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As food prices climb higher and organic foods rise in popularity, many homeowners are starting their own home gardens. Of course, supplementing the food supply is not the only reason to maintain a garden. Some nurture a relaxing green getaway in their own backyard by growing fragrant flowers and privacy bushes. No matter what kinds of flora you keep in your garden, it is necessary to allow plants to get plenty of sunlight and water.

Even the savviest gardener cannot control the sun, but the true green thumb knows how to encourage growth through prudent pruning, proper fertilization, and customized watering. The best rate and amount of water to give certain plants often stumps those who are trying to garden for the first time. Finicky species of plants can be just as put off by too much water as they are by dry conditions.

If you find yourself in a dampening dilemma, take a look at these common watering tips:

Research your plants. Just like people, pets, and snowflakes, every plant is different. Depending on where they are found in nature, some may need monsoons while others can go weeks without moisture. Beginning gardeners should try to pick local plants for their first effort, because they are likely to thrive with only natural rainfall levels.

Books, landscapers and nursery owners are all good sources of information about how to care for certain plants. If you are still confused after seeking instruction, set up a simple experiment. Try watering different plants of the same type with the same amount of light at different intervals. Within a few weeks, it should be clear which method produces the desired results. Reliable information is certainly attainable with the proper amount of research, ask around or do your own searches to find the answers you are looking for.

Water in the late evening or early morning. It may seem as though the middle of the afternoon is the perfect time to spend time in the garden tending to the plants, but it is best to leave the patch alone during the day. Plants are working hard in the heat to produce food from the sunlight and store it.

Though it does not hurt or “boil” the plant to water when the sun is at its strongest, the heat and wind cause loss of water and evaporation. This means that less of the moisture actually makes it to the plant. Waiting until the evening or working early in the morning allows the water to soak into the soil. Actually, morning watering is even more preferable because the sun will dry the crust of the dirt and keep the soil around the roots damp for most of the day.

Use the right food. If you decide to add a fertilizer or any other additive to the water, make sure that the product is appropriate for the particular variety of plant. This is especially important for vegetable and herb gardens because certain chemicals can leave harmful substances on the food. The product should have plant recommendations and directions for use clearly listed on the packaging.

Plan irrigation systems carefully. A professional landscaper can create a pleasing green area and advise the homeowner on proper watering techniques, but often they also design irrigation systems. These systems do not always need to be professionally installed, but they do need to be properly planned in order to ensure that all of the plants receive the correct amount of moisture.

Many systems use sprinklers and drip hoses that dampen the soil around the flora on a regular basis. Some can even be set to deliver more liquid to certain areas or change watering frequency automatically at different times of year. These setups also tend to conserve more water than hand watering.

Be consistent. If you opt not to install an automatic irrigation system, make sure to stick to a regular watering schedule. Light, frequent showers encourage strong root systems that are less susceptible to drought. Giving the plant lots of water once a week may produce the same green, healthy appearance, but it will be less likely to bounce back after a dry spell or pruning.

Though watering is essential to the success of your garden, there are a number of other tasks at hand for the home gardener. Nurturing vegetables and flowers from seeds often takes months of hard work, but even planting mature plants can be a challenge. Proper preparation of soil, weeding, pruning, and fertilization are mandatory for a lush, lovely garden.
However, by observing these watering tips, you can get one step closer to growing your dream garden. After all, your plants depend on water to grow into herbs, vegetable, and flowers. Only you can provide them with this live-giving substance.

Home gardens can be hard work but for many it is a great hobby that gives you many rewards. Gardening is the most popular hobby in this country. It helps you to relax and many say it is very therapeutic. Look at it this way, you are outside in the fresh air and you are working on a project that helps to relieve stress and worry. It is also a great way to work out without having to get in your car and go to the gym. Think of the hours of enjoyment you will get when your hard work turns into gorgeous, lush gardens. Along with the enormous enjoyment you will get from your garden, you will also reap the harvest of any fruit trees and enjoy that too. There are a few garden tips that you should follow that will reward you with a beautiful home garden for you and your friends to enjoy.

There are some home gardening tips to keep in mind when shopping for new trees or shrubs. Usually, when you purchase and plant trees and shrubs they are very small. The gardener comes home and plants under a window or near the house. These plants will start to grow and can cause some tricky problems. This is a mistake to avoid. As the plants grow, so do their root systems. If planted to close to the house they could do harm to your foundation, sewer or water lines. Not only can they cause damage to these things but then it will be necessary to pay to have the tree or shrub removed. When planting shrubs around your house they may grow tall enough to block out sunlight or be a detriment to your landscaping scheme. To avoid this trouble in your home garden, find out exactly how tall and wide the shrubs and trees will be at maturity, a very important tip. Remember, never plant a tree too close to your house. The roots could cause very costly damages and you would have to have the tree taken out.

To encourage new spring growth, prune your shrubs in the fall to allow air flow. Until the shrub or tree is established you must water them liberally. Proper watering of your trees or shrubs is essential if you want them to survive and in some cases to keep the guarantee valid. Lawn sprinkler irrigation is generally inadequate for watering these new plants. Trees and shrubs must have a deeper, soaking watering of the root ball. Moist but not “sloppy wet” is the rule. The recommended watering schedule when your trees and shrubs are first planted is as follows:

Days 1-30 – Everyday

Days 31 – 60 Every other day

Days 61 & following – At least twice per week

Plants that you have watered well survive far better during the cold months than plants starting winter without enough water. Depending on your zone, it is best to plant trees and shrubs in the fall, never in the summer. Take care of your home gardens and you will have years of enjoyment adding texture and beauty to your home and yard.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

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Mary Hanna is an aspiring herbalist who lives in Central Florida. This allows her to grow gardens inside and outside year round. She has published other articles on Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at Gardening Landscaping Tips and Gardening Outside and Herb Gardening