Gardening

There are many problems that a gardener has to face and one of the biggest is having the ability to properly water the plants. With the right tips and proper resources you can easily fix that problem.

There are three important things that you have to know:

1. The type of plants you have - If you have plants with deep roots than you know that they have the ability to store moisture and survive on less water then most. Plants that have shallow roots need more water to survive.

2. How well your moisture contains water - If you have fast draining sandy soil you are going to have to water your plants more often. If the soil is heavier and well mulched it will be able to hold the water better.

3. What is your climate - Do you have lots of rain, are you in a desert, or do you have a climate that mixes both together.

The best rule of thumb is to water as deeply and as infrequently as possible. Watering to make sure the soil is moist to at least 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) deep is best because it helps the plant grow its roots deeper into the soil. A note here: We don’t mean to flood your plants! Just a good deep watering, don’t get carried away.

Frequent light watering in not good for your plants because it only wets the surface of the soil which encourages roots to grow upwards in search of moisture. The water evaporates quickly and the soil dries out, leaving the roots in hot, dry soil.

Time of day to water:

The best time of day to water is always in the morning. This gives the plant time to absorb the water and get ready to handle heat, cold, or just the energy it takes to produce chlorophyll, grow, and move nutrients around.

If you water in the late afternoon or evening, the problem is that the plant is now wet and the air temperature is cool. Those are the best conditions for mildews, molds, and all kinds of disease problems. Keep life simple, water in the morning.