How To Properly Use A Rain Gauge

Know Exactly How Much Rain Your Garden Gets - And Stop Wasting Water.

Watering your garden without a rain gauge is like cooking without measuring cups, you're just guessing. And rain is worth paying attention to. Just think, if 10 mm of rain on a square meter of ground adds up to 10 litre, the amount of rain dropped on earth during a thunderstorm is astronomical. Did you know that the smell of rain, that fresh, earthy scent we all love, actually has a name: petrichor. Rain is remarkable, and every drop that falls on your garden is a drop you don't have to pay for.

Why It Matters

Rain gauges measure rainfall in millimetres over 24 hours. The magic ratio is 1:1 so 10 mm of rainfall equals 10 litres of water per square metre which is generally considered a good drink for most gardens. Anything less and your plants could use a hand. In Australia, where annual rainfall varies wildly from region to region, tracking what actually falls in your backyard is genuinely useful.

Choose Your Gauge Neta offers two options. The Backyard Rain Gauge measures up to 150 mm and features a tapered, wedge-shaped body — ideal for accurately capturing low rainfall. The Professional Rain Gauge steps it up with a 250 mm capacity, a precision inner cylinder for accuracy, a larger outer cylinder for heavy downpours, and stainless steel screws built to last.

Read It Right

Always take readings at the same time each day. Water creates a curved surface in the tube called a meniscus so make sure to read from the bottom of the curve at eye level. During heavy rain with the Professional model, measure the inner cylinder first, empty it, pour the outer overflow in, then add both readings together.

Install It Properly

Mount your gauge on a post away from trees and rooftops, at least twice the distance from the tallest nearby structure. Keep it vertical and low to the ground. For even greater accuracy ,install two gauges six metres apart and average the results.

Every millimetre counts, start tracking yours.