Gardeners' World: Monty demonstrates how to pot tomato plants
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We’re so close to finally reaching summer after a long autumn and winter – and that means it’s time to start thinking about your garden. One of the most important aspects to maintaining a healthy, thriving garden is your watering schedule. But different types of plants require different amounts of water.
Plants and flowers need to be watered regularly to make sure they grow strong and healthy.
But that doesn’t just mean piling on as much water as possible.
Each plant needs the right balance of water to avoid drowning, but also keeping it hydrated.
You’ll need to take into account four different factors before deciding how often to get your watering can out.
How often should you water outdoor plants?
There’s no hard and fast rule for how often you should water your plants, as each plant has different needs.
When planning your watering routine, you should take into account:
- The size and species of your plants
- The texture and structure of the plants’ soil
- Whether the plant is growing in a container
- The weather or season
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Larger plants with more leaves will need more water, according to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
Clay types of soil tend to hold more water than a sandy type, so you’ll probably have to water plants in sandy soil little and often.
If your plants are in a pot, then they’ll need to more frequent watering, as the roots won’t be able to extend out as far as those in a border.
Don’t forget that if it’s really hot outside with plenty of sunshine, water will evaporate more quickly, and your plants will be needing more water.
“There is no simple rule of thumb for watering as each plant has different needs,” said the RHS.
“For example, a container plant in hot sunny weather may need watering daily, whereas a mature shrub might only need a drink in extreme drought.
“It’s good to remember, plants will use more water if more water is made available to them.
“So you can allow them to dry out a little between watering and they don’t need to be wet all the time.”
It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your plants, to note whether they’re looking a little dehydrated.
You might need to give your plants more water if they start to wilt, or if the leaves point downwards.
The leaves may also look dull, or darker than normal.
If you’re expecting lots of foliage or flowers, and instead get the opposite, you might also need to increase your watering frequency.
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