It is important to understand when your plants need water because too much or too little water can interfere with their ability to thrive. If you don’t water them enough, they could wilt and die, but if you water them too much, they could develop a disease or become too wet. You need to consider more than the type of plant, including your soil and the climate where you live. Read on to learn how to tell if a garden needs water.
Check the Soil in the Garden
One of the best ways to know when your garden needs water is to check your soil. It is important to know what kind of soil you have because different types hold water differently. Clay soil is heavy, and it will hold moisture for a longer time. If you have clay soil, you need to be careful not to overwater it. On the other hand sandy soil does not hold water very long at all, so you will need to water it more frequently. The sandier your soil is, the more water your garden will need.
Finally, fertile soil with compost is ideal because it allows draining, but it retains some water for the plants. You can water your garden less frequently if you have this kind of soil. This kind of soil requires an inch or two of water per week, and clay soil will need less, while sandy soil will need more.
Keep Track of the Weather
When you have a garden, it is important to keep track of the weather. If it is hot and dry, you will need to water more frequently. If it is cool and rainy, you may not need to water at all. The same rule applies; your garden needs one or two inches a week. If it has been raining all week, you can check the forecast to see how much water has fallen. It is likely that you will not need to water your garden at all. If you aren’t sure, check the soil and make sure that it is moist.
Know the Needs of Different Plants
When you have a garden, you might have different types of plants. They may have different watering needs. Some plants need to be watered every day, whereas others may only need it a few times a week. It is important to know this information before you plant your garden because you will want to separate plants with different watering needs.
In addition, larger plants need to be watered more frequently, as do those that have just been planted. When you water your plants, the roots take the water and deliver it throughout the plant. A large tree will require far more water than a small flower. If you have your plants planted in a container, you will probably need to water them every day. There are some cases where the plant will need to be watered more than once in a day.
When you are watering your plants, you should also pay attention to the time of day. You want to water them earlier so that their leaves can dry in the sun. When leaves are wet, they are susceptible to growing fungus. Another thing to keep in mind is that watering your plants more deeply will encourage stronger roots to grow. You might consider watering your plants two inches once a week, and doing more if you notice that it is too dry.
It is ideal to water plants near the roots so that they can take the water in and leave the leaves dry. You can use a hose or drip irrigation to keep the water under the plants. Pay attention to the type of soil, how moist it is, and what the weather is like, and you will have no trouble keeping your plants watered properly.