The Garden Room

Made in England, HAWS watering cans are known to be the finest watering cans in the world.  With beautiful balance and an oval brass rose that creates a gentle spray, these cans make watering a pleasure.

A quality blow moulded 6 litre plastic watering can which comes with an oval brass face rose and plastic down spout.

Available in green and red.

• Helpful Hints 

• So which Haws cans should you buy? How do you choose?

• Though varying in size, shape, capacity and purpose, all Haws cans have a number of things in common:

• • attractive
  • thoughtfully designed
  • well balanced, easy to handle
  • good value for money
  • durable and long lasting
  • most are supplied with removable brass roses to give a gentle spray
  • most cans are 'Made in England'

• Apart from wanting to buy a nice looking can here are the main things you need to consider. For what purposes will the can be used and where? Do you prefer a metal or plastic can? Things to consider here are weight - metal is obviously heavier, durability – metal is much longer lasting providing you never let water freeze inside, and cost – metal is more expensive. If you prefer lighter weight and cheaper plastic cans you have the choice between heavy duty 'injection moulded' cans or less expensive 'blow moulded' cans which are made of thinner plastic. Typically a Haws blow moulded can should last at least 5 years, compared to an injection moulded can at least 10 years. To lengthen the life of any plastic can, keep it out of direct sunlight.

• What capacity/size can do you require? Bear in mind that water is quite heavy even in a well balanced can like Haws. Also, consider that (like suitcases!) it is easier to carry 2 cans of water than one – and you don't have to fill them. You also need to choose between long or shorter spout cans,. Long spouted (traditionally known as long reach) cans are useful if you want to reach to the back of borders or staging within gardens, or if you are going to be spraying seedlings long spouted cans are supplied with finer spray roses for this purpose. Shorter spouted cans are suitable for general watering jobs around the garden especially pot watering and spraying established plants. They are also easier to store!, especially oval shaped ones like the new Haws Slimcans.

• Are you going to use your can for applying fertilisers or weed killers, if so please be aware that some chemicals should not be used in galvanised watering cans (this is always made clear in their usage instructions). Many gardeners keep red plastic cans specifically for applying weed killers and to avoid any risk of contamination, do not use them for any other purposes.

• When you have a clear idea of which Haws cans you are interested try the Choose and Use Guides on this website to help you make your choice (they are on the homepages for each style of can). As you go through the Guide ask yourself whether one size and style of can will meet all your can watering needs. Many gardeners have several Haws cans for different purposes!

The Roots of Haws

How John Haws got it right from the start...

Over one hundred years ago in 1885 John Haws of Clapton, London obtained a patent for an improved watering pot. The patent read:

‘This new invention forms a watering pot that is much easier to carry and tip, and at the same time being much cleaner, and more adapted for use than any other put before the public.’

John Haws first worked out his improved design and method of manufacture from a French made waterpot (or can as they are now called) and designed a can with perfect balance. Whether full, half full or empty the can could be used without undue strain to the operator. To this day, the original design has not been altered in any major way.

As watering was all done by hand in those days, there was a clear need for a good range of watering cans and the new Haws models found a ready market. Sales were buoyant both to the large glasshouse nurseries being established around London and the large provincial cities, and to professional gardeners on the landed estates flourishing throughout Great Britain.

When John Haws’ descendant Arthur Haws took over the management of the business in the early 1900s he faced stiff competition from companies imitating the Haws design. To meet it he spent a good deal of time perfecting the design of the roses, both oval and round, such that they were suitable for watering newly sown seeds, delicate seedlings and small plants. This feature of Haws cans also remains as important now as it was then.

Today, Haws’ comprehensive range of watering cans continues to offer new innovations (pot watering attachments and parking points for roses are recent examples) as well as utilising the many excellent design features of the original models.