Garden Watering Systems

Garden watering systems, when chosen and used properly, can reduce your use of water. Garden watering systems offer several different options that range from very simple to complex. Most systems generally include being water wise, plant wise and just taking care of your plants.

You want to check under the surface of the soil for moisture and be selective when you do garden watering. Over-watering will wash away the nutrients and reduce the development of the plants roots. When you do watering always aim for each individual plant and not the entire bed and always give top priority to the plants that need it the most. For instance the youngest transplants will have shallow roots and will need the water the most. Fruit, while flowering and the fruit itself is swelling such as raspberries, blackcurrant, gooseberries along with tomatoes and beans are another priority.

Soil is an assortment of mineral particles that are of different sizes. If the majority of particles are large, such as sand, water will drain through it very fast. If the particles are small, such as clay, water penetrates the soil at a much slower pace. Both can be a problem but the solution to either one of them is the same; you need to add some organic matter. Organic matter, which can be in the form of compost, composted manure, leaves that are chopped up will definitely enhance the texture and water holding capacity in the soil. For future use it is a good idea to add approximately an inch of compost material every year.

Soil that holds a great amount of organic material will also be able to retain a lot more moisture. The water is able to be held in place so it will be available to the roots of the plants when it is needed. Absorbing moisture is the job of the most tender young part of the plant's root system; these are the root hairs and root tips. When the conditions change drastically between wet and dry, these root hairs will become stressed and damaged. If you use a soaker hose to water and then cover the surface of the soil with a thick layer of mulch it will reduce the loss of water due to evaporation, and just as important, it helps maintain a steady level of moisture in the soil to keep healthy the delicate root hairs.

It is always better to deliver the water directly to the roots of the plants. Drip irrigation systems will ensure that the majority of the water you apply to your garden is actually watering the plants. Sprinkler systems can only claim about 40 to 50 percent actually goes to the plants. Drip irrigation systems lowers evaporation loss and keeps all areas between plants dry, which keeps down the amount of weed growth. There are such devices called Aqua Cones which are an effective, economical way to directly water the roots of each individual plant. A flat soaker hose will deliver water evenly and slowly in garden beds or landscape beds.

You want to use free water as often as you are able. Rainwater is probably the best source of water for your plants; it is not chlorinated, it is clear and it is free to use. If the square footage of your roof is one thousand feet you could possible collect 625 gallons of water from only one inch of rain. You can route your gutter down spouts to collect it in a rainwater urn or rain barrel to be used at a later date. Even in times of drought whatever amount of rainwater you can collect will definitely help your gardens.

Another way to reduce the loss of moisture through the leaves of you plants is to give them protection from the wind. Using a garden fabric in the spring on newly seeded garden beds that have recently been watered will keep the wind from drying out the soil surface. It also keeps the new seedlings from being attacked by the wind. These are just a few ideas that you can incorporate into your garden watering systems.