garden
Efficient Watering
By Ronnie Ogier
Ronnie is a passionate gardener and now loves sharing her years of experience of success and failures in her own garden and sharing it with you. Also a keen runner, having been bitten by the ‘Couch to 5K’ bug!
JULY IS OFTEN ONE OF THE HOTTEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR AND A GREAT TIME TO SIT OUT AND ENJOY YOUR GARDEN, HOWEVER THE PLANTS DO NEED TO BE TENDED TO, ESPECIALLY IF IT’S DRY
K
eep plants looking good by regularly dead-heading and you'll enjoy a longer display of blooms. Make sure you keep new plants well watered, using grey water where possible, and hoe off weeds, which thrive in the sunshine. Last month I talked about watering plants and this month I’m going into a bit more detail on the various options for watering – both manual and automated – and tips for economical watering. Whichever method you use for watering, if plants have wilted between waterings, you may need to water more often, but slowly and thoroughly so that the water reaches the root zone. Avoid disturbing the soil surface if you can, by slowing the flow. Pour it on slowly, aiming to keep it in the pot and not allow it to drain out of the bottom. A saucer placed under the pot will catch any excess and allow it to be
reabsorbed. For small containers, gently lift the pot after watering to see if it feels heavy, and if not, add a little more water. You will soon gauge how light the pots are when they need water.
need it, prolonging the time between watering. These containers are best watered directly into the reservoir rather than from the surface of the soil.
Automated irrigation systems: To save time and Most garden watering can effort on more waterWatering cans: Most be aimed specifically at demanding areas such as garden watering can be the stem bases beneath fruit and veg plots, you can aimed specifically at the leaves install a drip or trickle the stem bases beneath the leaves using a irrigation system. They can watering can, leaving the surrounding soil be hidden beneath soil or mulch, which dry. This helps to limit weed problems and also avoids evaporation losses. Water ensures all the water goes where it is doesn’t move much sideways from seep needed, to the roots. hoses, so the lengths of hose need to be positioned across plant root systems, such Self watering pots and containers: These as going under a shrub, or 30-45cm apart have an in-built reservoir that stores water in denser plantings. They work best on away from the root zone, but is connected heavy soil where the water spreads further by a capillary system or wick. The plants will draw water into the root zone as they sideways, than on lighter soils. Methods of watering
etcetera 31
