Haws Watering Cans - The Long-Spout Design That Lasts

John Haws redesigned the watering can in the late 19th century by extending the spout on a long arm and creating a well-balanced body. Haws popularized the rose - a perforated spout cover - to protect seedlings and newly sown beds. The brand's traditional metal cans and newer shapes (including oval bodies and varied finishes) continue to appeal to gardeners seeking precise, gentle watering.

Haws watering cans are a classic English gardening tool, known for a long-spout design and careful balance that make gentle, controlled watering simpler.

A 19th-century idea that changed watering

The Haws story begins with John Haws, who in the late 1800s redesigned the common watering can. He moved the spout out on a long arm and refined the body so the can stayed balanced when full. That arrangement made it easier to reach beds and borders and to pour in a steady, controlled stream instead of a hurried splash.

The "rose": watering without damage

Another defining feature of Haws cans is the rose - the perforated spout cover that breaks a stream of water into a fine shower. Early in the 20th century the company popularized the rose for delicate seedlings and newly sown beds, reducing soil disruption and seed washout. The rose remains a signature element for gardeners who need gentle overhead watering. ¹

From traditional forms to modern choices

Haws built its reputation with traditional, metal cans in classic finishes. Over time the product range expanded to include different shapes, such as oval-bodied versions, and finishes like hunter green and galvanized metal, to suit contemporary tastes while keeping the original balance and long-spout function. ²

Today the brand is still associated with quality watering cans and is sold beyond the United Kingdom, where gardeners prize both the practical design and the historic styling. If you prefer plastic for weight or metal for durability and appearance, Haws-style long spouts and rose attachments are available in multiple materials. ³

Choosing and caring for a Haws-style can

Choose a capacity and material that match how and where you garden: smaller cans (1-2 liters) for indoor and pot work, larger ones (4-10 liters) for borders. Metal cans need occasional polishing or rust prevention if left outdoors; galvanized and painted finishes protect the metal and extend lifespan.

Haws-style cans are best stored indoors or under cover in winter. Clean the rose occasionally to prevent clogging from mineral deposits if you use hard water.

Why gardeners still like them

The long spout, balanced body, and gentle rose make Haws-style cans a practical option for precision watering. They combine utility with a traditional look that suits both working gardens and decorative settings.

1. Confirm the exact year and details of John Haws's patent/application that introduced the long-spout design.
2. Verify the timeline and attribution for when Haws popularized the perforated "rose" and who introduced it.
3. Confirm current product range details (oval models, colors like hunter green and galvanized) and which items are manufactured or sold by Haws today.
4. Verify the current company status and distribution (whether Haws cans are manufactured in the UK and availability in international markets, including the US).