Amateur Gardening – 29 June 2019

No butts: Natural rainwater is better for plants than chlorinated

tap water (and better for the bank balance if you have a water

meter) so install as many water butts as you can.

29 JUNE 2019AMATEUR GARDENING 7

All about summer watering

Get your irrigation right and plants will thrive, says Ruth

E

VEN if we avoid a summer as
hot and dry as the last
one, this year has
already started with
the driest spring for some
time. We came close to
emptying our water butts
in late April, but were
saved by a couple of
wet May days.
Now, however, the serious
days of summer are here and if
the rain holds off it will soon be time
to start watering in earnest.
There is more to watering than just
chucking a few cans of the stuff over
your plants. How much you need to
apply depends on your soil type – sandy
soils need watering more frequently, but
with less water, than heavier soils that
hold water better.
Watering lightly and more often in
very dry conditions can do more harm
than good, as it may encourage roots to
move towards the surface of the soil in
their quest for moisture.
Instead, give plants a slow and
thorough drenching, so the water
sinks down to their deeper roots.
Weeding also removes the
competition for water and you can aid

moisture retention by mulching around

plants after watering.

The optimum time for

watering is the cool of early

mornings and evenings to

avoid rapid evaporation.

The best tools are a hose

or watering can and the

water should be aimed

at the base of the stem

beneath the leaves.

If you are going away and

don’t have helpful neighbours, a

Not all plants need the same

amount of water to thrive.

Established and healthy trees and

shrubs should have enough of a

root reach to garner sufficient water

to stay healthy.

An occasional drenching in long-

lasting drought conditions can help

them maintain growth.

Shrubs and trees that are less

than five years old will need extra

water to combat drought stress,

as do all newly planted areas.

Herbaceous perennials also

require regular watering to perform

at their best, and if watering

becomes too much of a chore one

worthwhile option is to invest in

drought-tolerant plants such as

sedums, lavenders, rosemary,

sea holly and globe thistles.

What plants need

the most water

1

Water the soil, not directly onto

plants. Water sitting on plants can

cause sun scorch on hot days, and

rotting on still and humid ones.

There’s an art to watering

2

Ground becomes hard and loses

its porosity when dry. Prevent

water loss by creating a moat around

plants to hold water as it soaks in.

Washing-up water is fi ne for ornamental plants as long

as it doesn’t contain bleach or too much food debris

hot and dry as the last

already started with

Now, however, the serious
days of summer are here and if
the rain holds off it will soon be time

plants after watering.

The optimum time for

watering is the cool of early

mornings and evenings to

avoid rapid evaporation.

The best tools are a hose

or watering can and the

water should be aimed

at the base of the stem

beneath the leaves.

If you are going away and

don’t have helpful neighbours, a

ll about summer watering

Harvesting run-off water

while it heats up

Timed drip irrigation

systems are useful

seep hose or drip irrigation system

linked to a timer is the best way of

keeping plants healthy during

your absence.

Another option is to fit plastic water

bottles filled with water and liquid

fertiliser with porous nozzles in place

of a lid. These can be inserted into the

soil close to a plant, or into container

compost, to release a slow seep of

moisture and nutrients.

Grey water is another good option.

This is the liquid left over from washing,

bathing and washing up. As long as it

doesn’t contain bleach it can be saved

and used as needed. We also collect

water we run, before it turns hot, for

washing and washing up.

Aim water at the soil,

not the leaves