Get garden watering right in the all-important summer months

Adequate watering, and all other forms of irrigation, is key to all plants growing well and, whilst it is a garden task to be on top of all year round, it is especially important during the months of May to September.

Whilst, ideally, the planting of new plants is recommended between autumn and spring to give them the best chance of growing roots before dry weather begins, planting in the summer months is still ok to do if irrigation is installed or a structured watering regime is in place.

Providing your plants with adequate water at this time of year can be a bit of a minefield, so here are some tips for getting garden watering and irrigation right in the all-important summer months.

When to water
It is better to water the garden before the drought brought on by the dry summer months really sets in – keeping the soil moisture levels even and avoiding the soil being continuously dry. Watering in the morning is best as this limits evaporation and helps plants to deal with the heat of the day. If morning watering is not possible then late afternoon/early evening is ok too, just be sure the foliage will have time to dry out before night to avoid mildew and mould problems. Watering in the heat of the day is not a good idea as much water is lost through evaporation from the surface of the soil and the plants will use water more efficiently if watered in the cooler parts of the day.

How to water
Plants absorb water through their roots by taking water from the surrounding soil or compost. Water at the base of the plant with a long-necked watering can or soaker hose and, to help the water get where it is needed, soil around the plants should be watered sufficiently to make small ponds around them so the water can slowly soak into the ground. Avoid getting the foliage or fruit wet where possible as wet or humid foliage will just encourage fungal problems and water will just evaporate from the foliage surfaces.

How often to water and how much?
Plants should be well-watered, but what does this actually mean? Watering little and often is not a good idea as this encourages weeds. Different plants, planted in different soil types, will vary in terms of the amount of watering that they need but here are a few rules of thumb to be aware of:

• the larger and more leaves a plant has, the more water it is likely to lose and so the more water it will need.
• sandy or chalk soils tend to need smaller amounts of more frequent watering than clay.
• plants that are pot-bound dry out particularly quickly and will need more watering than the same plant that has been planted in a border.
• watering will need to be more frequent during prolonged dry spells with no decent rain.
• less than expected growth of foliage, or production of fruit or flowers is a sign that your plants may need more frequent watering.
• if the surface of the soil or compost is dry, that does not necessarily mean that the plant needs water. Use the touch test by pushing your finger down into the soil to at least knuckle depth to see if it is damp.

Top tip – save water by mulching!
Mulch is any material placed on a soil surface for the purpose of reducing evaporation, retaining moisture, reducing soil erosion, suppressing weed growth and providing plants nutrients as the material decomposes. Mulching is an underrated and fairly effortless technique that can save you hours of watering – by shading the soil, mulches help to conserve soil moisture, reducing the amount you have to water by as much as two-thirds! Common types of mulch are bark chippings, straw, grass clippings and compost and as they break down, they help build soil structure and its ability to hold onto moisture for longer.

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