Lawn
Established turf usually benefits from a deeper, less frequent soak. Check the root zone and count useful rain before running a sprinkler.
Read the UK lawn methodFree · no login · open source · made for UK gardens
UK Garden Watering Centre
Decide whether to water, work out how much, then match a timer to your real tap, water supply and garden zones. No account and no product-first quiz.
Start here
Make the watering decision before choosing hardware
The calculator uses your garden, soil, recent rain and optional UK postcode. Product matching is optional and only checks the live UK shop after the watering result is ready.
Build your UK watering plan
Answer a few questions about your garden. Add a UK postcode if you want us to look up weather for your area. If weather cannot be fetched, we use the rain and soil feel you report. Hosepipe-ban status is not confirmed for your street yet.
This is a decision aid, not a guarantee. It does not control taps, timers or irrigation hardware, and it cannot confirm a hosepipe ban for your street. Check the soil with your fingers and check your water company before you water.
Your equipment match
Four real UK use cases
One weather forecast does not mean one watering routine
Patio pots
Containers hold less water and can sit beneath eaves, so a wet lawn does not prove the compost received rain. Check by finger or pot weight.
Compare pots with bedsGreenhouse
Forecast rain may never reach covered crops. Separate greenhouse scheduling from exposed beds and favour slow delivery at the root zone.
Plan greenhouse wateringAllotment
Different beds, crops and soil conditions often justify separate zones. Confirm site rules and water access before relying on unattended watering.
Compare clay and sandy soilCurrent UK range
Water timers for independently scheduled areas
These are current storefront products, not a complete answer by themselves. Use the matcher above to avoid buying the wrong number of outlets or the wrong control type.
2 zones · app control
RainPoint 2-Zone WiFi Water Timer
Two separately scheduled outlets with remote app control.
€94,99
Currently unavailable
4 zones · RF + indoor Wi-Fi gateway
Johgee Smart 4-Zone RF Water Timer with Indoor WiFi Gateway
Four separately controlled outlets for gardens with three or four independent watering areas.
€84,99
Check compatibility and buyBefore you buy
Five checks prevent most timer mismatches
| Check | Why it matters | 4-zone RF timer requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Water source | A tap timer opens a valve; it does not create pressure. | Pressurised mains or pumped supply. |
| Pressure | Too little may not open or run emitters; too much is outside the stated range. | 0.05–0.8 MPa (0.5–8 bar). |
| Tap thread | A visually similar connector may still use a different thread. | 3/4-inch BSP female inlet. |
| Zones | A zone is an area that needs an independent schedule, not simply another plant. | Four separately controlled 3/4-inch outlets. |
| Wi-Fi and socket | The outdoor timer talks by RF to an indoor gateway; the gateway joins Wi-Fi. | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and a dry 110–240 V AC socket; initial setup 1–6 m from router. |
The supplied manual does not state a flow rate. Measure your tap flow for runtime planning; do not infer litres per minute from pressure alone.
UK weather and absence
Rain delay is useful; observation still comes first
Rain delay
Pause a schedule after useful rain, then check the soil before resuming. Covered pots and greenhouses may need a different decision from the lawn.
Holiday watering
Run a supervised test before leaving: check leaks, blocked filters, battery condition, outlet coverage and the result after a complete schedule.
Winter storage
The manual states a 3–45°C timer operating range. Before freezing weather, remove it from the tap, take out the batteries, drain the valve passages and store it dry indoors.
Evidence, not hype
What is verified — and what is not yet claimed
Verified from the supplied manual
- Four independent outlets and 3/4-inch inlet/outlet threads.
- 0.05–0.8 MPa working water pressure and IPX5 outdoor timer rating.
- Two AA alkaline batteries for the timer; 2.4 GHz indoor gateway.
- Tuya Smart or Smart Life app, schedules, manual watering and records.
- Manual claim of up to 500 m RF range without obstacles.
Not yet verified by Johgee field testing
- Typical RF range through UK brick walls.
- Flow rate at each outlet and performance with four outlets open.
- 30- or 90-day battery life under a defined schedule.
- Freeze damage after outdoor exposure.
- UKCA/CE status is not shown in the supplied manual pages.
Installation and long-duration test results will be dated and published only after the test has actually been completed. “Up to 500 m” is the manual's unobstructed claim, not a promise for a house or garden.
Detailed UK guides
Continue with the method behind the result
Frequently asked questions
UK garden watering and timer answers
Do I need an account to use the Johgee watering planner?
No. The planner is anonymous and can be used without an account. An optional postcode is used transiently for local weather and is not saved in the browser snapshot.
Does the planner switch my tap or timer on automatically?
No. It is a decision aid that suggests whether, when and how much to water. Product matching is separate and never gives the website control of your tap.
Will a garden water timer increase low water pressure?
No. A timer opens and closes a valve; it does not create pressure. The four-zone timer's manual states a working range of 0.05–0.8 MPa (0.5–8 bar).
What does a watering zone mean?
A zone is an area that needs its own schedule or duration, such as a greenhouse, lawn, border or group of patio pots. Several plants can share one zone.
Will the four-zone timer fit a UK garden tap?
The supplied manual identifies a 3/4-inch internal inlet thread and 3/4-inch external outlet threads. Confirm that your tap is 3/4-inch BSP before buying; appearance alone is not enough.
Does the smart timer need 5 GHz Wi-Fi?
No. The supplied gateway instructions specify 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. The indoor gateway connects to Wi-Fi and then communicates with the outdoor timer by RF.
Can the gateway be left outdoors?
No. The manual marks the gateway for indoor use and says to keep it dry. It needs a suitable indoor 110–240 V AC socket.
Can I run the timer from a water butt?
Not unless the supply can reliably meet the stated minimum pressure. A simple gravity-fed water butt often cannot. The matcher therefore does not treat an unspecified gravity supply as compatible.
How should I use rain delay?
Pause scheduled watering after useful rain, but check each zone. Covered pots and greenhouses may receive little or no rainfall even when the lawn is wet.
Can I rely on automatic watering while on holiday?
Only after a supervised full-cycle test. Check tap and hose leaks, filters, batteries, coverage, outlet flow and the soil result before leaving.
What should I do with the timer in winter?
Before freezing conditions, remove it from the tap, take out the batteries, drain water from the valve passages and store the unit dry indoors.
Does the page confirm a hosepipe ban for my street?
No. Check your water company before using a hosepipe or sprinkler. Where restriction status cannot be confirmed, Johgee fails closed rather than treating it as permission.