Water Efficiency in the Garden

A Guide To Garden Watering.

In conjunction with :

South Staffordshire Water plc, The Royal Horticultural Society and

The National Vegetable Research Station.

Whatever size, shape or type of garden you have you'll almost certainly be drawn to watering it during the summer.  If you're a keen gardener, especially a vegetable grower, you will be trying to improve on the best, or worst, that nature can do.  Otherwise watering is probably just another necessary chore for evenings and weekends.  Either way, this leaflet may bring you some surprises, and mistakes that surround what seems at first sight to be a simple operation.

It contains expert advice from two leading horticultural authorities.  Best of all, if you use the advice, you'll have a better-looking garden with less time and trouble and you'll be helping us to maintain the supplies and pressures needed all summer long.

When to Water?

None of us like losing favourite plants and shrubs because they have suffered through lack of water.  But over watering can be just as bad.

In fact, a thorough water ONCE A WEEK is usually enough for lawns and garden plants.   Vegetables such as parsnips, asparagus and onions need very little water.   Crops like cabbage and lettuce grown for their edible leaves require more frequent watering, Fruiting vegetables, like peas and beans, respond best to more frequent watering at and just after flowering and when the pods are swelling.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, marrows and leeks need watering throughout their growing season.

How Much?

The answer that all the experts agree on is "less than you'd think".

Overwatering is the most common cause of garden problems during hot weather.  In lawns, for instance, it washes soil away from the roots, then the water evaporates, leaving the sun to burn the grass.  At which point, you're tempted to step up the watering and the vicious circle is complete.  Far better to keep those mower blades higher than normal and leave Mother Nature to do the rest while you put your feet up!

You may have noticed how water pressure drops, when you and a few neighbours are all using sprinklers at the same time.  Hardly surprising, when you realise that one hosepipe uses around five thousand litres of water if you were to leave it running overnight.  On an average sized garden, that's equal to over 2cm if rain (two weeks' normal rainfall), or about ten times as much as the whole house uses each day.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

Can we really overwater?

You'd think anything that grows needs more water in summer.  And in some ways, you'd be right.  Moss in the lawn thrives on extra water.  So does clover and all the weeds that compete with your plants, flowers and vegetables. Overwatering encourages them, whilst discouraging root growth on everything you're trying to bring on.

We need a careful balance.  Excess watering suffocates plant roots because the soil becomes waterlogged and loses oxygen.  If you have added fertilisers to the soil they will be washed out.  On the other hand insufficient watering retards growth and encourages shallow rooting, leaving plants at risk during longer dry periods.   It's essential to water plants sufficiently to reach plant roots.  Using a watering can is the ideal method.

Few of us ever experience real water shortage.  We are used to turning on a tap, with little thought of water going down the drain and back into the water cycle.  Such a waste after it's been expensively treated to supply you with a high quality drinking water. Supplies are not limitless and as the demand for water increases we must try and change our watering habits.  By encouraging water conservation we are ensuring that the environment is protected  and there will be adequate stocks to meet the needs of everyone in the future.  USE WATER WISELY!

How To Water Less And Grow More

There are lots of ways to make sure your garden grows well, without watering so often.

• Leaving it to nature.

Don't feel obliged to water just because other people are.  Use your own judgement, but err on the lazy side.  Your garden will thank you for it.

• Keep down the weeds.

Besides choking your garden, they're growing fat on the water meant for the plants you want.

• Improve your soil with manure or compost.

They increase water retention, as do any mulches like leaves, or shredded newspaper applied at any time.  If you hoe frequently and shallowly between rows and around plants, you'll create a helpful dust about 2cm deep.

This encourages deeper rooting and better survival during long dry spells.   Don't hoe when the soil is damp.  This will only increase the water loss.

• Hanging Baskets and Pot Plants.

These can dry out quickly.  There are numerous products on the market that can be mixed with your compost to help increase water retention.  You can then water more thoroughly but less frequently.

• Water Butts are very useful.

Why not have one situated in your garden.  Some plants like Rhododendrons and Azaleas prefer rain water.

• Look after vegetables.

Harvest crops as soon as they're ready - and save plants from carrying excess weight.  In the normally dewless months of June and July, a fine overhead spray in the evening - particularly on leaf crops (cabbage, lettuce, etc.). Use plastic netting as bird protection and remember, it works as a windbreak too - so drying winds take away less water.

 

Tips At A Glance

A Few Do's.....

• Change your watering habits.

On hot days, water late at night or early morning, after 8pm and before 8am.

• Where possible use a watering can instead of a hosepipe.

You're less likely to overwater, you'll water more accurately and it'll help keep you fit at the same time!

• Check all your hosepipe fittings, taps and pipes.

Leaks anywhere in the system mean you're wasting water.  Even a single dripping tap can let 10 litres go to waste every day.

• Plant at a wider spacing if you can.

That way you reduce the need for water.

• Look after your vegetables.

Pick your crops as soon as they are ready and save plants carrying excess weight.  Use a fine overhead spray in the late evenings.

• Try to recycle water.

Next time you are in your Garden Centre why not look at some of the products that are available to help recycle water.

A Few Don'ts....

• Don't just water for the sake of it.

Or because you see your neighbours doing it.

• Don't apply more than fifty litres of water per square metre a week.

It is not necessary!

• Don't overwater.

Particularly on heavy clay soils.

• Don't throw washing up water down the drain.

Use it on the garden.

As a Water Company, we may have an axe to grind but the advisors who helped compile this leaflet are independent horticultural experts - they only want you to have a better garden with less effort.  So do we.