How Often Do I Need to Water my Gardens?

If your gardens end up looking dry, tired, and unhealthy as the summer goes on, you probably have a watering problem. Knowing how and when to water your garden can be more complicated than you’d think, with different types of plants requiring differing amounts of water.

By carefully planning your flower beds you can make your job of watering easier, and your plants more healthy. Let’s look at some tips about garden watering.

General Watering Rules

While different plants require different amounts of water, sunshine, and shade, there are some general care rules you can follow. Watering plants thoroughly and less frequently is better for them than watering them lightly every day (or multiple times a day).

For example, watering your garden with one to two inches of water two to three times a week is better for the plants than sprinkling them with a very small amount of water every day. Depending on your soil the amount of water getting to the plants and saturating the ground may vary, and by watering thoroughly you are allowing more of that water to get to your plants. Newly planted plants will need more watering than well established ones, so keep that in mind when thinking about your garden.

Mulching your gardens is another great way to help with your watering needs. By applying mulch over your flower beds you can help them retain some moisture even on the hottest days. By watering your gardens in the morning or late afternoon you can allow that moisture to sink into the soil and prevent it from evaporating during the heat of the day.

Planning Your Gardens

If you haven’t planted your garden yet and are looking for ideas, there are a few things to consider. By knowing your soil conditions, and sun conditions, you can better pick out plants for your garden that will thrive. If you have sandy soil that doesn’t hold moisture very well, you might consider planting succulents and other plants that don’t need very much moisture. Likewise, if your garden bed has full sun all day, you probably don’t want to plant anything that needs partial sun.

Choosing specific plants based on their watering needs will reduce the amount of effort and time you have to put into watering. If your plants all have similar watering needs you can utilize an automatic sprinkler to water your plants each day (or every few days, based on their needs). If your plants needs vary significantly, you’ll need to water each individually according to its unique specifications, which can get complicated and confusing.

Getting Help

If all of this sounds way too complicated and you aren’t sure where to start, get help! A good landscaping company can help you plan and maintain your gardens. A professional knows which plants will do well in what areas, and which plants grow well together. By working with someone to plan out your garden beds, you can minimize the time you spend maintaining them.

If you are ready to take your gardens to the next level, contact us at North American Landscaping and Design today! For professional landscaping in Catonsville, Maryland, we’ve got you covered! Our team of professionals can help you design gorgeous flower beds that are easy to maintain and enjoy. Give us a call today!