Plants need water, but a timetable cannot tell you exactly when your garden is thirsty. Sun, wind, temperature, mulch, soil, plant size, and recent rain all change how quickly the ground dries.
- Push a finger into the soil near a plant. If the soil below the surface feels cool and damp, check again later. If the root area feels dry, it is time to water.
- Water slowly and deeply, then wait until the soil needs water again. Frequent little sprinkles encourage shallow roots.
- Aim water at the soil around the plant instead of spraying the leaves. A watering can, soaker hose, or drip line makes this easier.
- Early morning is a good time because less water evaporates and damp leaves can dry during the day. If a plant is wilting dangerously, give it water rather than waiting for morning.
- Add 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) of mulch, keeping it a little away from stems, to slow evaporation.
- Containers and newly planted seedlings dry faster than established plants in the ground. Check them more often.
About 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week is a common starting estimate for an established vegetable garden, including rain. It is not a rule: sandy soil may need smaller, more frequent waterings, while clay soil drains more slowly.
Make a simple rain gauge
A rain gauge shows how much rain or sprinkler water reached one spot.
- Choose a clean, straight-sided plastic container with no sharp edges.
- Set it upright in an open spot. Do not put it beneath a roof, branch, or sprinkler-blocking plant.
- After rain or watering, measure the depth with a ruler and record it in your Garden Journal.
- Empty the container after every reading so the next measurement starts at zero.
Water droplets do not normally act like magnifying glasses that burn leaves. The practical reasons to avoid routine overhead watering are that wet leaves can help some diseases spread and wind can carry water away from the plants.