When to Water
Knowing when to water
plants can be confusing for many gardeners. If the compost is pale or has shrunk
away from the sides of containers, or the plants are wilting, then it is a good
chance that they need watering. The soil should feel damp to the touch but not
soggy. If you have clay pots, tap them lightly, if it sounds dull it doesn't
need watering.
You must always water
newly planted areas immediately after planting and do not allow to dry out until
they are well established.
It is always best to
water your garden in the evening during hot weather to reduce evaporation,
however if the weather is dull it is best to water in the morning to give the
plants time to dry out before evening. However, if a plant is obviously wilting
then water it whatever time of day it is.
|
Advertisement
Books from Amazon
|
|
|
|
|
Hand Watering
Hand watering your
garden is the best method to employ, as you can take a good look at everything
and avoid over watering those plants which do not need it. An outside tap is a
must to which you can attach a hose or fill a watering can. The best method is
to really soak the soil and allow it to dry slightly before doing it again. It
is much better to give your garden a good soak once a week than watering very
little every day and a good layer of mulch will help retain the moisture in the
soil.
|
Advertisement
EvenGreener. Space
Saving Mini Butt Kit. Even if
space is an issue in your garden,
the slim line Space Saving Mini Butt
means that you can now enjoy the
benefits of a water butt which can
be set up quickly and easily. Made
from recycled plastic and guaranteed
for 10 years. The Space Saving Mini
Butt Kit contains: 100 litre Mini
Butt SRP £26.95, Water Butt Stand
SRP £11, Rain Diverter Kit SRP
£9.95.25% off!! Dimensions: Height :
124cm (37") Width : 38cm (15").
£26.20.End of Season Sale, Was
£34.95 Save 25%. |
Irrigation Systems
If your garden is
particularly large or you find you do not have the time to spend hand watering
then you can install one of the many irrigation systems available on the market.
All irrigation systems benefit from being fitted with a timer. The timer is
attached between your outside tap and the system itself and can be set to water
your garden at any time of day or night and for a particular length of time;
ideal for when you're on holiday.
Drip Irrigation is the most sophisticated type of watering system
and can be used in any sized garden. It consists of a series of different
thickness of tubing and nozzles and can be built to meet your exact
requirements. Run the piping between plants and bury it beneath mulch. Run
smaller pipes to the areas you wish to have watered and add a nozzle suitable
for the size of plant or pot.
Sprinklers are not very efficient as the water sprays over a
large area missing some plants altogether and soaking others. They are mainly
used to water lawns.
Perforated Pipe is a hose with lots of tiny holes all the way
along it. The water slowly leaks out of the holes directly into the soil. Weave
the pipe between and around plants to deliver water where you need it. They are
ideal for use in a vegetable bed or in an annual flower bed while the plants are
being established.
Selected Suppliers of
Watering Systems and Water Butts
