Watering

The amount of water you give the plants in your garden is so crucial to their healthy growth. Watering too much or too little can harm your plants, and some of the harm may be irreversible.

The best time for watering is in the morning before heat and evaporation take their toll. Grass clippings and mulch spread on the soil help to prevent the evaporation.

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When to Water

Water the soil in your garden completely once a week. A few minutes of surface watering is not enough to sufficiently water your garden. There must be enough water to soak down through the soil to where the roots are.

New plantings need to be watered daily for several weeks, however, to initiate root growth. This is especially important for shrubs and trees. Once they are established, be careful not to over-water. You can do them more harm by over-watering them than by under-watering them!

Watering

Morning hours are preferable so the water has time to sink in before the heat and sun causes a lot of evaporation.

Watering in the evening after the heat of the day will also work for most plants.

If you plan to water in the evening, make sure you give the plants and soil enough time to dry before dew forms in the night. Late afternoon to early evening is preferable. If the soil is wet for too long, it may allow fungal spores to germinate and thrive.

Images courtesy of Oklahoma State University and Forestry Images.
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