I was bummed out the other day when my favourite garden watering tool decided to quit. It is a sprinkler that sprays water in a horizontal arc and can be adjusted to water a full circle spray or just a small angle as well the length of the spray can be adjusted. I set it up in the middle of my vegetable garden and let it run for 3-4 hours. It did an awesome job.
Annual plants like those in the vegetable garden need a lot of water because their root systems are small. Perennials like Peonies stay in the same spot, thriving and flowering for decades. They have long far reaching roots that can search out water deep in the soil. They do not need as much water.
New perennials, trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants need to be watered weekly to help them get established. Pot grown plants, from the nursery, have limited root systems. They need a whole year, or more, to get themselves firmly anchored in the garden. You need to give new plants water every week even if it rains. Additional water the plant receives from the rain is a bonus.
I used to a have several drip hoses I laid out in my perennial beds when I was establishing them. The slow delivery of water worked great and I could leave them in watering mode for hours at a time. However, after a couple of years the hoses developed too big holes or the holes gummed up and I ended up throwing them away. By this time the perennials were established anyway. If I put in new plants I watered them by hand with a watering can.
With a watering can you water only the plant and none is wasted. Try watering your whole vegetable garden that way.
I decided the reason the sprinkler stopped working was hard water deposits. Even a long soak in vinegar didn’t induce it to start working. The only place I know that sells these Premium Garden sprinklers is William Dam Seed in Ontario. I decided buying a new sprinkler, $40 plus shipping charges, was too much to pay every year.
So I got a handheld sprinkler, the kind you screw onto the end of the hose. At least it saves me endless trips to the tap.
Melanie your border with the stachys and the dianthus flashing lights is beautiful. Does that little dianthus seed like mad all over the garden?
ReplyDeleteWatering is something I find a real chore at times and a watering system with soaker hoses would be fantastic to have. I prefer due to the other method being too expensive to use a handheld sprinkler to keep the water off the blooms incase I encourage powedery mildew though I do use an arch type sprinkler on the lawn.
My containers mostly get watered with a watering can as I always give a little feed of potash with each watering. I now bring the hose with me to save me walking all the way around to the outside water tap each time to fill up the can.
Hope you had a great Canada Day.
:) Rosie
Gotta water the garden for sure. The handhelds are my tool of choice but it is still time consuming. Your garden is BEEutiful!
ReplyDeleteI water by hand mostly. The last few years was difficult as virtually everything was a new planting. This year, it seems to be evening out some. I'm finding I have to water a little less. I have soaker's that help me out some, but I dare not leave them on all the time as I recently noticed a small lake forming from a bust.
ReplyDeleteI love watering at the end of the day. It's a good time to asses the plants. I find it relaxing, zen and all that.
I love the bed in the picture! Great rocks!
Enjoyed this post. Good that you make distinction between perennials & annuals watering needs, as well as the newbies. Love to handwater & commune with my plants.
ReplyDelete