Watering Wisely

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Watering Wisely

Proper use of water is essential for both the protection of our water supply and the health of our plants. A healthy plant is 75 percent to 90 percent water. Water is used for photosynthesis, transportation of nutrients and sugars to various parts of the plant, and to keep the plant erect to get as much sunlight as possible. Adequate water is especially critical during the first few weeks of growth, while plants are becoming established and building their root systems.

Gardens Need About 1 To 2 Inches of Water Each Week

Depending on the type of soil you have, most vegetable gardens and flower beds need about 1 to 2 inches of water per week applied at one time either in the form of rainwater or irrigation. One thorough watering each week that wets the soil to a depth of 5 to 6 inches is ideal. To determine the depth of soil moisture, dig into the soil a few hours after watering to determine how deeply your normal waterings wet the soil. If it's greater than 5 to 6 inches, shorten your watering time. The amount required varies with the nature of your soil.

Then do not water again until the top few inches of soil begin to dry out. Frequent, light watering will encourage shallow rooting that will cause plants to suffer more during drought periods, especially if mulches are not used. On the other hand, too much water, especially in poorly drained soils, can be as damaging to plant growth as too little water; it deprives the roots of oxygen needed to grow. Keep a rain gauge near your garden, then supplement rainfall with irrigation water if needed.

Because annual flowers and most vegetables are replanted every year, they will often have high water needs in order to get established. In addition, vegetables need more water during the development of the edible part of the plant (fruit, pod, head, seed, etc.).

Watering Tips

Adding organic matter improves any soil's ability to use water more efficiently. Sandy soils hold water better when enriched with organic material, allowing you to irrigate less often. In clay soils, organic matter improves drainage, permitting deeper and faster water penetration.
Deeply preparing the soil (6 inches or more) promotes rapid plant establishment and reduces the period of high water needs. The deeper the roots penetrate the soil, the greater access to water the plant has.
Buying plants with well-developed root systems that are vigorous, but not too large for their pots insures faster plant establishment.
Mulching helps reduce weeds that use up a great deal of water and reduces evaporation of water from the soil. Organic mulch is preferable in most situations as it will contribute organic matter to the soil.

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