Water advice, not previously needed….

Cornish Guardian; Truro (UK), Jun 30, 2010 | by Richard Dee

EVERY year for the past three years I have written an article about irrigation and/or mulching early in the summer, to help you make the most efficient use of water in the garden over the summer months.
Every year for the past three years it has started to rain when the article was published and it didn’t stop for the rest of the summer, making my advice redundant.
I am optimistic that this year some of my advice will prove useful, especially after the weather of the past few weeks.
Established plants, grown in good soil, are able to withstand prolonged periods of dry weather without being har med.
Watering encourages the roots to remain close to the surface instead of penetrating deep into the soil to find moisture.
Creating a barrier on the soil surface that cuts down evaporation can conserve soil moisture. Hoeing not only removes weeds that compete for water and nutrients but also forms a layer of loose dry soil that slows down the rate of evaporation from the soil surface. A good thick mulch of garden compost or bark chip will both conserve moisture and discourage weed growth, as will plastic membrane with, or without, a layer of gravel or pebbles.
Remember that any mulch should be applied to damp soil, otherwise it will tend to prevent rain from reaching the soil surface.
Although most ornamental plants growing in the garden are unlikely to require irrigation in a normal Cornish summer, there is still a need for some irrigation in most gardens.
Recently planted subjects will need watering in dry spells during their first summer especially if they were planted in late spring.
When watering ornamental plants, it is best to give them a good soak once every ten days or so rather than a spray over every night, this will encourage proper root development. Vegetables, on the other hand, need a constant supply of moisture to maintain their growth.
Irregular watering causes roots and fruits to split and can cause leafy vegetables to bolt, in other words, run to flower and seed prematurely. Peas and beans will not produce as many, or as large, pods when under stress from lack of water and there will be a similar reduction in yield and quality from tomatoes and squashes.
Even if we are lucky enough to escape any hosepipe bans there is no reason not to use some of the “waste” water that every home produces.
Rainwater can be collected and stored in water butts and used to irrigate special plants and those growing in pots but the supply will, of course, be limited in a dry season.
Bath and shower water, along with washing-up water and that used to wash food, is excellent for most garden plants growing in soil.
The soaps and detergents will be broken down by soil micro- organisms to produce plant nutrients. Beware of the wastewater from dishwashers as this often contains bleach and powerful detergents that could be harmful to both the soil micro-organisms and plant roots.
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