Is Your Garden Properly Watered: 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 is still cool. As the temperature gradually rises, moisture on the leaves will slowly dry up.

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

And how often?

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

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

How long?

Much longer than you think. If you run 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 finally, how to water?

The most effective method of watering is drip irrigation: the water has time to be absorbed into the root system. If the flow is too strong and fast, the water will just run deeper into the soil.

Drip irrigation is an ideal option if you use mulch (a strong flow will wash it away from the soil). Also, you can save at least 30% of water if you stop using sprinklers. Drip irrigation kits on the market usually cost 3–5 thousand rubles.

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