Ways to Water

Although it seems like the simplest part of gardening, wateringis a critical task that relates directly to your garden’s success or failure. Knowing how much water you need is the first step and figuring out how to distribute that water is the next.

Although it seems like the simplest part of gardening, watering is a critical task that relates directly to your garden’s success or failure. Knowing how much water you need is the first step and figuring out how to distribute that water is the next.

The image of a gardener watering flowers or veggies usually has a watering can. Watering by hand with a can is fine for small gardens, but large spaces will require so many refills that a watering can isn’t practical. Here are other options:

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• Hand watering with a hose is an easier way to enjoy watering by hand without seemingly endless refills of the watering can. An adjustable nozzle that allows stream, shower and mist, is a good, multi-purpose attachment for watering plants with different needs.

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• Overhead sprinklers are best for keeping soil continuously moist while seedlinggs germinate. It is not always the most efficient method, as sprinklers can waste water by soaking sidewalks and driveways in addition to gardens. Sprinklers are best used for large areas, like watering lawns or groundcover plants.

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• Drip irrigation provides a continuous source of water for plants. They use low water pressure to drip out water one drop at a time. Since an irrigation system is somewhat permanent, this is best for a permanent garden, such as shrubs, trees or landscaping groundcover.

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• Soaker hoses seep out water through holes in the wall of the hose to apply water at a slow, even rate. Since the hoses are portable, they can be moved to different areas of  of a garden as needed, or kept in a permanent location.