Water the roots, without wasting water

When to do it

Only when the root area needs water. Prefer early morning, subject to local restrictions. Seeds and young plants need closer checks than established plants.

What you need

• Watering can with a rose, trigger hose, or working drip/soaker system
• Trowel for checking beside roots

How to do it

1. Check moisture first. Rain, cooler weather and damp soil may mean no watering is needed today.
2. Aim at the soil around the plant’s roots, including the root ball of a new planting. Use a gentle rose for seedlings so soil and seeds are not washed away.
3. Apply slowly. If water pools or runs away, pause to let it soak in, then reassess rather than simply adding more.
4. After water has soaked in, inspect beside the root area without severing roots. Check more than one place, especially with drip irrigation; a wet spot at one emitter is not proof of even coverage.
5. Stop when the relevant root area is moist, not saturated. Empty standing water from pot saucers where the plant needs free drainage. Recheck before the next watering.

What success looks like

• Water reaches the growing roots without flowing onto paths.
• The bed or pot drains; foliage is not being sprayed unnecessarily.

Watch out for

• Giving every plant the same number of minutes or litres.
• Letting new seedlings dry out to “train” deep roots.
• Using extra water to treat wilting when the soil is already wet.

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