garden
Garden Watering SUMMER HAS ARRIVED! JUNE 21ST IS THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR, AND THE EXTRA LIGHT AND WARMTH ENCOURAGES THE GARDEN TO PUT ON A SPURT OF GROWTH
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f course, the extra light and warmth will encourage weeds to do the same. Keep on top of them by hoeing as often as you can. The best time of day to do this is in the morning; leave the weeds on the surface and they will die off during the day.
waste to generate compost to further feed the soil, add to its humus content, and so encourage the soil to store water better. This sounds so simple, but where do you start?
Rainwater should be the first choice for gardens. It’s natural and many plants But the warmer and often drier weather prefer this to tap water. It’s also free. But brings with it another key issue - watering. that does mean collecting it when rain falls We must accept that our plants do need and storing it. There are many ways of water to grow. Just think what can happen collecting and storing rainwater from the if you are away for a couple of weeks in simple butt attached to high summer - you can house downpipes to come back to a desert! collect falling roof Yes, our gardens do Watering in the need water, however, morning is most beneficial as water to complex, and the counter to that is this is when the plants start to expensive, pumped that we are all aware of underground systems. grow and start to use water the planet’s increasing Both require space and water shortage and the time to set up and fill worldwide issues that raises. The balance and if you don’t have a system in place, I is to water sensibly so that you can benefit feel it is a MUST to work on from the your plants and the planet. Produce your autumn onwards for next year. own food locally, so eating is better and in Developing your water supply is perhaps environmental terms cheaper; reduce the the easy part; after that you need to use waste of water through evaporation from open soil; recycle by using your garden the water in the most cost-effective way:
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!
When is the best time of day to water? − Watering in the morning is most beneficial as this is when the plants start to grow and start to use water. − By watering in the morning the plant foliage and soil surface will stay drier for longer, discouraging slugs, snails, and mildew diseases. − Evening watering is also fine, as the cooler conditions mean less water is lost to evaporation. − Watering in the middle of the day in bright sunlight is not a good idea, as a lot of water will be lost through evaporation. How often do plants need to be watered? Not an easy question to provide a simple answer for as each plant has different needs. A container plant in hot sunny weather may need watering daily, whereas a mature shrub might only need a drink in extreme drought. But, in some ways, plants are like us - give them more of
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