Irrigation for Gardens

Whether it’s uneven soil conditions, drainage issues, sun exposure or something else, a garden irrigation system helps to maintain steady moisture levels and reduces waste, providing you with a more sustainable, and efficient method of watering. 

Why Smart Irrigation is Essential for Gardens

Knowing when, how often, and how much to water your garden can be tricky. Whether you’re growing vegetables, plants, or flowers, hot, dry summers and hosepipe bans can leave them parched, while busy routines often lead to inconsistent watering.

Manual watering often takes a lot longer than expected, especially when you have to fill cans or drag your hose around every few days. With a smart irrigation system for home gardens, you can ensure that your plants receive consistent care without excessive daily effort. 

It acts as a self-watering system for plants, ensuring they receive just the right amount of water even when you’re away.

Harvst’s WaterMate brings a precise and efficient approach to garden care. Unlike hosepipes or sprinklers that often waste water through surface runoff and evaporation, WaterMate delivers moisture directly to the root zone where plants need it most.

  • Up to 80% Less Water Used

  • Targeted Watering = Zero Waste

  • Reduces Runoff and Overwatering

How WaterMate Works for Gardens

WaterMate is a fully automatic watering system that adapts to your garden’s layout and schedule. It connects to water butts or garden taps to create a consistent and reliable watering setup for every season.

Our garden irrigation system uses smart moisture sensors to check conditions and provide water only when required. You can set it up for separate zones, and manage it through a timer or app control. The system works well with drip lines or a garden hose irrigation system to match different garden types.

Traditional watering methods often waste significant amounts of water through surface runoff and evaporation. Smart irrigation systems like WaterMate help minimise this loss by delivering water directly to the root zone where it's most effective, improving plant health while using resources more efficiently.

Buy WaterMate Pro Here!

Challenges That Automatic Watering Solves

Keeps plants hydrated through dry spells: During hot, windy, or drought-prone periods, garden soil can dry out quickly. An automatic irrigation system ensures consistent watering across beds and borders, even when rainfall is scarce.

Prevents water waste and surface runoff: Manual watering can lead to excess runoff or evaporation. A smart garden irrigation system delivers water directly to the root zone, saving up to 50% compared to hose watering while keeping soil moisture balanced.

Adapts to changing garden conditions: Whether it’s a shaded corner or an area of potted plants, smart watering technology adjusts to each area’s needs, promoting healthy, even growth throughout your garden.

Perfect for busy gardeners: Ideal for anyone short on time, an automatic watering system takes care of your plants while you’re away. With Harvst, you no longer have to worry about dragging hoses around the garden, or worrying about missed watering days.

Here’s How to Set up Watermate

The Benefits of Automated Watering for Gardens

Switching to a smart watering system can transform how you care for your garden. Instead of manually watering or worrying about dry weather conditions, WaterMate gives plants consistent moisture right at the roots, keeping your space green and healthy with minimal effort.

It provides an easy way to maintain healthy flowers, veg patches  and plants throughout every season, even when you’re away from home.

Why Upgrade to Automated Watering? 

Here are some everyday garden improvements you can expect by using WaterMate:

  • Easier to keep pots thriving in the heat
  • Great for mixed gardens with vegetables, flowers, and shrubs
  • Once set, it runs independently for stress-free maintenance

With a residential irrigation system like WaterMate, your garden can stay vibrant throughout the year with much less time and effort.

How Smart Irrigation Improves Garden Results

Smart irrigation helps save water and effort while giving plants the steady care they need, even when you’re not at home. It makes it easier to maintain outdoor spaces that look vibrant through every season.

A drip irrigation system for home gardens, also known as a garden micro irrigation system, supports consistent growth by providing moisture directly to the roots. It limits surface watering, which helps reduce weeds and prevent plant diseases. The result is healthier soil and stronger roots that stay nourished for longer.

During dry periods, an automatic drip irrigation system for home gardening ensures your garden recieves the right amount of water without waste. A regular schedule keeps gardens greener with minimal effort, freeing up time for other priorities.

Research shows that drip irrigation systems for home gardens use water more efficiently than surface watering. With a residential irrigation system, gardeners can save time, reduce waste, and keep plants healthier throughout the year. It’s an easy way to maintain vibrant outdoor spaces with less effort.

Buy WaterMate Mini

What Sets Our Watermate Range Apart?

  • Automated sensor-based irrigation system

  • Genuinely ‘smart’, responding to live conditions

  • Works off-grid - no mains power required

  • The only ‘everything you need in one box’ complete kit

  • Responds to temperature changes, adjusting watering frequency on hot or cool days

  • Uses industry-standard irrigation fittings

  • Most customisable and powerful (WaterMate Pro), irrigation system available 

  • The only system designed and Made in Britain
Buy Your Automatic Irrigation System

Off-Grid and Solar Power Use in Gardens

Don’t have a nearby plug? WaterMate’s solar kit means no wiring or mains connection is needed. It’s a simple way to keep your garden watering system fully automated, even in outdoor spaces without easy access to power.

WaterMate’s solar setup ensures your irrigation schedule runs like clockwork, even when you’re completely off-grid. A compact 10W solar panel charges an onboard battery, giving the controller enough power to water for 10 minutes / day during an averagely sunny day in the UK, which equates to 120 litres. Additional solar panels can be added for shady locations, or connected to mains power where available.

Benefits of a Solar-Powered Irrigation System:

  • Ideal for areas with no power or water supply
  • Charges even in the UK cloud cover
  • Ideal for remote garden edges or sheds

Which Garden Growers Use WaterMate?

WaterMate gives gardeners reliable control over watering without the daily time commitment. It keeps outdoor spaces healthy with consistent hydration that suits each garden’s layout and schedule.

Our irrigation system for gardens delivers water directly to where plants need it most. It also works as an automatic watering system for potted plants, ensuring all plants are sufficiently hydrated during drier weather. The process is completely automatic and removes the need for regular manual effort.

Casual container growers

Fits patios, balconies and small raised beds, keeping plants consistently watered.

Busy families

Benefit from consistent scheduling that keeps plants healthy without needing to manually water daily.

Eco-conscious households

WaterMate supports sustainable watering by using just the right amount of water each time.

Elderly gardeners

Removes the physical strain of regular watering, making it easier to maintain thriving beds and borders.

WaterMate Models & Kit Options For Every Garden Size

From patio pots to large segmented gardens, there’s a WaterMate kit to match every type of outdoor space. Whether you’re looking for small garden irrigation systems or need a more heavy-duty solution, our systems offer flexible control and efficient water use for various garden sizes. It’s easy to DIY your irrigation set up, or add on extra zones as your garden grows. 

Together, these kits form a versatile garden irrigation system that adapts to your layout and makes precise watering simple.

  • WaterMate Mini

    Dual zone | Up to 6 m²

    Best for small gardens, pots, patios, and compact beds. This system covers up to 6 sq m in total or 40 individual plants, making it ideal for smaller gardens. 

    It runs from either solar or mains power and automatically adjusts watering based on sunlight and temperature. The WaterMate Mini model includes dual watering zones, WiFi capability, and can draw water from a water butt or hose supply.

    Buy WaterMate Mini 

  • WaterMate Pro

    Expandable Multi-Zone | Up to 6 zones

    Ideal for larger spaces such as vegetable patches and raised beds. This model covers 20m2 per zone and supports up to 120 drippers or 40 spray points. 

    It features dual-zone watering (expandable multi-zone, up to 6 zones), WiFi control, and the option of solar or mains power, making it suited for homes that want an offgrid irrigation system for the garden across multiple plant areas.

    Buy WaterMate Pro 

Product specifications and features are subject to ongoing improvement. For the latest details, please see individual product listings.

FAQs

Is it suitable for large gardens?

It depends on the garden size, and your set up. WaterMate systems use separate zones to power drippers across wide areas, providing steady irrigation for the garden and reliable coverage.

What if it rains during a schedule?

Humidity sensors pause watering when the soil is already wet. This helps your drip irrigation system for home gardens stay efficient and avoid waste.

Does it work with water butts?

Yes. WaterMate can connect to a tap, tank, or water butt and can run as a rainwater irrigation system for a garden. This makes it simple to use stored rainwater for everyday watering.

Is it hard to install?

Not at all. Each kit includes clear, step-by-step instructions, all tools required and most users have their system up and running in a morning or afternoon. The pipework is flexible and a top tip is to put the ends into hot water for easy connection to various fittings.

What if I don’t have WiFi in my tunnel?

No problem. WaterMate operates automatically based on the schedule you set, even without WiFi or constant connectivity. You only need WiFi if you want to adjust settings remotely through the Harvst web app.

What are the best times of day to water a garden?

The best time to water a garden is early morning, ideally before 10 AM, when plants can absorb moisture without losing it to evaporation. WaterMate’s smart scheduling handles this automatically, ensuring automatic watering for your garden at the right time, even when you’re not around.

Can it handle winters?

Yes, although the control unit should be covered. Part of the manufacturing process is ensuring that Harvst’s solutions are designed to handle changing climates.

How long do the batteries last?

Battery performance depends on sunlight and how often the system runs. The solar version recharges automatically in daylight.

Automate Your Garden Watering with WaterMate

Grow greener and save water with WaterMate, the dependable irrigation for home gardens and self-watering system for plants. Designed to make garden care simpler and more consistent, we’re here to help you maintain a healthier garden through automatic scheduling.

Thousands of gardeners rely on WaterMate to reduce waste and keep their spaces thriving in every season.

Order your WaterMate today and ensure smart irrigation for your home garden now.