May sound silly...but do I need to water my garden after it's been dry for so many days?

[Return2thebasic]

Still in spring and not too hot. Temperature drops still quite a bit at night which produces quite some dew.

I haven't planted anything new this year. But do have a few youngish plants (2-3 years old). I've also moved a few plants two weeks ago.

Do I need to get the hose out and water the plants now?

The soil is not too clay in our area.

No, I wouldn’t.
I am watering newly planted plants but the rest I leave - treat them tough 😊

Anything perennial should be encouraged to put out roots so I'd only water when absolutely necessary.

I have been watering, as too have my neighbours. I have seen many sprinklers out this week

I would water anything recently planted or plants that havent been in a long time just to give them a boost. Its better to water plants really well once a week than a bit - you want the water to really soak the soil around them otherwise their roots wont go down deep enough.

I water newly planted seedlings; and I have a pot garden so definitely watering these, especially the two potted trees.

I wanted once / twice a day. Can I ask why we shouldn't?

Pots, containers or seedlings or newly planted, as in the last week or so, I will water. Anything well established will have roots deep enough to get the water from further down.

I'm properly watering sweetpeas and an apple tree which was planted in the autumn and giving everything else a general spray every few days. Everything still looking healthy

Because very regular, shallow watering encourages plants to make lots of fine roots near the surface, these roots are then less resilient and more prone to drying out, meaning that you can then never skip watering.

Best is to water deeply once a week until plants are established. This encourages them to send their roots nice and deep, where the soil stays moist for much longer. Once established, most plants should not need watering at all, unless there is an exceptional drought.

Poke your finger in. If it's all dry, water really well. You want to encourage deep rather than superficial roots with lss frequent but thorough watering.

Just pots or newly planted shrubs that need help settling in. Or any vegatables/fruit you're growing.

I’ve just started watering my patio oors most evenings but as I’ve not olanted anything new in the garden I am not watering the flower beds, I never water my lawn,

Anything recently planted will need watering, yes. As others say, water really well so it soaks down, don't just wet the surface. Once plants are established and have put down new roots into the soil they can look after themselves in all but the hottest driest spells, but while they are settling in they do need a bit of help if it hasn't rained for a while.

The soil will still be holding water. Roots grow deeper to find it and they do. In turn the plants grow stronger.
Newly planted won't yet have established their roots so water them every few days.
Newly planted pots will need to be watered more as they dry out faster. Again growing roots whilst growing stronger 🙂

I am watering the containers and the recently planted seedlings, especially the dahlias and sweet peas which are thirsty thibgs.

I'm watering the annuals every 2-3 days. Things like wild carrot, orlaya, sweet peas, stocks. None of these will have significant roots because they're annuals, and they will suffer if they don't get watered.

Things like the lavender, the rose, the delphiniums that are all perennials I leave alone or give the occasional spritz.

I planted out sunflower, chard, etc seeds last weekend. I watered them then - should I water them again this weekend?

I would water newly planted seedlings every couple os days during hot weather, especially if they are in the sun.

Thank you @Ilovetocrochet

Anything in pots, yes they dry out quicker and have no way of spreading roots to search out water. Anything in the ground, or raised beds with access to the soils underneath- no.

Thanks, everyone. It's my third year of gardening. So I forgot about the part encouraging deeper roots by watering thoroughly but infrequently.

Thanks for reminding me.

I do however wonder if plants with shallow roots need a drink, like azalea.