Tips for Watering in a Drought

There’s a lot of ‘helpful’ advice going round at the moment; especially on social media. Some of it is ..um .. rather wide of the mark.

Information on more reputable websites is very useful, but it is currently pointless to install water butts or put a mulch on very dry ground. For the moment it is probably better to try and simply save what you can!

With that in mind we’ve prepared some basic tips on watering in the current conditions

Prioritise watering It is pointless watering your grass. Once wetter weather returns so will your grass. Aim to water any that have been planted this year, those in containers, plants that are suffering and are valuable to you and any vegetables.

When? The best time to water is early morning (before 9am) or evening. Watering early means the water can soak into the ground before the sun arrives. Watering in the evening works well but some plants – lettuce – dislike being watered overnight. Avoid splashing the leaves as this can cause disease.

Best Method Water the ground around the plant and give it a good soaking. Using a watering can means you can direct the water where you want to and gives control over how quickly the water pours out. If you find lifting a full watering can a problem, or you have a large garden then use a hose on a low setting.

Containers Hanging baskets and small pots are best watered daily. Larger containers will hold moisture longer but check to see if the compost is dry – about an 1” below and watch to see if plants are suffering. Moving plants to a shadier area will also help.

Borders You don’t need to water every plant. Some plants have long root systems and cope more easily. Others – Hydrangeas and Rhododendrons – don’t. You’ll also find plants in shade often cope better than those in full sun.

Watch out to see which the plants are suffering – leaves will wilt. Water the plants thoroughly and slowly, so it doesn’t splash off the dry surface and gets a chance to soak into the ground. How much water will depend on the size of the plant. A 2-gallon can should be enough for a medium sized shrub. Don’t water the plant again for at least a week unless it shows signs of suffering. Evening watering is often best as it gives more chance for the water to be absorbed into the ground.

Vegetables Look at the RHS link for information: Watering vegetables and fruit.