Watering Tips

Without being watered, plants will wilt and die – particularly if you are going through a dry spell in the weather. There are some things to keep in mind when watering plants, whether a vegetable garden or decorative flowers – these 10 steps can help you to keep your plants healthy and happy.

1. Too much water can harm your plants just as much as too little. Watering a plant too much can cause its roots to rot or even drown.

2. When you buy live plants, read the watering instructions. These are usually included on the tab placed in the cup’s soil, along with sunlight recommendations and the expected blooming time of the plant. Provide your plant with plenty of water to keep them healthy and not drooping, but be careful not to flood them.

3. During the sweltering summer months, water plants in the cool morning or late evening, when the sun is not at its hottest. More water will be lost if they are watered in broad sunlight and some plants can blister if they are too wet under the summer sun.

4. Don’t water plants that are susceptible to disease at night. Water stagnating on plant flowers or foliage can encourage fungal infections. Water these plants in the early morning, so the water won’t have time to stagnate on them.

5. Keep soil slightly moist, keeping it from drying out completely. An inch of water per week is a good guideline for plants and lawns.

6. Set a rain gauge out in an open area without trees overhead. By doing this, you can judge how much water your plants will need and avoid over watering them if there has been significant rainfall.

7. Plants in dry, sandy soil or that are crowded will need more than an inch of water per week because there are more roots to drink it up.

8. In cool, damp weather, and with plants that are spaced widely, you can water a bit less than you might typically.

9. Young and newly planted plants need more water right on the surface of the soil to help in getting their roots started. Don’t water more in volume, though – water lightly and more often.

10. Plants that are mature and have large, extensive root systems can be watered more heavily but less often because the water soaks deep into the soil.

Category: Gardens, Tips and Tricks