Watering your plants right is the key to help plants through the hot season. Sharpen your watering skills with the help of this guide to keep your garden lush and green throughout the summer season.

How to Water Different Types of Gardens

Watering for Container Gardens

Watering plants in pots have to be a gentle affair. Use sprinklers, hose or install a drip irrigation system to water plants in containers. One of the most effective ways to water your container plants is bottom watering. This is done by placing a tray under containers with drainage holes letting the water seep in through those holes.

Watering for Hanging Gardens

Watering your hanging pots can be a little tricky as the excess water will flow out of the holes and the soil will drain quickly. Choose pots without holes for your hanging gardens. To allow water retention, you can slip your pot into a larger one with a layer of soil between the two pots. This will shade the smaller pot and facilitate the slow evaporation of water.

Watering for Lawns

Since the lawn has more ground area than the other gardens, you’ll need a bigger water source to irrigate your plants. Use hose pipes or pre-installed sprinklers to water your plants. Water your lawns generously as most of the water will seep into the ground.

Watering for Vegetable Gardens

Vegetables thrive well when their roots are wet and the leaves or the fruit are kept dry. Young seedlings can survive on less water, on the other hand, bigger vegetable plants require more water to grow well. To water your vegetable garden, leave the hose on the ground surface and let the soil soak in the water. Run a gentle stream of water around the roots of the plants. For underground vegetables, don’t allow water to collect in one place as it may cause the produce to rot.

Watering for Terrace Gardens

Terrace gardens are usually put together with the help of containers or raised beds. Use sprinklers to water plants growing in containers and a hosepipe to water your raised beds. Install a proper drainage system on your terrace to allow the excess water to flow out seamlessly. Terraces in summers can be harsh for your plants, ensure watering your plants on a regular basis.

To know more about building terrace gardens from scratch read our comprehensive guide.

Other Watering Factors To Consider

Location

You feel thirsty when you’re out there on a hot sunny day. Similarly, if your plants are planted in a sunny spot, they feel thirsty. Likewise, on a windy day, the wind dries out the moisture faster from the ground leaving the plants thirsty. So it’s important to understand the location of your plants and water them accordingly.

Type Of Soil

It’s important to understand the soil type to understand the watering needs of your plants. For instance, sandy or loamy soil needs more frequent watering than clay soil.  Stick your finger one inch deep in the soil to check its moisture level and water your plants accordingly.

Mulching

Plants feel the intense heat of the sun as much as we do. A great way to protect your beloved plants from the heat is by using mulch. Mulch is a 2-4 inch thick layer of covering material such as bark, cocoa shells, shredded leaves, grass clippings, etc. that is spread over the soil to retain the moisture, suppress any weeds, and keep the soil cool.

Read our guide on how to mulch your gardens in India.

Best Time To Water Plants In Hot Weather

It’s important to know the timings while watering your plants. The best time to water your plants is early in the morning as it allows your plant to retain the water throughout the day and helps them to ramp up the photosynthesis process. Alternatively, you can water your plants around the evening which will help your plants to retain the water overnight.

These are some of the pointers that will help you to keep your watering game on point. In general, look at your plants' health and listen to them. If they appear to be calling out for more water, just spray some. 

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