Following on from our recent discussion of the importance of water in the garden, this week we will take a look at how to use this precious commodity and when to do so with, as always, you being the best judge of which method best suits your needs.

There is far more to watering a garden than simply picking up a hosepipe, switching it on and then hosing down absolutely every growing thing in sight: although the majority of ‘malis’ would vehemently disagree!

Wasteful as they are, unless knowledgeably used of course, hosepipes remain the most popular watering system in the country. Even in times of drought — unless a rigorous hosepipe ban is enforced — garden hosepipes are used, quite literally in many cases, to water plants to death!

Over-watering your plants can be as dangerous and under-watering them

It is a little known fact but over-watering kills far more plants than any other form of negligence including, that is, pests or disease.

Different species of plants, from huge trees down to the smallest rockery specimens, have different water needs and to treat them all the same can be lethal. Also, it is a criminal waste of water by those who can afford to use it whilst less fortunate members of our society queue for hours on end, often in blistering heat, to be allocated just a litre or two from a public, much shared, tap dispensing water with highly questionable content. The social implications of irresponsible water use in the garden are not, however, the subject here: the point being that, as previously mentioned, your plants, with just a very few ‘imported’ exceptions, will not thank you for it at all.

‘How can I tell if the garden needs to be watered?’ is just about the most often asked gardening questions submitted here. Unfortunately though, there is no simple, straightforward answer but the following ‘checks’ and information should help you decide:

Vegetable gardens must have water

The topsoil looks dry: this doesn’t automatically mean it needs watering. Plant roots, especially those of established plants, take up water from roots down below the soil surface. Generally speaking, the taller the growth on top of a plant, the deeper its roots go down in search of water. Very tall, mature, indigenous trees for example, rarely, if ever, need watering as they have, over the years, developed their own survival systems deep down in the earth. Fruit trees on the other hand, especially those of a small to medium size, do require regular, sometimes copious amounts of water, right from flowering to fruit harvesting stage. If they are denied adequate water during this crucial period, fruit set will be poor with any fruit then being small and inferior in taste. They should, on average, be watered, two to three times a week when in ‘production’ and just once a week, if at all, when ‘resting’.

Purely ornamental trees, unless they are thirsty, imported specimens, will do perfectly well with a once a week drink during hot, dry periods and without any water at all during the rest of the year as they will, once established, fend for themselves by seeking out moisture wherever they can get it. This is no problem at all if they are located in an otherwise watered garden area.

Most ornamental shrubs can be treated exactly the same as ornamental trees.

Medium to tall, perennial flowering plants and climbers — roses, daylilies, Rangoon creeper, jasmine and Tecoma grandiflora for example, do not have tremendously deep root systems but they are deep enough for a twice a week, substantial drink during hot weather and once a week otherwise with no water at all during their winter break.

Seasonal, annual flowers are another matter. These tend to be shallow rooted and so need watering every other day, sometimes every day, throughout their growing and flowering period unless, that is, the topsoil still looks damp, in which case, no watering is required.

Dry topsoil does not, necessarily, mean that the soil beneath the surface is dry too. Stick your finger in the soil, to the depth of an inch or two, and if the soil down there is damp then there is no need for additional water at this juncture.

Day lilies

Checking just one part of the garden for soil moisture is not an indication that all, or none, of your plants need watering: Check different plants in different areas of the garden before making any watering decisions. If just a few plants are thirsty, forget the hosepipe and use a watering can.

Vegetable gardens use far more water than shrubberies or purely flower gardens as vegetable plants must have adequate water at all stages of growth.

Whilst I often advocate mixing flower, vegetable and herb plants in the same bed / border or growing them in the shade of fruit trees, it is of prime importance to pay attention to the water requirements of each species and to plan and plant accordingly. It does not make sense, for example, to grow lettuces and tomatoes in amongst drought tolerant, flowering plants.

Drip feed irrigation systems are — although I know that some people disagree — no value for money in Pakistan as, due to poor water quality, they regularly become blocked up.

Sprinkler systems are perfectly acceptable on an agricultural basis but tend to waste an exorbitant amount of water during home garden use.

Correct usage of hosepipes, preferably with varying spray-head attachments with an on / off switch to hand, remain a personal preference as long as they are kept out of the hands of irresponsible malis!

Please continue sending your gardening queries to zahrahnasir@hotmail.com. Remember to include your location. The writer will not respond directly by email. Emails with attachments will not be opened.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, February 15th, 2015

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