One of the common questions asked by homeowners is how many days a week should plants be watered. Your plants need proper hydration to survive especially during the summer season. While you need to adequately water your plants, you also need to avoid overwatering. To help you get started, we shared watering tips below that you can refer to.
How many days a week should you water? There are different factors that you need to consider when it comes to how often a week you should water your plants. You should consider the type of plants in your garden, the specific water requirement of each plant species, and how long the soil can absorb water. Aside from that, you also need to consider the weather in your area.
Watering is an important factor in growing healthy plants. On the other hand, watering is not as simple as installing an irrigation system. Take note that not enough water can result to a dry garden and dying plants while too much water can lead to plant rot or diseases. Below, we have shared tips on how long and how often to water your plants.
How Often to Water During the Warm Season?
During the warm season, you can water your lawn or garden a few times a week or as necessary to cater to the requirements of the plants without causing overwatering. Usually, watering one to two times a week is enough. To find out the maximum time that the irrigation system should be turned on, you need to take note of the cycle when runoff begins. You can also check out this article that we have shared that discusses how often should you hand water your lawn. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
How Often to Water During the Cool Season?
During the cool season, plants need frequent watering because they do not have extensive root systems. When you are watering, make sure to divide the minutes into three equal irrigations that are evenly divided throughout the week. You can also check out this article that discusses if it is better to hand water or use a sprinkler. Check out the article for more tips and information that you can refer to.
How Long Should I Water The Lawn?
It is ideal to water the lawn at least once or twice a week. Make sure to provide your grass with 1 to 1.5 inches of water every time. Furthermore, the exact number of minutes for watering varies depending on the specific needs of each lawn. You need to consider the size of your lawn and the type of irrigation that you have. To determine if your lawn receives an adequate amount of water, you can follow the tips below.
Check the Flow Timer
One way to determine if your lawn receives adequate water is by checking the flow timer. You need to have a timer that measures water flow in hundreds of gallons. By multiplying the square footage of your lawn by 0.62 gallons, you can determine how many gallons of water your lawn requires.
Can Test
Another method is to do a can test. Use a can that measures one inch tall. Place the empty can in an area where your sprinkler hits and turn your sprinkler on. Check the can to find out how long it takes to fill it with ½ of an inch of water. This will also determine how many minutes to water weekly.
✅ Video – How Much and How Often You Should Water Your Lawn
Barrier Pest Control shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how much and how often you should water your lawn. Check out the video for more tips and ideas that you can apply when watering your lawn.
How to Know When to Water Houseplants
The type of plant and the soil dryness are some of the things that you need to consider so that you can determine how often to water. Usually, houseplants required watering every one to three weeks. Below are some tips on how to know when to water your houseplants.
Plant Type
One of the things that you need to consider is the type of plant. Some plants prefer wet conditions, while others thrive in dry conditions. Moreover, there are some plants that can survive dry soil before watering, while others require a moist environment. Finding out the type of houseplant and the environment that it prefers will determine how often you need to water it.
Soil Dryness
Check if the houseplant needs to be watered is by testing soil dryness. To do this, poke your index finger into the potting mix. You can determine if the top few inches of the soil are damp or not. Generally, if the few inches of the soil are dry, it is a good sign that it needs to be watered. Still, this will have to depend on the type of houseplant.
Check the Drainage Holes
Make sure to check the drainage holes of the pot to check if the houseplant needs watering or not. Place your finger in the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot to feel the potting soil. This will help you check the dryness of the soil and if watering is needed.
Wilting
A sign that your houseplant needs watering is if you see wilting or drooping leaves. However, you need to consider that there are also other things that can cause wilting. This includes overwatering or disease.
Use a Moisture Meter
If you are not familiar with the type of plant that you have, you can use a moisture meter to determine if it needs watering or not. You can purchase a moisture meter at your local garden store. They are affordable and reliable. We have also shared this article titled; does a sprinkler system save water? You can check out the article for more information about the topic.
When is the Best Time to Water Your Lawn?
The best time to water your lawn is between 4 AM and 6 AM. During this time, the weather is still cool and less moisture will evaporate before the roots can absorb water from the soil. Make sure to water your plants before 10 AM. Do not water your plants at night because it can cause rotting and diseases. If you cannot water in the morning, you can do it later in the afternoon when the sun is still shinning, preferably between 4 PM and 6 PM. We have also shared this article titled, can I water my lawn by hand? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
How to Tell if Your Grass Is Not Getting Enough Water
There are many signs that show your grass is not getting enough water. For instance, if your lawn has transformed from green to gray, it is an obvious sign that you are not providing it with the water that it needs. Moreover, curled grass blades are also another sign that your grass is thirsty. If you are not sure about this, there are different tests that you can do.
First, you can do the step test. To do this, walk around your lawn. If your grass springs back up when you step on it, it means that your lawn is well-watered. On the other hand, if the grass remains slanted, it can be lacking moisture and needs to be watered. Another method that you can do is the screwdriver test. Choose a long-bladed screwdriver and push it about six inches into the soil. If you cannot push the screwdriver that far, it means that the soil is dry and it is time to water. You can also check out this article that we have shared titled, is it bad to water grass at night?
Do You Need an Irrigation System?
Whether or not you need irrigation system depends on a few factors. You need to consider the size of your lawn or garden, the type of plants that you have, the weather in your area, and the watering needs of your plants. If you have a small or medium lawn, hand watering or installing a sprinkler nozzle on your hose is an effective way to water your plants. It does not need much setup and you can control the water that flows from the hose. On the other hand, if you have a large garden or lawn that is challenging to manage, it is best to install an irrigation system for an easy and convenient watering solution.
Is Watering Everyday Bad?
Watering every day is bad for the plants. Take note that too much water can damage the plants and can result in future disease problems. Check the condition of the soil before you water. Dry soil means that watering is needed. On the other hand, if the soil is moist, there is no need to water. You can also check out this article that discusses if underground sprinklers are worth it. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article that discusses how many days a week should you water. We have found out that watering once or twice a week is sufficient for the plants. Moreover, we have also learned that there are different factors that you need to consider to determine the water requirements of your lawn and garden. For instance, the type of plant plays an important role in how often it should be watered. We have also shared tips and ideas on how to determine if your plants need watering or not. Thank you for reading!