How to
Determine How Much Water
Your Garden Needs
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How much water your garden
actually needs depends on
how well the soil drains and
the amount of water-holding
capacity there is in your
particular type of soil.
Here is a simple test you
can do to determine how fast
your soil drains. When you
have that information, you
can adjust your watering
schedule accordingly.
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Steps: |
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1. |
Dig a hole six inches wide
and one foot deep using a
shovel or a post-hole
digger. |
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2. |
Fill the hole with water and
let it drain. |
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3. |
Fill the hole with water one
more time after the water
has drained completely.
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4. |
Keep track of how long it
takes for the water to drain
completely from the hole
after the second filling. If
the water drains completely
within three hours or less,
you have a drainage problem,
probably due to sandy soil.
If water is still standing
in the hole after eight
hours, you have a drainage
problem due to too much clay
in the soil, and if the
water drains within four
hours to six hours, you
don't have any drainage
problem. |
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5. |
Increase the amount of water
you apply to your garden if
the soil drains in less than
three hours. |
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6. |
Decrease the amount of water
if the soil takes longer
than eight hours to drain.
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7. |
Keep up your same watering
schedule if the soil drains
in four to six hours.
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Tips: |
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Water holding capacity of
any soil type can be
improved by adding organic
compost. |
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Plants in shady areas will
use less water than those in
full sun. |
