| water |
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Overview |
Watering right | Irrigation systems |
Rainwater + Grey water |
Watering right |
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How can I tell when to water the garden? |
- Check the soil. Dig a few centimetres below the level of any mulch. If it's damp, leave the watering for a day.
- Check for water stress such as drooping leaves.
- Know your plants and their different water needs. Don't water the whole garden if just one plant needs it. Hand water sensitive plants and leave the rest of the garden for another day.
- Notice the weather. Don't water in the heat of the day - water will be lost in evaporation. Watering in windy conditions will mean water is blown away from the plants. Don't water in periods of good rain.
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- Try leaving more time between watering. Plants will develop shallow root systems and be less hardy if watered too frequently. Gradually increase the time between watering to get your plants to adjust to dry conditions.
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How long should I water for? |
- Only ever water until the soil is saturated. Water is held in the spaces between the soil particles. Once the soil is soaked, it can't hold any more water. Water running off the surface or leaking out from the base of your garden beds or pots may mean you have watered too long.
- Make sure you know your soil. Different soil types will hold water differently, and will determine how long and how frequently you should water. For clay and loamy soils, less frequent, slow soaks work best. You may need shorter, more frequent watering for sandy soils. Your garden centre can give advice about your soil type and the best watering regime for your garden.
- It is better to apply water slowly and steadily to give the soil time to absorb.
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What's the best way to water my plants? |
- Water the roots. This is where the plants take up water. Watering the leaves of your plants is not only wasteful but can cause leaf burn or fungal problems.;
- Get water to the root zone (where the roots spread under the soil). This is generally under the leaf canopy but can extend further in large trees and plants.
- Soaker hoses, which drip rather than spray, sweat hoses and drip or micro spray irrigation systems apply water at a slow and steady rate to the roots. Check local water restrictions before installing an irrigation system. Your local garden centre will be able to help you find out what is permitted in your area.
- Hand watering using a trigger nozzle or a wand (with cut-off mechanism) will save you lots of water. Trigger nozzles and wands direct water to individual plants and are good for looking after sensitive plants without watering the whole garden.
- Remember that forgetting to turn off a tap or sprinkler can waste thousands of litres of water. Make sure you use tap timers to ensure this doesn't happen in your garden.
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