How to water your garden like a Master Gardener
We have had a lot of rain so you are probably wondering why I chose the topic of plant watering. I hear there is a dry period coming and your plants will need attention. One thing that plants need to thrive in your garden is water. But some plants need a lot and others will die from too much water. You must figure in the age, soil, quality and climate. These factors will make a difference when to water your plants. This might really upset your watering schedule.
Here are a few tips to help with this difficult but very important task.
Morning is normally the best time to water plants
The morning is the best time for your plants to absorb before the sun rises. This will give the plants a chance to retain more moisture. The leaves will also have time to dry. If you can’t water in the early morning, then water in the evening but keep in mind that watering at night will cause water to rest in the soil around the roots and on the leaves, which might lead to rot or fungal growth.
No one can determine a one-size-fits-all to water, but here are some factors to help you make your watering schedule easier. Know your climate ― this will depend on how often you need to water. Do you get a lot of rain in the spring and summer, or is your area arid and dry? If you live in a heavy rain area, you will not need to water as much as a dry desert area. As your locale's conditions change, so should your watering schedule.
Know your soil type
It is important to know what kind of plants you are raising. Take time to learn their needs; are they drought-tolerant plants, or do they love moist soil? Water accordingly. The obvious thing is if your plants are drought-tolerant you water less. However, if the plants love moist soil they will require more water. The type of soil makes a watering difference. Sandy soils drain fast so you will need to water more often, while clay holds moisture so you will not want to overwater. Where your plants grow will play a big part in watering. If your plants are in containers such as hanging baskets or raised beds, they generally require more watering than plants that are in the ground.
Plants in hanging baskets and containers will require more water as the summer progresses because the root system is growing. The age of the plant will make a watering difference. If the plant is young or a seedling it will want a little bit more care to establish the root system. The mature plant can go for longer periods of watering, but you need to avoid dehydrating any of the newbie plants. Most young varieties will need daily watering (not the rainy days, however) until the roots are developed. When this happens (around the two-week mark), watering can taper off.
Group plants with similar watering needs together
After you have determined your suggested watering schedule, most likely, for most established gardens, you probably will decide to water one inch of water each week. This could come from rainfall and your watering efforts. As your plants mature, so will your water timing schedule. It will be easier when you group your plants in preferred sun, shade and soil conditions. Also group plants with similar hydration needs near each other. This will benefit your watering frequency that works for all your blooms.
So you have the perfect plan, but could you overwater some of your plants? You will notice brown leaves, drooping or mushy stems, moldy soil, stunted growth, and root rot. This is a sure sign that you are overwatering. The answer is water less.
Looking the other way, are you not watering enough? You will quickly notice when leaves are wilting, become dry, cracked soil, plant is stunted, and the leaves are brown or crispy. Take heed and water more frequently.
I hope this didn’t scare you away from planting a garden. Mistakes are easily corrected. Keep a little journal from year to year, take pictures or draw diagrams and remember to rotate your garden crop each year and plant compatible plants side by side.
Susan La Fountaine is a Master Gardener with the Extension Offices in Sandusky and Ottawa counties.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: How to water your garden like a Master Gardener
