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 Watering - How Much
It is important to soak the soil to a depth of 18-24 in./45-60 cm at each watering. For most soils, this means running the sprinkler between one and two hours. Sprinkle for one hour, then dig down to see how deep the water penetrated. This allows you to calibrate your watering time to the composition of your soil. Use the oven timer to make sure you get it right.
A little half-hour sprinkling does far more harm than good. You see, a light watering will only penetrate the top 2-3 in./5-8 cm of soil, well above the level of root activity.
Do this often enough and the roots will head for the surface in search of water. Surface root growth can fry during a period of hot weather, seriously weakening the plant. Similarly, do not be fooled by rain. A short, heavy rainfall will run off more than it penetrates. It takes at least two or three hours of steady rain to really do the garden good.Watering - How to Do It
Potted plants are watered from a can or the end of the hose (remove any high-pressure nozzles or you will blast the soil right out of the pot). Flowerbeds and lawns can be watered by a simple oscillating sprinkler.
They are easy to use and inexpensive. You will soon discover the best placement which will cover your yard. However, any sprinkler will give up a lot of water (water which took energy to process, and that you pay for) to the atmosphere in evaporation, as much as 30% on a hot day, so try not to water when the sun is out. Overhead watering also wets leaves, which promotes mildew on some plants, although it does wash off smog and dust.
You may also choose from a selection of soaker hoses, seepage hoses, drip irrigators and similar systems which slowly seep water into the soil. Water is not lost from evaporation and none splatters on leaves. Usually, a hose is laid between plants, and left in place throughout the growing season. The soaker hose is connected to the tap by an ordinary hose. Be aware that these hoses are not very efficient - they only water an area about 18 in./45 cm across, so you will need several to cover a wider area. This can become expensive. Also, they are not obviously an option for lawns, so you will still need a sprinkler.
There are many different in-ground sprinkler systems for sale. If you are often away from home during the summer, you might want to research the different systems and choose the one that suits you best.
Watering - When to Do It
There are two "whens" in this question: when during the day, and when do the plants need it?
When during the day should you water? The general consensus is that early morning is best. The leaves can then dry out during the day, which is a good thing because remaining wet in the cooler night temperatures can promote the growth of mildew and other fungal diseases.
However, we find that with jobs, breakfast to fix, and even, occasionally, some serious sleeping-in to do, the plain fact is that we water when we have the time. Your choice. Try to avoid watering when the sun is strong - a lot of water is lost through evaporation.
It is important to check potted plants every day for dryness. They have a lot of roots in a small volume of soil, and so dry out quickly.
How do you know when the plant needs water? Take your trowel and dig down a few inches. If only the top 2 in./5 cm are dry, watering is not necessary. If the top 4 in./10 cm are dry, it is time to water.
Over time, you will find that you have one plant that stages a dramatic wilt whenever it is the least bit dry, but revives nicely when watered promptly. Such plants can be used as a bellwether: when they collapse, it is probably time to water everything. Remember, though, that the leaves of many plants will droop noticeably during a hot summer afternoon. This is because the leaves are losing water faster than the roots can replenish it.
If the leaves stiffen again in the evening, watering is not needed.
During a period of sustained drought, it is easy to forget that big trees, too, can dry out. They will not usually show signs of it until they are under considerable stress. Change in leaf color can be a warning. If your garden has had no substantial water for four to six weeks, water each tree by setting the sprinkler to cover its root area (this is the area in shade when the sun is directly overhead), and let the sprinkler run six hours or overnight.
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