Watering Best Practices
As garden experts, one of the top five questions we get season over season is about watering. No topic elicits more confusion or lore. The art of a well-watered garden can seem elusive, so in this blog we will break down best practices to help you achieve success.
The Science of it all
We often think about the plants needing water to thrive, however, it is also important to remember that, as we discussed in the soil amending blog post, your soil is ALIVE! The soil food web needs moisture to be living and this moisture must penetrate deep into the soil. When the soil food web is well nourished, your plant roots will have companion organisms and fungi to help them intake water and in turn, help your garden thrive.
Soil absorption and penetration vary depending on the type of soil that you have. In order to understand how your soil absorbs water, you’ll need to conduct a little experiment. For in-ground gardens, try running your sprinkler or irrigation system for 15 minutes (early in the day, preferably). Then use a trowel to excavate where the soil was watered to see how far down it penetrated. You’ll want to aim for at least 6” (15cm) of water penetration, ideally, 12” (30cm) A garden watered deeply is important as your plant roots reach deep down into the earth.
For hand watering in raised beds or containers, a similar experiment is a good idea. Using a gentle flow from your hose nozzle or watering wand (or watering can), water your soil, moving consistently to avoid pooling. When you think your garden has had a deep drink, carefully excavate the soil to see how far down the water has penetrated.
Hand Watering vs Irrigation Systems
There is great debate over which watering system is best, and the truth, like many other truths, is that the answer is nuanced. For newer gardeners, the practice of hand watering is recommended. This allows you to connect with your soil, regularly observe your plants and track how the moisture needs of your garden change as the season progresses. Because the top few inches of the soil’s surface dries out daily as the sun causes the water to evaporate, new gardeners and experienced gardeners alike should be mindful to insert their fingers into the soil to feel how moist it is further down.
Irrigation systems are good for those who can both maintain them and learn how to do minor repairs. These systems can be installed simply from a hardware store or be professionally installed with more elaborate systems and timing solutions. Gardeners who like to travel or who maintain multiple residences should consider installing irrigation systems to ensure that watering happens regularly when absent from the garden.
Mulching
Truly one of the most beneficial practices for your garden is mulching bare soil. Bare soil is not only susceptible to growing unwanted plants (weeds) but also prevents dry and sun-baked soil. Mulching helps keep the soil moist at every level and helps the soil food web thrive. Mulch truly is just any plant that is no longer living. You can mulch with wood chips, with straw or with dead leaves - just be sure that whatever you use to mulch is pesticide and disease-free.
Watering Good Practices
Here are some general good practices to follow when watering:
Watering in the morning is recommended so that the top layer of the soil has an adequate chance to dry out, which helps reduce pest pressure. Slugs particularly can thrive in gardens where there is inadequate ventilation and an abundance of stagnant moisture. Even though it is sometimes more practical to water in the evening, if you do have slugs present in the garden try to water early in the morning. Additionally watering midday, especially in the height of the summer can cause leaves to burn as the sun catches the light on wet foliage and creates a magnifying glass effect.
Avoid getting plant foliage wet. Remember that we are watering the soil rather than the plants. Water the soil or growing medium directly, using a gentle flow from the nozzle; the ‘shower’ setting is recommended. This further helps reduce the chance of soil-borne disease spread as it reduces splash back onto the lower leaves of plants.
Consistent deep watering is preferred over daily shallow watering. This helps your plants grow healthier root structures.
Adjust the frequency of your watering schedule in accordance with the weather. During heat waves and dry spells, deep watering your plants will keep them from feeling the stress from the heat. Plants in containers need very frequent watering in high heat, sometimes twice a day.
Hoses can get scorching hot. Drain your hose before watering to avoid burning your crops.
