Watering your garden without turning it into a full-time job

There comes a point in every gardening journey when you realise that watering is not the soothing, poetic little activity lifestyle magazines promote. It is not the memory of a little child chasing family members around the garden soaking them with a hose pipes. Plants can become totally dependent on you, which can feel like a surprising amount of pressure.

As we approach the summer months and the accompanying dry weather, possibly, watering becomes one of the main jobs to focus upon. The first useful thing to know is that watering should be based on what the compost is doing, not what the calendar says. Plants do not care that you watered everything on Sunday. If the compost is still damp below the surface, leave it alone. If it is dry a little way down, then yes, it probably needs a drink. The sensible test is not to squint at the top of the pot like a Victorian botanist. Put a finger into the compost. If it feels dry about a third of the way down, that is your answer. Check first, then respond. It is a surprisingly calming sequence.

This matters because pots and containers live by different rules from plants in the ground, they dry out faster, heat up faster and generally make less effort to help themselves self-care is not their strong point. Also, a bit of rain does not mean the job has been done for you. Light rain often barely wets the compost below the surface, especially in fuller pots, hanging baskets and anything tucked against a wall pretending to enjoy the weather. So if you have had one of those very British drizzles that feels emotionally significant but botanically useless, do still check. Reality, as ever, is below the surface.

How much and how often?

Well that really does come down to what you are watering, some plants will tolerate a little dry spell where others will throw themselves on the floor at the slightest hint of neglect. This is where your experience will come to the fore, as you garden more, you will undoubtedly make mistakes. That is fine and all part and parcel of it, providing you learn from it and don’t do the same next time. I have always been bought up with the mantra, water deeply and infrequently rather than giving it a shallow, daily sprinkle.

As for timing, early morning or early evening usually makes the most sense. It is cooler, less water evaporates, and you are not effectively simmering your plants in the middle of the day like an unfortunate side dish. Morning is especially good because plants go into the day prepared rather than already writing a complaint. That said, if the plant is clearly desperate and it is two in the afternoon, do not stand there waiting for dusk like a person in a gardening tragedy. Water it. Flexibility is still allowed.

Slow and steady wins the race

When you do water, do it slowly and at the compost rather than flinging it vaguely over the leaves and hoping for the best. The aim is to get moisture to the roots, not give the foliage a light emotional rinse. Pour gently, let it soak in, then add a bit more if needed. Fast watering tends to run straight through or off the sides, which looks productive but achieves very little. Also try and water different parts of the compost, if you will continually water in the same spot you will start washing the compost away and run the risk of exposing the roots.

This is also where people accidentally become overhelpful. Wilting does not always mean a plant needs more water immediately. Sometimes it is dry. Sometimes it is too wet. Sometimes the compost is damp underneath, and the plant is just having a moment. So, before you launch into emergency measures, check the compost first. Gardening gets much easier when you stop reacting to appearances alone. Plants, like people, can look quite unwell for a range of reasons, and panic is rarely the most useful response.

A great deal of watering stress can be avoided before you even pick up the can. Larger pots hold moisture longer than tiny ones. Grouping containers together can make checking and watering easier. A surface mulch can help slow evaporation. And if you consistently miss watering because life is full and your brain is already juggling too much, that is not a character flaw. It is useful information. Choose setups that are easier to keep alive. Reducing friction is a form of kindness.

I will look at some point in the coming months at automatic watering systems. I have used them in the past when I was only visiting sites every 3 weeks, but I suspect the technology has moved on since then.

From watering cans to soak hoses, there are a plethora of methods to use. If you unsure of what system suits the plants you have, ask away. I am only too happy to help.