Hanging Basket & Patio Pot Watering Kit

Product details

A hanging basket watering kit provides an easy and reliable way to automatically water hanging baskets, patio pots and planters. Instead of watering each container individually, the system delivers water directly into the compost using professional-quality drippers, helping to reduce the time and effort needed to keep plants watered during warm weather. Our kits use discreet black irrigation pipe and are available with 10, 25 or 100 drippers, making them suitable for everything from a few hanging baskets around a patio to larger installations. Connect the system to an outside tap and add a garden tap timer to create a fully automatic hanging basket watering system – particularly useful during hot weather or when you are away from home.

At a glance

• Waters hanging baskets, patio pots and planters
• Choice of 10, 25 or 100 drippers
• Professional-quality drip irrigation components
• Slim black pipe for an unobtrusive installation
• Delivers water slowly and directly into the compost
• Easily automated with a garden tap timer
• Can be extended with additional drippers and pipe
• Suitable for both small gardens and larger installations

Why use a hanging basket watering system?

Hanging baskets and patio pots can dry out very quickly during warm weather and often need watering every day. Watering individually with a watering can can be time-consuming, particularly where baskets are positioned around the house or at height. A hanging basket watering system delivers water slowly and directly into the compost, allowing it to soak in rather than running straight through the basket. The system can water several baskets, pots and planters at the same time and, when combined with a garden tap timer, can provide fully automatic watering throughout the summer. The slim black irrigation pipe can be clipped discreetly around walls, fences and other garden structures, making the system far less noticeable than running conventional garden hose between pots.

How does a hanging basket watering kit work?

The watering kit connects to an outside garden tap and uses a small supply pipe to carry water around the garden. At each hanging basket or pot, a dripper supplies a controlled flow of water through a short length of pipe to a stake positioned in the compost. Installation is straightforward. The supply pipe is clipped into position and cut wherever a dripper is required. The dripper is fitted into the pipe and a short lead runs from the dripper to the basket or pot. The system can be branched where necessary to reach different areas of the garden. Once installed, all the connected baskets and pots can be watered simply by turning on the tap. For automatic watering, add a battery-operated tap timer so that the system waters at preset times without needing to be turned on manually.

Why use pressure-compensated drippers?

One of the important differences between this system and many basic pot-watering kits is the use of professional pressure-compensated drippers. Hanging baskets are often positioned at very different heights – for example, some may be close to ground level while others are mounted high on a wall. Pressure compensation helps maintain a consistent dripper output throughout the system, even where there are differences in height and position. This also allows the 10 and 25-dripper kits to use very slim black supply pipe. At only around pencil thickness, the pipe can be installed discreetly against brickwork, fencing and other garden structures without becoming visually intrusive. The drippers also apply water at a low rate, helping the compost absorb the water and reducing the amount that simply runs through the bottom of the basket.

Which hanging basket watering kit do I need?

There are three kit sizes to choose from. The 10 and 25-dripper kits are ideal for most domestic gardens and use slim 5.5mm outside-diameter supply pipe for a particularly unobtrusive installation. For substantially larger installations, the 100-dripper kit uses 16mm supply pipe to handle the greater water flow required. Individual drippers are connected to this larger main pipe, with smaller dripper pipe carrying the water from each dripper to the basket or planter. Choose the kit according to the maximum number of baskets, pots and planters you expect to water, allowing a few spare outlets if you expect to add more containers in the future. If you would like more information, we have a Hanging Basket Guide.

What is included in each hanging basket kit?

Automatic watering for hanging baskets and pots

The watering kit can be operated manually from an outside tap, but for most installations we recommend adding a battery-operated garden tap timer. This turns the system into a fully automatic hanging basket and pot watering system, supplying water at preset times without the need to turn the tap on and off each day. Automatic watering is particularly useful during hot weather, when hanging baskets and patio pots can dry out very quickly, and is ideal when you are away from home. A timer also makes it easy to water little and often, helping the compost absorb the water more effectively and reducing the amount that drains straight through the bottom of the container. The watering programme can be adjusted throughout the season to suit the weather and the needs of your plants.

Water Regulations and hosepipe bans

When connecting an irrigation system to the mains water supply, suitable backflow protection may be required to comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations. For most domestic garden watering installations, we recommend fitting the appropriate backflow prevention device between the tap and the irrigation system. Drip irrigation systems can also have an advantage during periods of water-use restrictions. Because they apply water directly and efficiently to the compost, drip watering systems operated by a timer may be permitted during a hosepipe ban, depending on the restrictions imposed by your local water company. Restrictions can vary between water suppliers and between individual hosepipe bans, so always check the current rules for your area before using the system during a period of water restrictions. For more information, see our Water Regulations for Domestic Gardens guide.

Feeding hanging baskets through the watering system

Liquid fertiliser can also be applied through the hanging basket watering system by adding a suitable fertiliser feeder to the irrigation line. This allows feed to be distributed automatically to all the connected baskets, pots and planters while the system is watering.

This can be particularly useful during the main growing season, when hanging baskets and container plants need regular feeding as well as frequent watering. Applying feed through the irrigation system saves time and helps ensure that all the connected plants are fed consistently.

How to install a hanging basket watering system

Our installation video shows how straightforward it is to fit a hanging basket and patio pot watering system. The video takes you through the main stages of the installation, including positioning the supply pipe, fitting the drippers and running the smaller outlet pipe into each hanging basket or pot. It also shows how the pipe can be clipped discreetly around the garden so that the finished installation is as unobtrusive as possible. Watch the video below for a step-by-step guide to installing your hanging basket watering kit.