The Best Way to Water Your Garden

Have you ever considered the best way to water garden plants? Are you watering the soil, or the foliage? Plants take water up from thousands of tiny hairs on their roots, so any water on the leaves will be wasted and evaporate. It could also lead to fungal problems. Just as stems grow towards the light, roots will also track moisture in the soil growing towards it. This is called hydrotropism.

The quantity of water plants require will differ based upon age, variety of plant and the type of soil you have. Young plants dehydrate quickly and should be first on the list. Next, is anything newly planted that hasn’t had a chance to root down. Fruit and veg will also need more watering in the run up to producing their crops. Containers need regular checks as they rely solely on you for their water needs.

Clay soils hold onto water the most as do potting composts containing organic matter. Potting mixes containing vermiculite, will act like a sponge and retain up to three or four times its own weight in water. Sandy soils on the other hand, act like a sieve, being very free draining. This is why it is so important to choose plants for soil conditions in your garden. A silt soil will hold more moisture than a sandy one and a loam soil, which is a mixture of clay, sand and silt will vary, dependent on its predominant particles.

Soil structure is equally important. A soil left undug, but regularly mulched with organic matter, will be teeming with worms taking the humus down into the soil. This will hold water far better than a compacted or cultivated soil.

To check if a soil needs watering press your finger 2-5cm into the soil – if it feels dry, then it’s time to water. Don’t make a judgement based on the appearance of the soil surface and don’t wait for signs of wilting leaves. Overwatering, root damage and disease will also cause leaves to wilt.

Teaching your plants to search for water from a young age will allow them to better withstand periods of drought. Give the soil a good deep, drench and then leave for a few days before the next watering. A daily splash of water, only promotes surface roots.