Sprinklers important for new grass seed, but, not always most efficient.

Correct watering is essential to a healthy garden, but, even seasoned gardeners can make mistakes in how and when they water.

Tips for Optimal Watering

• Don’t wait until everything is starting to wilt. Plants may never fully recover from a period of draught – others are more tolerant.
• Don’t water little and often. Many people get into the habit of turning the hosepipe / sprinkler on every day during dry spells, but, this isn’t necessary or even helpful.
• It is better to give one really good soaking once a week. To regain soil moisture, you will need about 2 inches of rainfall (or equivalent watering). A heavy soaking enables the water to get down to the roots. If you keep watering by small amounts , the water will only fall to near the surface. This encourages shallow roots and ironically plants become more liable to draught. If you water heavily, it will encourage deep rooted plants more tolerant of dry conditions.
• After watering, get a trowel and dig down to the depth of the trowel, If the soil is still dry and that depth, it is a sign that you haven’t done it enough.

A well watered garden (mind you it’s easier living in Yorkshire)

Target Certain Plants

• Some areas of the garden and certain plants will need much more watering than others. Lavenders, Sedums and other silver leaved plants will rarely need watering unless they are in a pot or the spell is particularly dry.
• However vegetables and seedlings will need special care to get water, especially during the flowering season.
• Some things like pots and hanging baskets may need watering every day, but, again the main principle of watering thoroughly still applies.
• Be aware of plants in any ‘rain shadow’. In close proximity to a high wall or tree, the ground underneath can get upto 50% less rainfall. Plants in these dry conditions may need extra watering.

Time of Watering.

Watering in the evening is the best time as less will evaporate in the night, and the water has more time to seep through soil.

How To Water Pots.

When filling pots, don’t fill the compost right to the top. Leave a gap of an inch so the water has time to drain into soil. You can stand pot on a basin to collect excess water, but, be careful some plants dislike ‘standing in water’

Extra Tips for watering

• Try mulching after a heavy watering.
  Try conserving water in convenient water butts so it is easy to get into garden.
• If you live in a dry area don’t always fight nature, but choose plants which don’t mind a bit of draught like Geraniums and Lavenders (it’s not all cactus)
• Consider a special watering system which helps direct water exactly where needed
• Draught tolerant Vegetables
• Top 10 Green Gardenening Habits
• If in Draught – Watering tips for the garden
• Watering houseplants
• Saving water in the garden

Watering Plants when your are Away

• See: Watering Hanging Baskets
• Watering with capillary matting

Related

• Watering systems at Amazon.co.uk
• Watering cans at T&M

Gloxinia like other hairy leaved plants dislike water on the leaves as the sun’s heat can be magnified and damage the leaf.

Tips for saving water for your garden