Watering plants is the equivalent of drinking enough water to stay properly hydrated. In fact, it is widely known that 90 percent of every plant is composed of water. This fact alone shows how important it is to water plants regularly and correctly.
Given that moisture is essential to the growth of all plants, why not ensure that you are watering your plants properly? Watering plants the right way will help you save water and time!
5 Plant Watering Tips That Can Save You Time and Money
1. Don’t over-water. Providing an inch of water a week for most plants is a good rule of thumb to follow for many plants. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule and of course the type of plant or the stage of its growth will make a difference in how much water to provide. Too much water will drown plants because soil pores will fill up with water leaving little or no oxygen for plant roots. In addition, excessive watering will wash away essential nutrients. One key is to provide light moisture and keep the soil from completely drying out.
2. Start early or late. The best time to water plants is either in the evening or early in the morning when the sun is less hot. Remember, watering plants in intense heat will cause more water evaporation which leaves less water for plants.
3. Provide the right amount of water. Similar to a balanced diet, plants require a balanced amount of water. This means to provide water regularly and consistently without flooding the soil.
4. Water disease-susceptible plants with care. Some plants are disease-susceptible by nature therefore take extra care and avoid watering these type of plants at night. Why? If too much water stays on these type of plants for too long, fungus is likely to develop given the dark moist environment.
5. Use a rain gauge. One of the best ways to determine how much water your plants or garden receive is to set a rain gauge. Buy one at a garden center or use a can that hold a fair amount of water. Check it after each rainfall or use several in conjunction with sprinklers to determine if and when the sprinkler has provided enough water.
Although it might seem obvious, recent weather and of course soil type will also influence how much and how often you should undertake watering plants. For example, clay soils hold more water than sandy soils.
Here is a brief list of some plants that should only be watered in the morning:
- Roses
- Tomatoes
- Beans
- Most Fruits
- Peonies
- Geraniums
- Dahlia
Overall, knowing when and how much to water is a balancing act or rather an art and a science. Don’t waste your time developing strict watering schedules based on charts and calculations. Also, don’t get caught up in adhering to strict guidelines. Simply, monitor your garden or plants daily to determine your watering needs throughout the growing season.
Watering plants should not be seen as a task but as the foundation to growing beautiful and healthy plants.
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