- Avoid overhead watering. This is not only an inefficient way for water to reach plant roots, but if there is not enough time in the day for the water on the plant leaves to evaporate, the excess moisture can introduce disease and moisture-loving pests like slugs.
- Water at the drip line. For larger leafy plants, it is best to water at the drip-line. The drip line is where the leaves end and/or where, if it were raining, water would drip off the leaves and down onto the soil. This encourages root growth.
- Water slowly. When watering, especially when watering dry soil, be careful not to water too much too quickly as most of the water can end up running off the edge of the soil and can result in the formation of a crust on top of the soil. Instead, water evenly across the soil, minimizing puddles, and consider watering more than once.
- Avoid forceful watering. This can cause soil to splash up onto the plant leaves, which can introduce fungal spores. Forceful watering also disturbs the soil surface and can displace the soil unevenly, causing runoff. (This is especially important when watering seeds as the soil can be disturbed, exposing seeds, and leading them to drying out rather than germinating.)
- Use caution when watering seeds and seedlings. Use extra care when watering seeds or seedlings that are germinating so as not to forcefully displace them. Watering cans are usually too forceful for seeds and seedlings, so we recommend using a mist setting on the nozzle or a light shower setting with a quick and methodical back-and-forth spray across the seeds.
- Container size and type may affect amount of water necessary. Plants in larger containers have more soil to hold water and, in many cases, larger root systems to absorb water than smaller plants or pots; this means plants in smaller containers may need to be watered more often. Additionally, the composition of the container affects how much water is needed; a clay pot is porous, which allows for airflow that is great for the soil, but can cause the soil to dry out faster than a plastic pot.
For more information on how to help us water at Dig's Sunset Rec garden, come to our weekly Dig-Ins (Sundays @ 12:30pm), go here or email [email protected].
Much of our information comes from sharing our own experiences and research. We strongly encourage you to do your own research and to share your knowledge. We acknowledge that some practices work better for some plant types, stages of growth, and environments than others.
For sources and more information, ask us about our Guidebook. We are always looking for researchers and editors to help us all learn more about organic gardening.