It's Just Water...

     Have you ever wondered about watering your garden? I mean, it's just water, you spray the plants and be done with it, right? Wrong...Good gardeners will want to get the most out of their garden while conserving natural resources, and certain methods of watering at certain times of the day will accomplish both goals.

How To:

     The needs of plants and the need to conserve water go hand-in-hand. To help form strong root systems, plants should be watered deeply and infrequently. Deep watering requires you to water slowly so that the water is absorbed into the soil rather than running off. Your garden needs 1-2 inches of water per week or approximately 1/2 gallon per square foot (more if it is extremely dry). It is best to use hoses and watering cans so you can target your plants. Using sprinklers is inefficient and can actually damage your plants. Too much water leeches important nutrients from the soil and blocks essential air flow to the roots. 

When To:

     The best time of the day to water your garden is early morning. Watering before the heat of the day has set in reduces the amount of moisture lost to evaporation and gives the plants the water they need to make it through the day. If the garden is looking dry, give it a light watering in the evening, after the sun has gone down. You do not want to soak your garden in the evening; sitting water encourages mold and disease. If you have to water during the heat of the day, you really want to be sure to target the roots and avoid getting water on flowers and foliage.

Additional Tips:

• Never let your flowers get dry to the point of wilting. Wilted flowers are prone to disease.
• Containers will need to be watered more often than in-ground plants.
• Mulch, mulch, mulch! 

Enjoy!