When and How to Water

One of the most important factors in successful gardening is knowing when and how to water. Most maintenance techniques such as fertilizing, pest control and pruning have easy-to-learn rules to follow. But watering has no specific rules to follow, because when to water and how much to water depends on the kinds of plants, type of soil, time of year and the weather conditions. So, if you think your particular watering problems are different than your neighbors', you're probably right.

Water only when plants need watering. The leaves of many plants will begin to curl in the early stages of a water shortage. Later, the leaves will become very limp and the plant is said to have "wilted". Plants should be watered before they wilt. Allowing them to wilt frequently will result in excessive leaf drop. Also, if plants are allowed to remain wilted for several days, they may never revive. Some plants may not show symptoms of a water shortage until it is too late. These plants should be watered when the soil around them feels dry and crumbly.

Recent plantings will need special care. Remember that when plants were in containers in the nursery, water was applied every day. Also, during the first couple of seasons after being planted in the yard, new plants still have small root systems and can only absorb water from a limited soil area.

Keep a close watch on the lawn. If it looks as though it is wilting, it needs water. If the edges of the grass leaves start to curl and take on a dull bluish-gray color, water the lawn immediately.

Lawns should be watered in the early morning, when winds and temperatures are low. Late morning, mid-day, and afternoon irrigation usually results in loss of water from evaporation. Also strong winds are more likely to blow at these times, resulting in poor distribution of water over the lawn.

When watering, give the soil a thorough soaking. Frequent, light sprinklings waste water and do little to satisfy the water requirements of a plant growing in a hot, dry soil. Watering in this manner often promotes shallow root systems which increase susceptibility to damage if watering is omitted for a few days.

Wet the soil to a depth of six to eight inches. This type of watering allows the moisture to penetrate into the soil where roots can readily absorb it. One inch of water is sufficient for Florida's sandy soils. However, because all soils and plants are not alike, some adjustments in the amount of water applied may be needed.

To determine when a sprinkler has delivered one inch of water, place cans or cartons at intervals in the spray pattern, and water until the water level in the cans averages one inch.

Water should be applied only as fast as the soil will absorb it. Watering with a hose nozzle turned on full force can do more damage than good. Fast-flowing water runs off quickly carrying soil with it and exposing plant roots to the sun. More efficient watering can be accomplished with soaker hoses and sprinklers. Soaker hoses do a good job, but they don't cover as large an area as sprinklers.

Another method of watering is drip or trickle irrigation. Drip irrigation supplies plants with constant moisture at a low delivery rate through the use of low pressure plastic tubing installed on or below the ground surface. Low pressure nozzles (emitters) attached to plastic tubing release water at a slow rate into the soil around a plant. By wetting only the root zone of the plant, there is a dramatic saving in water, weeds are not encouraged to grow and plant growth is accelerated. This increased growth occurs because the plant is not subjected to wet and dry cycles which normally occur with other irrigation methods.


Copyright by Dr. Bob's Gardening Tips