to back allows for two-handed lifting when the can is full. The tall neck prevents water from sloshing out when held at a steep angle, as does the domed lid. A narrow spout produces a steady and restrained stream of water to prevent flooding the plant. Haws watering cans come with a detachable brass rose that diffuses the water into a fine spray for seedlings and other delicate jobs. Made of robust steel that resists denting and puncturing, the cans are also hot-dipped in zinc to prevent rusting.

The compact oval shape of the cans makes them easier to store and carry. Watering cans are available in 5- or 8-liter sizes, in green or lacquered steel gray.

When using the rose for a gentle spray, it should be fitted pointing upwards. Maintaining pressure is key to forcing a spray through the holes. Without enough pressure, water begins to leak and dribble down the brass plate rather than spraying. The watering can may need to be refilled or tilted more steeply. For a heavier spray over a more limited area, the brass plate can be fitted pointing downwards toward the ground. 

Leaves and debris should be kept out of the can so the spout doesn’t clog. The rose should be washed occasionally so bits don’t get stuck in the spray holes. Should the rose become clogged, wash out with pressurized water from a tap or hose, or alternatively, blast through the brass holes with a tire pump at the local gas station. Peek into the inside of the rose. If it isn’t debris, it may be green algae or limescale build-up. For algae, soak the rose in a white vinegar overnight. Rinse thoroughly after soaking. For limescale, soak the rose in a biodegradable descaler, such as those used for removing lime from coffee makers.

Haws watering cans are expected to last 15 years with minimal care, but have been known to last a lifetime and more barring traumatic events. For a watering can, this means letting water freeze inside the can, or dropping a full can onto hard concrete.

Haws will replace defective cans free of charge. 

The watering can and brass rose are handmade in England by Haws. Starting with sheets of steel, the body, base and spout are cut out. Each component is then shaped and rolled on machines, and all the parts joined together by interlocking flanges and spot-welded by hand. The assembled can is then hot-dipped into a galvanizing zinc bath and painted. 

Please email support@kaufmann-mercantile.com.  We reply to every email promptly. Or call us at 347 529 5122.

To stay updated on product launches and articles on our blog, follow us via mail, RSS, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest.