WATERING
Every garden is unique, and so is it’s watering schedule! Watering your garden can be tricky, but it doesn’t always have to be as hard as you think. There are some tips and tricks to keeping your watering schedule stress free and easy to manage.
Recommended Products
Water is a core part of gardening, and there are a variety of ways to set up your gardening system! Below are some products we recommend for watering systems:
Having an irrigation system setup with timers is a great way to always know your garden is being watered. If you prefer to be in the garden more often and hand water, setting a reminder on your phone or planner is helpful to remember to water outside.
Watering Tips
- HOW OFTEN TO WATER
When you are first planting your garden, you will want to water your seeds at least once a day. The seeds and sprouts are in a fragile state that require lots of water to germinate. Continue to water daily until your plants become established, around 4-5 inches tall.
Once the plants become established, you will reduce your watering schedule depending on your climate. About three times a week is common for a watering routine when it hasn't rained that week.
Touching your soil to detect if it is damp is a good way of knowing if your garden needs to be watered. If your soil is dry to the touch, it is time to water. If your soil is damp, you do not need to water that day. - TOOLS FOR WATERING
A water meter is a beginner-friendly way to determine how much water your garden needs.
Rain gauges measure the amount of water your garden receives by inches. For gardeners who want a more precise measurment of how much water their plants are getting, this is a great tool.
Watering
- YOUR CLIMATE AND WATERING ROUTINE:
The weather in your area will affect the way you water your garden. Typically, your plants need 1 inch of water per week. This can be from rain or from your watering routine. - For dry climates or if you are experiencing a heat wave, it is important to water your garden more often. If you live in a dry climate, 2 inches of water per week is recommended.
- Hot weather requires more watering. For every 10 degrees above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, your garden needs 1/2 inch more water weekly. If the weekly average temperature in your area was 90 degrees, you would need to water 1.5 more inches. This would be 2.5 inches total for the week.
- For wet climates where it rains often, you will not need to water your garden as frequently. One inch of water is a good measurement for your plants. So if it rained one or more inches that week, you will not need to water your garden this week.