6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in
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6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in

6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in 6. Good Organic Gardening - November-December 2016 AvxHome.in

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WEEKEND GARDENING | Water wisdom WATERWORKS In summer more than any other time, your garden needs adequate water, but it can also be exactly when Mother Nature is unobliging, hence the need to use wisely 50 | Good Organic Gardening

Water wisdom | WEEKEND GARDENING Words Carrol Baker Pure H 2 0. For farmers, it’s like liquid gold. For the city hobby farmer or backyard gardener, turn on a tap and it’s there in abundance. However, that does not make this natural resource any less valuable. Healthy gardens need water. It’s arguably the single-most important factor for plant survival. There are ways you can make the most of this finite natural resource so you can have a thriving organic garden, while still making every precious drop count. So how much water do plants need? That, of course, depends on the plant, where the plants are positioned in relation to the sun and wind, and the soil type. Soil has three types of particles — sand, silt and clay — and the combinations of these determine the soil type. If you aren’t sure what your soil type is, there’s a simple way to work it out. “Add water, mould it in your hand and if it crumbles, it’s sandy; if it’s silty, it will form a ball; and if it’s clay, you can pinch it between your forefinger and thumb and ribbon it out — the longer the ribbon, the more clay you have.” Loam, which is around two parts sand and silt and one part clay, is the optimum soil type for healthy plant growth. There’s another way to test for silt particles, says soil scientist Jade King … if you’re game. “Rub it gently on the front of your teeth. If it’s silty, it will feel silky smooth; if it’s sandy, it will feel gritty,” says Jade. “Personally, I prefer to rub it on the back of my nail,” she adds with a laugh. Go with the flow? Do you know your H 2 0 flow rate? You can simply test it by measuring how much water comes out of the hose in a set time. For example, measure how much water goes into a bucket in 15 seconds. Multiply the recorded amount by 240 and that equals your hourly flow rate. CanStockPhoto The art of hosing Sprinkler systems can work extremely well if they are well-designed; if not, they can waste water. The benefits of a good sprinkler system include the ability to water deeply over a long period without you having to stand holding the hose for a couple of hours. You can turn on your sprinklers — or have a timer do that — and do other things while they water the garden. Deep watering doesn’t have to be done as often, either. If you like to hand-hose, make sure you use a trigger nozzle to restrict the flow. A strong blast will not penetrate and can wash soil away from the roots. Water deeply so the water penetrates. A light spray of water daily can inadvertently prompt root systems When hosing, water deeply to stay close to the surface of the soil, where they can be burnt or damaged by the sun. Move the hose in a slow, sweeping, sideways motion, walking backwards and forwards, and enjoy the beauty of your garden. I remember when I planted my first garden, the pure joy of seeing each new seedling spring to life, watching new growth on plants flourish and witnessing the first bloom of spring flowers. To water the garden, Soil water requirements Clay needs less than sand, but keep moist and don’t let it dry out. Sand needs frequent watering, in small amounts, to maintain moisture. Loam can just be watered as needed, especially silty loam. Good Organic Gardening | 51

WEEKEND GARDENING | Water wisdom<br />

WATERWORKS<br />

In summer more than any other time,<br />

your garden needs adequate water, but it<br />

can also be exactly when Mother Nature<br />

is unoblig<strong>in</strong>g, hence the need to use wisely<br />

50 | <strong>Good</strong> <strong>Organic</strong> <strong>Garden<strong>in</strong>g</strong>

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