How to do less watering

Gardeners have a love-hate relationship with rain. Too much and we can’t get out in to the garden, the soil is too wet to dig, some precious plants rot and, of course, it’s perfect weather for slugs and snails. Too little and there’s a risk of losing plants and watering is hard work. How can we keep plants healthy while doing as little watering as possible ?

The RHS advice starts off with “The key to watering successfully is to water thoroughly to a depth of 30cm (1ft). Avoid watering the top centimetre or so on a daily basis, for example. Watering every 10-14 days (if there is no rain) is a general guide.” But this is only a general guide – here are 10 tips for more effective use of water and an easier life.

1. Rainwater is better for plants than tap water. So install a water butt, ideally fed by the runoff from a shed roof. You’d be amazed at how quickly it fills up and you can attach a hosepipe to it.
   

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2. Seeds and young plants need moisture near the surface (which dries out quickest), so will need watering more frequently in dry spells. Before sowing seeds, water the seed drill thoroughly and cover with dry soil. When planting seedlings, fill the planting hole with water and let it drain at least once, creating deep moisture to encourage deep, healthy roots. Once established, you can ease off the watering.
   

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3. Don’t over water. Too much water can be worse than too little – hands up who hasn’t killed a houseplant by giving it too much water? It’s better for you and your plants to water thoroughly but less frequently than give a little water every day. The former encourages the growth of deep roots which can make the most of soil moisture and reduce the need for frequent watering. Overwatering can also leach essential nutrients from the soil.
   

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4. Target your watering – burying a plant pot (or upturned bottle with the bottom cut off) next to the plant sends water straight to the roots where it’s needed. This has the added advantage of keeping the surface dry and less appealing to slugs & snails.
   

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5. Create moisture-retentive soil. Soil that contains plenty of organic matter retains moisture better, so add plenty of manure or compost.
   

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6. Reduce soil evaporation by mulching – compost, manure, chipped bark or black fabric – and by creating a windbreak.
   

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7. Keep the hoe busy – weeds steal water from your precious plants.
   

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8. Don’t treat all plants the same. Some plants need more water than others and some only need water at certain stages in their life cycle.  Salad leaves and courgettes tend to be the thirstiest.  Beans mainly need water when flowering.
   

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9. Timing – water first thing in the morning or in the evening, reducing evaporation in the heat of the day.
   

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10. Plant in blocks, rather than rows. This creates shade for roots and reduces evaporation.

What are your top tips for reducing the need to water?