Garden Watering Tips
When your garden has been planted, nothing is more essential to its ability to bloom than water. Plants that are not given enough water develop poorly and become more susceptible to damage from pest, and many plants which are lost in the garden each year have probably been weakened by erratic watering. But beware! Too much watering is just as bad.
Most of the time, a gardener needs to supplement natural rain water and the best way to tell when a garden needs watering is to look at it. If the soil is dry to a depth of half an inch or so, it's time to water. How often you need to water varies greatly with the temperature. During a really dry spell, the best time to water your garden is either early in the morning or better still, when the sun goes down at dusk when your lawn and plants will gain from having all evening, overnight and early morning to reap the benefits of the water before the sun dries them out.
However, we must remember that water is an enormously valuable commodity and there are many different ways in which we can all save water in the garden.
COLLECT RAIN WATER
Collecting rainwater is both economical and ecological with the added advantage of being free. Several methods for collecting rainwater are available:
Plastic containers: you can place these at the bottom of drainpipes to collect rainwater. However, do not collect water from roofs covered with tar paper or asphalt sealants, these release hydrocarbons which can be harmful to plants.
Water butt containers: remember you will need to add a pump to this system to transfer the collected rain water.
WATER PLANTS ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS
All plants have different watering needs. Often, the same amount of water is allocated to each plant, whatever their actual needs, so apart from wasting water, you risk over watering your plants, weakening them and making them more vulnerale to predators. For that reason, you should learn about the watering requirements of your plants and water them accordingly.
AIM LOW
A simple way to save water is to pay attention to the technique used for irrigation. For example:
- When you use a watering can or watering hose, a large amount of water is applied to portions of soil or foliage which do not contain roots. Aim low!
- The amount of water added is too large and a considerable amount is lost. Water if the soil is dry. DO NOT water if the soil is wet.
- Similarly, using a sprinkler that sprays water into the air causes a significant loss by evaporation. Unless you are using a sprinkler to water your lawn, it is better to use a "slow drip" watering method.
- The best way of controlling water flow is to use your thumb, this technique allows watering closer to the pants and roots and with a slower flow, the soil will better absorb and retain water. Always try to water the base of the plants but in times of meagre rainfall, give the foliage an occasional spray as well.
REDUCE EVAPORATION
It is possible to limit the amount of water needed for irrigation by reducing evaporation:
Water at the right time: in summer it is best to water in late afternoon (not in the heat) and a morning watering is recommended in spring and autumn.
Mulching can act as a thermal barrier preventing soil warming and reducing evaporation. The mulch also protects the roots from extreme temperature changes.
GET YOUR PLANTS USED TO LACK OF WATER
The root system of a plant adapts according to water availability. Plants that are watered frequently have no use for a complex root system since their watering needs are easily met.
However, when plants are watered less frequently, they will grow roots accordingly and when water is poured through their well developed root system, the plants will absorb as much moisture as possible. If you gradually reduce the amount of water added and slowly accustom your plants to a relative lack of water, over time, their watering needs will become less frequent.
Of course, some methods are more obvious than others but watering your garden at an appropriate time and in an appropriate way is very important and will make you a much more environmentally friendly gardener.
