Is Your Garden Being Watered Correctly: 4 Important Points

Recently, we told you how to protect your garden from heat, and today we'll go into more detail about watering. These tips we picked up from Western landscape designers: take note.

When to Water?

Early in the morning, when the air has not yet warmed up. As the temperature gradually rises, moisture on the leaves will slowly dry.

If you water your garden in the evening, there's a chance that the foliage won't dry out. During the day, moisture will evaporate before it reaches the plant roots.

How Often?

This depends on weather conditions: there's no point in watering your garden every day if the week has been rainy.

There are special irrigation systems that automatically turn on at set intervals. But it's better to buy a smart controller that will automatically adjust the watering schedule based on weather forecasts.

How Long?

Much longer than you think. If you turn on a sprinkler for 10–15 minutes, it will only moisten the plant leaves. Meanwhile, the roots stay dry. According to experts, the soil should be moist to a depth of 15–30 cm. That means you need to water plants for at least an hour.

And lastly: how to water?

The most effective method of watering is drip irrigation: the water has time to soak into the root system. If the flow is too strong and fast, the moisture will simply drain further into the soil.

Drip irrigation is the ideal choice if you use mulch (a strong flow will wash it out of the soil). Besides, you can save at least 30% of water if you stop using sprinklers. Drip irrigation kits typically cost about 3,000 to 5,000 rubles on the market.

If you're using a regular hose, buy a special nozzle with a diffuser to soften the stream (similar principle to an ordinary watering can). Or make small holes in the hose and run it along the perimeter of your entire garden so that water flows slowly.