Now that summer is fast approaching, one of the best things you can do is get yourself into a watering routine with your garden. Doing this trains your garden to understand maximising the water intake it gets and to use it efficiently.
Sounds complicated, right? It’s really not…
Sticking to a routine is the best way, and once you have it down to a ‘T’ you’ll have it all watered in no time.
My name is Sammy, I would say I’m a beginner gardener but that’s probably what I could class myself as 2 years ago, my hobby of gardening has quickly spiralled and I now use my social media platform to inspire others on how to get into gardening.
Second to that I am exhibiting in my second garden show this year, sharing that if I can do it anyone can.
So, if you want to follow along for any helpful tips head over to @insammysgarden_.
The Basics
Watering is such a simple job, but when you are new to gardening it can seem a little overwhelming to know what’s right and what’s wrong.
The first thing I would advise starting with is getting to know how much sun your garden gets. If it’s full sun you will need more watering than if it’s shady.
Also know that pots and hanging baskets need more watering too, depending on the material they can loose moisture fast.
Watering deeply is a very efficient way of watering. Giving the plant water until it drains out of the bottom means that all the roots have been thoroughly soaked and looked after.
My Routine
Personally, in my garden, I like to water every 2 or 3 days on average. This is how I’m attempting to train my plants to understand the routine and to maximise the water they get.
But if it’s been super hot like it has been recently, I will water every day (especially in the sunny areas as they dry out faster.)
Shady areas in my garden are fine for watering every 3 days as long as I water correctly.
If it’s been cloudy or a little cooler I’ll leave it the 3 days or if it’s rained I will water the pots only.
It’s important to know that pots dry out faster, so these are really monitored by eye and the weather, peak summer I water every day.
Saying that, do not over water, do what suits you and the plants will give you signs if they need more or less water with the leaf colour or by going limp.
Don’t forget to water the base of the plant only, this goes straight down to the roots and is the best way of watering; the plant doesn’t need water on the leaves only the base to get a good drink, this is super important.
Watering the leaves can also spread disease, create water marks, or even scorch the plant so I always avoid this.
Gardener’s World
There is another section I have to water too.
This year I am exhibiting for the second time and it’s for the Gardener’s World Live Summer show this month. I have grown things like Cosmos, Achillea from seed, so I have to factor those into the watering pattern. They are all in pots so it’s super easy… Just don’t forget where you are up to!
Stay tuned for my next blog, as that’s all a recap on how Hozelock helped me with creating my full pink garden.
What I Use in my Garden
I love the basics of a hose and spray gun.
I have the Wonderhoze, which is great for manoeuvring around the garden. Once it’s finished and drained off it shrinks down and can be stored away in a basket or similar. So easy and looks pretty too!
I love the red button on the spray gun, this keeps the stream of water constant which is great when you’re watering large areas.
When it’s not raining, we also use the sprinkler on the grassy areas. When I’m using the sprinkler, I adjust the settings to reach further and get some of the planted areas too so it’s not a waste of water.
Tips to Maximise Your Watering
- Water the base of the plant for around 15/20 seconds or until it drains out of the bottom of a pot or basket.
- Stick to a schedule. Do what suits your home-life best, starting something that you cannot upkeep is the worst idea. It will not be maintainable and you may loose plants along the way.
- Look into gadgets for watering for you, there are so many things out there now. Get yourself a good hose and spray gun and see if there’s anything else you may need to help you along the way. I have a watering kit I’m setting up for my sunniest border. This allows me to attach it to the hose with a timer setting and waters the plants for me. If you are inconsistent with your watering this may be a good investment to have a great garden.
- Water either early morning or evening time. The soil will retain the moisture best at those times and reach the roots better. Watering in the middle of the day means the water evaporates quicker, if this is your only option then that is fine but you may need to water for longer, especially in summer. So evening or morning is best for efficiency.
- Keep it simple, plants are more easy to look after than you think. Once you have the basics nailed, you’re on your way to success.
- Add mulch, grit, or decorative stones on top of pots to help retain the moisture. In summer, you’ll be glad you did.
I hope you have enjoyed my little blog regarding watering and I have covered all bases. I look forward to catching you up after my show, updating you on my garden in the summer.
If you have any questions regarding watering don’t hesitate to pop over to my Instagram @insammysgarden_ . I’ll be more than happy to help!
