One of the biggest concerns for people who take care of a garden is watering.
When plants are not growing well, the first thought many people have is:
“Maybe they need more water.”
But in many cases, problems in the garden are not caused by too little water, but by watering the wrong way.
Here are five common watering mistakes often seen in gardens.
1. Watering a Little Bit Every Day
Many people water their plants a little bit every day.
It may look like you are taking good care of your plants, but it is actually not the best method.
When you water frequently but only a small amount, only the surface of the soil becomes wet.
As a result, plant roots stay close to the surface.
Plants that grow this way become weak during hot or dry weather.
A better method is to water less often but more deeply.
2. Using Sprinklers That Only Wet the Surface
Many gardens use automatic sprinklers.
The problem is that water often does not soak deep enough into the soil.
Especially when sprinklers run for a short time, they usually only wet the top layer of soil.
When this happens, plant roots cannot grow deeper into the ground.
If possible, it is better to water slowly and deeply with a hose.
3. Watering Without Checking the Soil
Another common mistake is watering without checking the soil condition.
Many people water on a fixed schedule or on certain days of the week.
But weather and soil conditions change all the time.
If you are unsure whether your plants need water, there is a simple method.
Put your finger into the soil.
If the soil is dry about 3–5 cm (1–2 inches) below the surface, then it is time to water.
Additional Tip: Check the Soil Under the Mulch
If your garden beds are covered with bark mulch, remember to check the soil underneath the mulch, not the mulch itself.
Sometimes the bark mulch on the surface may look dry, but the soil below can still be moist.
In that case, it is not time to water yet.
However, when you do water, make sure to water deeply enough so the water passes through the mulch and reaches the soil.
The most important thing to check is the soil moisture, not whether the mulch on the surface looks dry.
4. Watering Too Often
Many people worry that their plants might dry out, so they water too frequently.
But plant roots need air as well as water.
If the soil is always wet, the roots cannot breathe properly and may become weak.
In fact, overwatering is one of the most common reasons plants decline in gardens.
One of my clients planted a new cedar hedge and watered it every day because they were worried the trees might dry out.
But the trees started to decline.
When we checked the soil, we found that the roots had not grown deep into the ground.
Instead, they were spreading near the surface.
The soil had become almost like mud.
Plants can appear to dry out not because they lack water, but because the roots have already died from overwatering.
5. Watering All Garden Plants the Same Way
Plants in a garden all have different characteristics.
Large trees need water differently than small shrubs.
Flowering perennials need water differently than drought-tolerant ground covers like sedum.
Some plants tolerate wet soil well, while others prefer dry conditions.
In short, plants in the garden are not all the same.
So it is better to adjust watering based on the plant.
How can you learn this?
Of course, studying plants would help, but it is not always easy.
A simple way to start is this:
Most established large trees can survive without frequent watering.
The smaller the plant, the more often it usually needs water.
Then observe your garden carefully as you water.
Plants may not speak quickly, but they do communicate through their growth.
With observation and attention, you can learn a lot from them.
Written by Andy Lee
Owner of Andy’s Landscape Inc. – Landscape Contractor in Maple Ridge, BC