How Much Water Do Perennial Plants Need?
Properly watering your perennial plants is very important.
It can make the difference between them thriving and wilting.
Perennials usually spread most of their roots in the top 12 inches of the soil, although some roots may grow deeper in fast draining soil like sand.
You will want to water your perennial plants a few inches deeper than the roots so the roots are tempted to grow down more to get to the extra water.
This will protect the fragile roots and help them get stronger as they will not experience the fluctuation of the surface temperature through out the day.
Remember roots grow best when they are at a constant and cool temperature.
Unfortunately, shallow rooted perennials can dry out very quickly and will need to be watered more frequently.
You need to know how deep your roots are so you can properly adjust watering time.
Since you cannot tell how deep the water is penetrating by just looking at the ground you will need to get creative.
What I suggest is that you dig a few test holes around your plant and write down how much you had to water to reach the roots.
Here is a step by step procedure to follow so you can best determine how long to water your garden:
In contrast watering too deep or too much is also a waste because the roots can only absorb what they can reach.
Follow the easy steps above and your plant will remain healthy.
Also, if you change your irrigation system you will need to retest the above as each new sprinkler or hose can deliver water at varying speed.
It can make the difference between them thriving and wilting.
Perennials usually spread most of their roots in the top 12 inches of the soil, although some roots may grow deeper in fast draining soil like sand.
You will want to water your perennial plants a few inches deeper than the roots so the roots are tempted to grow down more to get to the extra water.
This will protect the fragile roots and help them get stronger as they will not experience the fluctuation of the surface temperature through out the day.
Remember roots grow best when they are at a constant and cool temperature.
Unfortunately, shallow rooted perennials can dry out very quickly and will need to be watered more frequently.
You need to know how deep your roots are so you can properly adjust watering time.
Since you cannot tell how deep the water is penetrating by just looking at the ground you will need to get creative.
What I suggest is that you dig a few test holes around your plant and write down how much you had to water to reach the roots.
Here is a step by step procedure to follow so you can best determine how long to water your garden:
- First check your soil to see if it is fairly dry up to about 6 inches deep.
- Set up the watering system for your perennial plants for 30 minutes.
You can use either a soaker hose or a sprinkler set on low pressure so as not to damage the plant.
You can pick whichever system you are more comfortable with. - Next day, around the same time, you will need to check how deep the soil is wet.
To do this use a narrow trowel to dig a small 2 to 3 inch wide hole which needs to be at least a foot deep.
Do this slightly away from the base of your plant so you do not harm the roots. - Ideally you will find that the soil is indeed wet up to the 12 inches.
- If the soil is not wet, you will need to start on step 1 and go through the exercise again but this time water for 40 minutes.
Keep repeating the steps until you figure out how long to water to get about a foot of soil wet.
In contrast watering too deep or too much is also a waste because the roots can only absorb what they can reach.
Follow the easy steps above and your plant will remain healthy.
Also, if you change your irrigation system you will need to retest the above as each new sprinkler or hose can deliver water at varying speed.