How often does my garden need water?
How often do I need to water my garden?
This is a question that I and my fellow nursery professionals are asked all of the time.
Here's the thing, you are the only person that can identify how often you will need to water your garden and here's why....
Because it depends on
the type of plants you have in your garden and their water needs once established.
how established the plant is. It can take approximately a year for a perennial to become established, 1 to 3 years for a shrub, and 3 to 5 years for a tree to become established. During this time it is important to grow a deep, healthy root zone by gradually watering deeper to drive those roots deeper. Then gradually watering less often, letting the top few inches of the soil dry out before watering again. Plants that are newly planted will require water more often than plants that are fully established. Note: even CA natives will require water more frequently while they are becoming established.
the texture of your soil. Water infiltrates more slowly when the soil is clay and infiltrates more quickly when it is sandy.
if there is a nice 2"-3" layer of mulch protecting the soil which reduces the water evaporation rate.
the unique microclimates of your garden- sun, shade, wind, heat and the grade of the property will dictate how often you will need to water.
The goal is to understand what the water needs are of the plants are once established. Group plants with similar water needs together so that once they are established they will thrive rather then suffer irrigation stresses. If you are adding a new plant to an established garden bed, then hand water that new plant while it is becoming established, keeping the irrigation set to favor the established plants of that zone.
Irrigation systems are not 'set it and forget it' systems. It is important to adjust the frequency of how often the landscape is watered according to the seasons and the weather. The goal is to only water the garden when it needs it. So often we are over watering, wasting water and potentially stressing the plants. Check the soil in a few zones of your garden before the irrigation system is set to go back on. Has the top few inches, 3" to 4" of soil dried out? (again depending on the plant material and how established it is, large shrubs and trees may require the soil to dry even more) If it has not, then you do not need to water again.
When we can come to learn the water needs of our landscapes, then we are growing healthier plants, while using water more efficiently, which is a water-wise approach.
The key is to water established gardens deeply and less often. This keeps our plants happy, healthy and saves water.
Have a look on the website of your water supplier or local municipality to find helpful tools, rebates, and watering schedules for your area. (The water schedule will be a suggested starting point. Please observes & adjust the irrigation schedule according to the the points listed above)
If you'd like to learn more about tips for watering your landscape with a water-wise approach, you can view this webinar that I presented with my awesome colleague, Charlotte Canner.
Stay tuned for my upcoming fall & winter free webinars. I will have the schedule posted on my website soon. If there is a topic you would like to learn more about, please let me know. I hope to see you at one of them