watering gardens

[lauric]

better with hard or soft water?

[gen2]

Usually it does not matter.  If you live in a limestone/chalk area then the water will be hard but so too will be the soil.  Likewise if you live in a granite/peaty area the opposite will be true.  It only matters of you have modified the soil type in your garden.  eg You may live in a limestone area but have added peat or otherwise acidified your soil in order to grow heathers, rhododendrons, camellias or other lime-hating plants.  These should be watered with rainwater or other source of soft water.

The only other way I can think of you having problems is if you live on one soil type and your waterboard pipes in water from outside the area.

In summay then: Hard water may cause problems.  Soft water never will.

[silly moo]

Ideally collect rainwater and use that.
Need a rain but connected to a down spout.

[woofgang]

are you talking about artificially softened water? I was told that this could cause problems if used to water plants, main thing is thought that it is an expensive option!!