Your garden needs water, oxygen, and sunlight to thrive. However, this requirement varies from one plant to the next. Water is an essential requirement for your garden’s health. A lack of water will have a significant impact on your garden. Plants soak up nutrients from the soil through their roots in a liquid form, and poor hydration will hamper this process.
Some physical signs and symptoms can confirm if your garden is well watered or not. Small plants require a water depth of about 10 inches. Root shrubs need a water depth of about 2 feet, while some need up to 3 feet.
Potted plants
- If your plant is in a pot, observe the soil surface. Dry and cracked soil indicates a dry plant.
- Poke the soil with your finger to feel the moisture. If it doesn’t feel moist, your plant is not getting enough water.
- Withered or brown leaves are clear hints of poor water supply.
- Transparent and dwarfed leaves are also proof of dehydration.
- If your pot is exceptionally light, it means your plant is water deprived.
For Outdoor Gardens
- A drop and wilted appearance indicate water deficiency.
- A fallen blossom is an indication of water deficiency in flowering plants.
- A pale, white, or brown discolouration indicates a dry plant.
When to water
It is crucial to know when to water your plants, as over-watering your plants has a similar effect or worse than not watering them enough. However, heavy watering is good if done infrequently.
Some people depend on rain to water their gardens. Checking rain gauges online or a weather report could help you better predict when the rain will fall, or the last time it fell.
Check the moisture content of the soil to know if your plants need watering. However, some situations warrant immediate watering regardless of the soil conditions.
- When your plant is showing signs of heat stress, this can be caused sometimes by the midday sunlight.
- When your plant is wilting and shows signs of drought stress. Immediately, water it.
The Effects of Overwatering Your Garden
- Your plant will winter and die when its roots become too wet.
- Overwatering your plant will make it susceptible to leaf diseases.
- Soil oxygen is lost or significantly reduced when you overwater your plants. Oxygen is vital for the well-being of your plants.
General Tips for Watering Your Garden
- Do not use treated water on your house plants.
- Water more during the spring and less during the winter.
- Water plant in the morning.
- Water plants at the soil level and avoid broadcast sprinklers.
- Don’t water your plants every day.
In addition to oxygen and sunlight, adequate watering is essential to the optimum growth of your garden. It is also important to get your soil tested to know how much water it can hold and if it is the best option for your plant.
It is also vital that you understand your plants. Different plants have different needs.
Thomas Jackson is a dynamic and talented content writer at WonderWorldSpace.com, renowned for his engaging and informative articles. Beyond his professional pursuits in writing, Jack is also known for his deep passion for fitness, which not only shapes his lifestyle but also influences his work.