Community
17 November, 2023
Water your garden efficiently
WITH the warm summer months just around the corner our thoughts turn to how to best water our garden and lawn to ensure they thrive – and survive.
When it comes to watering your garden efficiently there are several techniques that can be followed to ensure you get the best results without wasting this precious resource.
To prevent your plants from drooping they need plenty of water – but when and how much should they be watered?
Most plants depend on even moisture but slight drying out before watering can promote root growth.
In the flower bed, one or two watering sessions per week is usually enough – it’s often better to water occasionally with plenty of water rather than a little water often.
It’s best to water cool soil in the evening as less water evaporates than when watering hot soil during the day.
It also allows the plants to supply themselves with water before the next day’s heat.
Wet leaves can become diseased leaves so if they’re kept wet overnight, leaf-mould may result. Irrigate in a way that saves water.
Water as much as necessary and as little as possible.
Avoid waterlogging as this suppresses the breathing air of the roots out of the soil and the root cells will drown without oxygen.
Plant soil rich in clay minerals has better expanding properties and can therefore hold water in the soil much better and in a more even way.
In wet summers, ensure adequate water drainage to prevent waterlogging.
