We always seem to have too much or not enough. But water is the lifeblood of the garden and essential for good plant growth.
It is ever more important today to use water wisely in the garden. Dramatic instances of water shortages and restrictions highlight how water-greedy some gardens can be. We look at different ways of reducing the amount of water we use, especially water from the tap.
Water Wise Watering the garden may sound simple, but different requirements require different solutions.
Water in the Cool of the Day One key factor to remember is that watering in the heat of the day is not as effective as morning or evening watering, as the sun will evaporate precious droplets, especially if you use a sprinkler. The water on the soil surface will also dry up more quickly. Much of the water you applied will be of no benefit to the plants.
In very bright sunny weather, the water can actually scorch the plants, as the sun reflects on the water droplets.
Water Well Not Often Water plants thoroughly each time and they will develop good, deep root systems. You can water less frequently if you give your plants a good soaking.
Watering a little every day encourages lots of surface roots and the plants never really get enough moisture. If you merely wet the surface of the soil it will quickly dry out again, leaving plants gasping for water. Light surface watering encourages the roots towards the surface where they are more vulnerable to dryness and heat, rather than deeper into the soil.
Watering with a strong force of water, or with large droplets, results in a crusty layer forming on the top of the soil. This is a barrier to subsequent watering or rain; it may prevent the essential exchange of air and gases. A surface 'crust' can be enough to prevent seedlings coming through the soil surface.
When to Water When, and how often, to water is a question invites debate between gardeners.
Don't expect the surface to be moist all of the time. The simplest method of testing the moisture content in the soil is by rolling a little bit of soil in your hand. Or you can dig about 8 - 10 cm (3 - 4 inches) into the soil and see what the moisture content is like beneath the surface.
Storing water
Water is a precious and expensive resource. There are a number of ways to increase your supply of water in the garden, without increasing the water bill.
Collecting Rainwater Rainwater, free of chlorine and other chemicals used in treating mains supply water, is the choice of many for use in watering pot plants, seedlings and tricky, fussy plants.
You can easily install a rain butt or barrel in your garden. Good looking traditional or modern rain butts are available for specialist merchants.
A down pipe from your garden shed running into the barrel will collect rain water, a dipper is all that is needed to have a good supply of fresh, clear water.
Even a large bucket left out on the terrace or outside the potting shed will fill with rainwater.
Using Rainwater Run-off
You can attach an 'elbow' to the bottom of the down pipes on your house, directing the water into the garden. Check that your local council allows this first!
If you have heavy falls of rain you will need to install a system of dry streambeds (also called 'swales'), drains filled with gravel or sump holes to move water quickly and safely away from the house and border. The alternative is a potential for flooding and washouts in the border.
And to reduce watering the lawn, when designing your paved driveway slope it towards the lawn, directing the rainwater onto the grass instead of into the storm water drains. Take care that the paving is higher enough and angled away from your house or garage, or you will find you are watering your cellar instead!
Water Butt by the Potting Shed
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With experience you will be able to judge the water needs of different areas within your garden. Keeping rainfall records, or checking the local paper, will tell you whether a shower wet or merely dampened the soil.
Watering should be avoided during the heat of the day, should be deep enough to encourage deep root growth. You want to water the roots, rather than the leaves and certainly not have the water evaporate in the air before the plants can get to it. If only the soil surface is wet, it will soon dry out and the plant roots, where the water is best absorbed, will have received little or no moisture.
As a rule 25mm (1 inch) of water is enough to penetrate the soil to a depth of 12-15cm (approx 1 foot) and that is sufficient for most grasses, ground covers and perennials. Trees and shrubs are more deeply rooted and need the water to penetrate further.
Traditional watering methods are wasteful of water and can cause other problems in especially dry climates. Spray irrigation can simply erode precious topsoil as it drains away. It can leach all the nutrients from a light sandy soil as it very quickly drains away. And, by watering a large area and not just the plants, spray irrigation can result in a burgeoning weed population, competing with your precious plants for water.
Watering the garden may sound simple, but different requirements require different solutions.
When, and how often, to water is a question invites debate between gardeners.
Water is a precious and expensive resource. There are a number of ways to increase your supply of water in the garden, without increasing the water bill.
You can attach an 'elbow' to the bottom of the down pipes on your house, directing the water into the garden. Check that your local council allows this first!
