Watering the garden Watering is top of my to-do list during summer. It’s absolutely vital if the plants are to thrive. Often rainfall just isn’t sufficient to irrigate new plants so they need a helping hand. When plants are grown on a nursery they’re usually watered on a daily basis to a set regime of so many litres per hour at a set time each day. Once the plants make their way to our gardens they are in a completely alien environment and without good watering they simply can’t adjust to their new home- that’s why so many people lose plants shortly after planting. I always water new plants really well before they are planted to ensure that the whole of the root system is wet through, usually by giving the pot a couple of minutes in a bucket of water. Once planted it then needs another good soak to wet the surrounding soil and settle it in. It’s really difficult to say how much or how often a new plant needs watering– it depends on the variety, size, situation etc, but a good soak a couple of times a week during the summer months is a good starting point. I check plants regularly for signs of wilt and leaf drop. Watering in the evening or the early morning is best so that the water has chance to penetrate deep down to the roots before the midday sun has a chance to evaporate it from the surface. Giving the plants a good soak periodically is better than a light sprinkle every day as it encourages the plant to root deeply and search for its own water. There are automatic watering systems on the market designed to irrigate pots, baskets, greenhouses etc. I have used them very successfully in gardens to keep them looking at their best. Feeding plants during Summer To make the most of baskets, pots and borders a regular feed is useful to prolong flowering, fruiting and growth. I use the following: Tomato food is great for lots of plants during the summer as its main ingredient is Potassium – which stimulates flower and fruit growth, so it’s perfect not only for fruiting crops like tomatoes & peppers but hanging baskets, pots and bedding too. I also use it to give shrubs a boost if they are reluctant to flower. Pelleted Chicken Manure is great as a general purpose feed. I use it every time I plant vegetables, shrubs, perennials etc. to give the plant an initial boost. Growmore or Fish Blood and Bone does a similar job. Controlled release granules give a long-term balanced feed throughout the summer. I use it in all of my containers. Finally I use a general purpose liquid feed like Miracle Grow for young plants in the greenhouse before they are planted out in to the garden to keep them growing strongly in their pots. With a good watering and feeding regime and a little deadheading the garden will be looking fabulous all summer long. Author: Bel Grierson of Bel Grierson Garden Design LimitedExpert Plantswoman, Garden and Planting Designer with 21+ years experience in horticulture. Bel loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with those with gardens large and small. Comments are closed.
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