Watering Tips

The amount of water that plants require varies; the good news is that the signs of severe over- or under-watering will be fairly hard to miss.

As a rule of thumb, one thorough weekly watering will usually be sufficient if there is some rainfall and the conditions are not particularly extreme (i.e. severely strong winds or a heat wave). For most gardens, about an inch of water per week is good—whether this comes from rainfall or another system (hand-held hose, drip irrigation system, and so on).

If the garden is in a very windy area, consider constructing a windbreak of some kind. This could be hand-made (i.e. fencing or even a decorative wooden panel) or natural, such as shrubs or trees planted in a strategic location.
Check the conditions of your plants as well as the soil for signs that you have been providing the right amount of water to meet their needs. If plants need soil that is moist, do not let the soil dry out completely—you can check the surface to verify this. In most garden beds, drainage should be good enough that there is little worry of over-watering to such an extent that you harm the plant, as can very easily happen when using containers (although of course anything is possible if the situation is extreme enough!). For plants needing dry soil conditions, check to see how the soil feels about an inch to an inch and a half below the surface—once it has dried out to this level, they you should feel free to water again.

Watering by hand using a watering can is ideal, since it lets you keep an eye on the condition of your plants and lets you water directly at the roots. When the foliage gets wet, as it does using other watering methods such as sprinklers or a hose and nozzle attachment, there is more chance for diseases to spread. If you do need to use overhead watering, try to do it in the morning, before the harsh mid-afternoon sun, and so that the foliage will dry out before nightfall. If you want to install a watering system so that you do not need to water by hand, you might consider soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems. If possible, check into rain barrels or other water conservation systems. If there are restrictions in your area (as there often are during particularly hot periods, or during set times of the year such as mid-summer) then you need to respect these, since ignoring the restrictions can lead to steep fines.

Other options for getting through the hot summer months while conserving water include buying drought-resistant plants and adding organic matter such as compost, as well as mulch , since these will help the soil retain moisture.