How to Water Your Garden Wisely

Water early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent evaporation.

Proper watering can mean the difference between a garden that thrives and one that merely survives. Proper watering means watering before the plants begin to wilt but not so often that the soil becomes soggy. Too much water leeches important nutrients from the soil and excludes air that the roots need to remain healthy. Several factors determine the amount of water your garden needs, including heat, wind and the general makeup of the soil.

Things You'll Need

• Spade
• Sprinkler or watering can
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Water the garden slowly so that the moisture is absorbed into the soil rather than running off. This is known as deep watering.

2. Provide 1 to 2 inches of water every week. When watering with a sprinkler, place an empty tuna can in an open area of the garden within reach of the water. When it is full, turn the sprinkler off. If you are using a sprinkling can, allow a 1/2 gallon of water for every square foot. Water twice a week during hot weather or if you have sandy soil. Include rainfall in your calculations.

3. Give your garden enough water so that it penetrates to a depth of about 6 inches. Penetration varies depending on the type of soil. An inch of water penetrates to a depth of 12 inches in sandy soil, 6 to 10 inches in loamy soil and 4 to 5 inches in clay soil. To determine the depth of penetration, dig a hole about 6 inches deep with a spade and check for moisture at that level.

4. Apply 1 to 2 inches of mulch over the entire garden bed. Mulch insulates the soil from the drying effects of heat and wind.

5. Give newly emerging seedlings 1/4 inch of water daily for the first week or two. Water them early in the morning or late in the evening.

6. Water new transplants every two or three days for the first two weeks, then twice a week for the next two weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Shallow watering may do more harm than good. Plants develop shallow roots if the water doesn't penetrate deep enough. This makes them susceptible to drought.

References

• Washington State University Extension; Watering Home Gardens and Landscape Plants; George J Pinyuh, et al.
• United States Department of Agriculture: Tips for Watering Your Lawn and Garden
• Oregon State University Extension Service; The Art and Science of Watering the Garden; Peg Herring
• United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service: Rules of Thumb for Water Use on Lawns and Gardens
• Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service; Watering Vegetables and Flower Gardens; Emily Nolting, et al.; January 2008