New Garden Watering Guide

Red Stem Staff | 12 April, 2022


          
            New Garden Watering Guide

Our native gardens should not need regular watering once established, but your new baby plants do need help getting through their first few years. Checking your soil moisture with your fingers is critical to understanding when you need to water various parts of your garden.

 

Check soil moisture before and after watering by sticking your finger all the way into the soil.  If the soil is dry at the tip of your finger, water your plants deeply.  If the soil is moist at the tip of your finger, no need to water.

Your garden's soil type will influence how much watering you need to do.

 

Sandy soil absorbs water quickly but also dries out quickly:  Water more frequently.  Clay soil absorbs water slowly and dries out slowly: water less frequently but more deeply.

Different areas in your garden may require different amounts of water based on their light light exposure and position relative to trees and buildings.

Soil in direct sunlight dries out more quickly on sunny days, and may need extra water.However, soil shaded by a tree or a building may not recieve much rainwater and need more water on rainy days. Plants under large trees may also require extra water because the tree can drink most available moisture.

Temperature also effects how much watering you need to do. A new garden should get watered from April-December.

 

 In the first year, if the temperature is 40-65 degrees, water once a week. If the temperature is 65-80, water 2-3 times per week. If the temperature is 80-100 degrees, water 3-4 times a week. If the temperature is 100 degrees or above you should water daily. In the second, year, if the temperature is 40-65 degrees, don't water. If the temperature is 65-80, water once a week or every other week. If the temperature is 80-100 degrees, water once a week. If the temperature is 100 degrees or above water once a week. After the second, year, if the temperature is 40-65 degrees, don't water. If the temperature is 65-80, don't water. If the temperature is 80-100 degrees, don't water. If the temperature is 100 degrees or above water once a week.

 Correct watering technique will help your garden thrive. Make sure you are watering deeply to make sure the soil is saturated.

 

A strong stream of water runs along the soil surface and doesn’t moisten the roots. Watering with a gentile stream of water for 10-30 seconds penetrates the soil and througoughly waters the roots.

TLDR, check your soil moisture frequently!

Check soil moisture before and after watering by sticking your finger all the way into the soil.  If the soil is dry at the tip of your finger, water your plants deeply. If the soil is moist at the tip of your finger, no need to water.