How to Water a Garden

Knowing you need to water a garden is common sense, but less common is knowledge of the proper way to water. If you do it right, you can maximize the benefit to your garden's plants and flowers while conserving water, a precious resource.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Watering can or wand sprayer

1. Know that plants need moisture—especially during the first few weeks of growth when young plants are building their root systems and establishing themselves in the soil.

2. Douse individual plants or plant containers with a watering can or wand that fits on the end of a garden hose. These best distribute the flow of water evenly and directly. Watering wands release water in gentle diffusion to prevent damage to plants.

3. Water at the proper time of day: morning, not afternoon. Mid-afternoon is the worst time to water because peak heat causes the water to evaporate quickly. Opt for times when there's sunlight but lower temperatures. Early morning and early evening are great. Avoid late evening and through the night, when moisture remains and breeds mold and fungus.

4. Don't water unless it's necessary. Overwatering can be as much a problem as underwatering. Measure how much you water, and track the amount of rain your plants receive. Most gardens need about an inch of water every week, though established plants can often stand to receive less once in a while.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use a hose's sprayer nozzle to water your garden. A sprayer nozzle is a poor choice for watering because its high pressure can flatten plants.