How to Water – 4 Top Tips to Water your Garden for Healthy Plants

The amount of water your veggies need and how often they need it depends on your soil type - is it sand, loam or clay. Water percolates straight through sandy soils, whilst clay can become boggy. Read on learn our top tips for watering your garden.

Brighton Project

1. Explore the Soil

The simplest and most effective way of knowing when to water is to explore the soil. Dig down and feel, smell and see whether the soil is moist.

2. Inspect your Plants

Another way to tell whether or not to water is to look at your plants. When plants need watering the leaves wilt, lose colour, and turn grey. If the leaves are firm, then the plant is fine. It's important to learn which are good indicator plants in the garden. No textbook can tell you, it's one of those acquired skills that gardeners develop.

Mt Waverley II Project

Nunawading Project

3. Water in the Morning

Water in the morning if you have fungal problems so the sun dries off the leaves; or the evening if you want your plants to have all night to soak it up. Either method will reduce evaporation and the amount of water you use.

4. Water plants Deeply

Surface watering damages plants. Roots grow towards the surface, where the soil is hotter and they're more prone to drought. Water plants deeply, ensuring the water penetrates to at least 30 centimetres. This will draw the roots further down into the cool soil, and will firmly anchor the roots and develop good plants.

These tips should keep your plants healthy and happy, whilst minimising your water use. For more tips, tricks and ideas follow us on our socials or feel free to get in touch with any questions - we’d be happy to help.

Original Article: How to Water by Gardening Australia