The Importance of Proper Watering

The Importance of Proper Watering

During the hot and dry season it is so very important that you water your garden properly!  Proper watering ultimately means less frequent watering, and more importantly healthy and 'happy' plants.


GROUP YOUR PLANTS

First off I should mention that it is a good idea to group your plants in your garden according to their water needs.  For example Showy Stonecrop (Sedum spectabile) requires very little watering during the summer whereas roses require regular watering.  If you plant these two plants together you may potentially be over/under watering one or the other.  Therefore it is a good idea to group all the plants with lower water needs together and separate from the plants that require regular watering.  By doing so you eliminate the need to water your entire garden and more importantly you aren't overwatering/under watering your plants.


USE MULCH

In addition to adding nutrients to your soil, mulch is also very important as it helps retain moisture in the garden bed.  Think of the mulch as a big blanket protecting all that moisture in the ground from evaporating away    On a side note I just want to say that  one of the BEST mulches I have ever used is arborist woodchips!  I just can't get over how amazingly well they retain moisture in my beds - I would say that I have reduced the need for watering by 3/4's - seriously!


DETERMINING A PLANT'S WATER NEEDS

When you purchase a plant from the nursury its watering needs should be explained on the plant tag.

If there is no information with regards to watering ask a nursery staff member as they should be able to advise you.  If the plant is already in your garden you can determine its watering cycle by the following method:
 
Day 1:  Water the plant well.
Day 2:  Observe plant.  If there is no indication of drought stress (wilted leaves, droopy flower
             heads/buds) leave until the following day.
Day 3:  Observe plant.  If drought stress is visible water the plant well.  You now know your plant
             requires watering every 3rd day.  If the plant does not show drought stress, move on to
             Day 4, etc.

By observing your plants you will start to see that some plants may require watering 3 times a week whereas others may only require water a couple of times a month.


WATER YOUR PLANTS PROPERLY!

Did you know just a quick spray with the hose is actually detrimental to your plant?  This is because a quick spray will only lightly moisten the surface of the soil and thirsty plants will either receive no water to their roots or they may send roots to the surface in search for the water.  Both cases are not good because plants that do not receive water ultimately die and plants that grow surface roots tend to not establish themselves well enough in your garden bed which will mean that they may not survive winter well - not to mention that they will also suffer from not receiving enough water.

So how do you water properly?  First off I can tell you that proper watering is NOT a 5 minute job!  It is a dedicated chore in your garden and well worth the results if you invest the time to do it right!
The first step is to moisten the soil: direct water to the base of the plant and moisten the soil around it just until the water begins to run off.  Wait a moment to allow the water to penetrate the suface.  At this point if you were to stick your finger into the soil you will find that it is still quite dry underneath that moistened upper layer.  The trick is to keep applying water a little bit at a time and allowing the water to work its way down into the soil.  Each time you add a little more water, the water works its way down deeper and deeper.  As the soil becomes moistened it begins to act like a wet sponge, absorbing more and more water.  So essentially the trick is to water slowly to allow for the water to work its way deeper into the soil where it will reach the root ball of your plant.  If you are not sure if you have applied enough water, just work your finger or trowel into the soil next to the plant to see how far it has gone.  If it's still dry, keep watering.

The good news is that by investing all this time and effort to water properly you will find that you do not need to water as often, and even better you have healthy well-watered plants that won't succumb to drought stress, and if your plants aren't drought-stressed they are less likely to attract pests and/or develop disease.


WHAT TIME OF DAY SHOULD YOU WATER?

What time of day should you be watering?  There is a persisting myth out there which claims watering your garden midday is bad for your plants because the sun and water combined will burn them.  The real risk of watering midday is that the rate of evaporation is higher than first thing in the morning or late in the evening, but if the only time you have to dedicate for watering is in the middle of the day it is better to do so than to lose your plants due to drought!  Ultimately the best time to water is first thing in the morning as evening watering can potentially encourage fungus growth.  The main thing is to be observant of your plant's water needs and water them accordingly!

Happy hydration!




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