Debi Holland shares her top tips for watering plants the right way! From the best time of day to water to why deep soakings beat shallow sprinkles, this video is packed with practical advice to keep your garden happy and hydrated.
How to water plants
Read the transcript
Early morning is a good time to water so plants can take up moisture before temperatures rise. Rainwater is useful if you can collect it. A water butt connected to a downpipe on a house, shed or greenhouse catches runoff for later use.
Give the roots a good soak. Water the soil at the base of the plant so the moisture reaches the roots. A thorough soak is more useful than frequent light sprinklings. Use a gentle spray on the hose so you don’t wash soil away. An open-spout watering can works well in borders. For pots, a rose gives a gentler flow.
Check pots individually. Containers dry out faster than borders but can also become waterlogged. Feel the compost with your finger and water when it’s dry. For a small pot with a very dry root ball, dip it into a bucket of rainwater until the bubbles stop, then take it out and let it drain. Use a small can for small pots to avoid washing out the compost.
Go gently with seeds and seedlings. Moisten the compost in a seed tray with a fine rose before sowing, so the seeds stay in place. Once seedlings appear, try watering the tray from below. In the greenhouse, direct water to the compost to avoid leaving foliage damp.
Different plants need different amounts of water. Check the compost before you water and let each pot tell you when it needs a drink.
Editor’s note. The video mentions magnetic water treatments. The RHS guide to watering explains when to water, how to reach the roots and how to make use of collected rainwater.
