best tips to water your garden

[farmerbrie]

There are people who are really interested in gardening but have only a small garden, not really from a lack of space but more from the lack time. Small gardens can just be watered by hand, a low pressure sprinkler or hose.

Whatever technique you use in watering, if possible water the base of the plant only and not the foliage because this can be a good predisposing factor for diseases. Especially if watering is done when the sun is setting.

Any other tips for watering vegetables and other plants?

[honeylemon]

The amount of water that you should pour in container plants depends upon the type and size of container as well as the type of plant itself. Generally hanging baskets dry fastest of all since the whole of the container and the plants are exposed to sun and wind. You can actually recycle the water by placing potted plants underneath. That way, overflows from the basket will drip straight to the plants below.

[Edward12]

~ my vegetables which has shallow roots are greatly affected by bouts of extreme heat or windy weather so I see to it that they are well supplied with water . I read somewhere that plants usually need an inch of water per week.

[John S.]

When it's usually a bright sunny day and the humidity is low, vegetables need more water because evaporation is very high during these days.

I try my best to water in the morning because when water is still present in the leaves in the evening, it is a good invitation for diseases.

[Luna]

I usually water at early mornings and late afternoons too, making the chances of evaporation less. For some plants, like the ones near the house, I use a dipper and a pail instead of a water hose. It helps me save up on water and I can be sure that I don't miss any plants.

[farmerbrie]

You have to check moisture levels regularly (everyday especially if the weather is hot). Waiting for signs of water stress may put the plants in an state of irreversible damage.

A conscientious gardener must know the critical watering periods of the crops he is planting.

[wrigglerman]

Don't overdo watering your plants because excess water can leach nutrients from the soil and also it starves the plant roots of oxygen.

[sakura]

Originally Posted by honeylemon

You can actually recycle the water by placing potted plants underneath. That way, overflows from the basket will drip straight to the plants below.

Oh, it's great to see that there's a lot of people practicing this! It was my aunt who gave me this idea. I was visiting her and she was in the midst of watering the plants with my young cousins. She made it a game of sorts, pretending that the hanging was a flying island, and the water flowing off its rivers was rain for the land below. Haha. It was a pretty interesting idea.

[farmerbrie]

I mulch around my plants for they can help conserve moisture.

You can also increase the water-holding capacity of your garden by adding compost on a regular basis.

[leeza09]

i usually water my plants two times a day, morning and evening when the weather is hot. and just once in the evening when its humid. till now i am using water hose to water the plant.