Today’s Garden Ideas

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Of course everyone knows that a garden of any kind needs plenty of water to keep it healthy and thriving. However, there is more to watering your garden than simply turning on the hose and pointing it in the right direction. How you water, how much water you use and the tools you use to water all play a very big role in how your plants develop. Below are some tips to ensure that you are watering your plants most efficiently this summer!

How much water the plant receives is the other largest factor in watering properly. If the plant does not receive enough water, only the surface will reap the benefits of the water. These plants may become damaged by people walking by or just harsh winds. Watering a plant enough so that the water seeps down to the roots will benefit the entire plant and make it stronger. However, you want to be careful not to overwater the plants either. This can cause the plants to drown. To check if your soil needs watering, place your finger down alongside one plant approximately four inches deep. If the soil is mainly dry, you should water. If it’s moist, you can wait another couple of days.

There are many different tools that can be used to water a garden and although it may appear to be a matter of personal preference, there are actual benefits the plant will receive, depending on which type you choose. Sprinklers, soaker hoses, water containers, and watering cans are the most popular forms of watering. Sprinklers can be good because they reach a large area all at once and they can be left on for awhile to give the plants a good soak. However, sprinklers water the entire plant and can leave too much water behind with it. This could cause disease in some plants so one needs to make sure that the plants have a lot of time to dry after the watering.

A soaker hose is the long green snake-like contraption you often see in gardens. These flat hoses have many holes throughout them and they are wonderful to place in your garden. Because they lay flat on the ground, they mainly soak the roots and if you aren’t pleased with the look of them, a layer of mulch will cover it nicely. Watering cans really can’t do the job for a large garden because they simply won’t provide enough water. A water container is however, one of the best ways to water a garden. To do this simply cut a gallon plastic jug in half and stuff moist soil into the top. Dig a hole in the center of your garden and place the neck of the bottle in the hole. Pack it in and put water in the top of the container. This is a great way to slowly release water into your garden and has an added punch if you use rain barrel water.