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Properly caring for your garden means knowing how much to water your garden.

Proper garden irrigation is a necessary element to a prosperous garden.

Whether you’ve planted a garden for the first time, or you consider yourself a garden connoisseur, most homeowners recognize the importance of proper hydration to ensure a healthy garden year round. Garden watering is not a difficult task per se, but understanding when and how much you should water varies with every garden.

Of course, garden watering is not as critical during the fall, winter and spring months, but the summer brings about dry, hot conditions, whereby your garden requires additional water. The amount of water you give your garden depends on the climate in which you live, as well as the flowers, produce and/or herbs that you’re growing.

Although garden irrigation is especially important during the summertime, caring for your garden should take place much earlier than June. In fact, garden maintenance should be an ongoing project. The following watering tips will protect your garden throughout the year, as well as save water.

• Soil Preparation – Before planting your garden, make sure the soil is enhanced with natural, organic matter. Why? Enriched soil retains water much more efficiently than soil that hasn’t been prepared properly. And, you’ll find that garden watering isn’t as time consuming, as the soil absorbs the water better.
• Use Plant Beds – Rather than plant in separate holes, use prepared plant beds. Why? Plants that grow in individual holes of unprepared soil do not produce substantial root systems; as a result, garden watering is much more demanding in order to survive.
• Plant in Groups – As with anything else in life, planning your garden and the location of plants is important. Why? If you plant according to garden watering needs, you’ll find the garden watering process much easier, particularly in the hot months when water requirements are greater.
• An Inch a Week Will Do – Knowing how much water you should give your garden weekly is tricky, as everyone’s garden is different. However, a general rule of thumb is that your lawn and garden require approximately one inch every week. Garden watering is easier with a sprinkler system, but don’t water all at once. Instead, water your garden three times a week, giving it about one-third of its weekly dosage and a couple days of rest in between watering. If it rains during the week, do your best to subtract how much water you use accordingly.
• Use More Mulch – Not only is mulch aesthetically pleasing, but it conserves water too. Mulch is a great way to retain moisture in your plant beds, containers and annuals. Therefore, use more mulch and think of it as a part of your garden irrigation system.

Gardening and garden watering are not difficult tasks, as long as you’re equipped with the right information. These tips will help your garden flourish regardless of the season, so go ahead: Get growing!